Rugby: Kamo Intermediate presented trophy for Rippa success

Kamo Intermediate are this year's Year 7/8 Rippa Rugby champions of Northland. Photo/Michael Cunningham

Kamo Intermediate's Year 7/8 Rippa Rugby team has been presented their trophy for winning Northland's tournament.

Kamo started their journey in Term One this year by competing in the South Zone competition held in Whangarei with 14 other teams, with the North Zone competition held in Kerikeri with 25 other teams.

From these two competitions both Tautoro School and Kamo Intermediate emerged through to the Year 7/8 Finals with 10 others from both the North and South Zones to determine the two finalists.

Kamo then proceeded to win all four games at the South Zone competition, held at Tikipunga.

The Finals competition held at Hikurangi was hotly contested and saw some epic battles and close fought games, with Kamo winning all three games to advance to the grand final at Toll Stadium to determine the Northland Champs.

Northland Rugby Union's Primary Schools Rugby Development Officer Paul Hope said the final was an absolute classic.

"Game day was a superb spectacle with both teams displaying some sublime skills even though the grass was quite slippery on top," he said.

"Both teams displayed fantastic determination and had a never say die attitude, which saw the game see-saw both ways and had the score locked up at one stage and looking extremely close."

However Kamo Intermediate pulled away right at the end to take out the match 6-4.

"Both teams played with awesome spirit and displayed fantastic teamwork. Well done to all the hard work the students, coaches, teachers and parents have all put in, in regards to training, coaching and transportation," Hope said.