Polocrosse: Holyoake to take on Aussie big boys

Tawa Holyoake, 12, holds off a competitor en route to qualifying for the New Zealand Under-16 polocrosse team.

Talented Huanui College all-rounder Tawa Holyoake will be straddling his polocrosse saddle a long way from the solitude of rural Whangarei this year after qualifying for the 2015 New Zealand Junior polocrosse team.

Emulating his older sister Tia and cousin Brodie Ruatara, Holyoake will join the eight-member team when they journey to Albury, Australia, in April.

Tawa will also be joined by fellow Northland representative Sam Marlow, 16, at the 2015 Australian Polocrosse Junior Classic before a three-day coaching camp.

Hailing from the Pouto and Whangarei polocrosse clubs, Holyoake, 12, is excited to be representing New Zealand across the ditch despite being several years younger than his teammates.

"Yeah, it's fun," says Holyoake, who is also a keen rugby player and featured in his age-group Roller Mills rugby side last year.

"I can't pick between the two," he says regarding the consuming roles rugby and polocrosse play in his life.

Holyoake's father and former North Auckland rugby representative, Henry Holyoake, is supportive of his children and their interest in the sport.

"For the last two years Tawa's sister, Tia, has been in the squad, so he's been playing as her understudy. It was just a matter of time to develop and show his worth," the proud dad said.

New Zealand Polocrosse secretary Raewyn Saunders-Loder said the tour would be a wonderful opportunity for the players.

"They will all benefit and learn during their time away, bringing home with them knowledge, skills, experience and team comradeship to pass on to their peers."

The 2015 Australian Polocrosse Junior Classic is set to run from April 10-12.

Polocrosse for dummies:

-Mix of polo and lacrosse.

-Field consists of six players on at a time, three per team.

-Two-horse minimum for each player.

-Points are scored by sending the ball through the opposition goal.

-Field measures 146.5m by 55m.