Rugby: Northland Maori U19 women come up short

The Northland Maori under-19 women's team after playing Waikato in the final of the Northern Region Maori tournament at Rotorua Stadium. Photo / Supplied

The Northland Maori under-19 women were pipped 21-20 by Waikato in the finals of the Northern Region Maori Rugby tournament in Rotorua International Stadium on Saturday.

It was the final match of a three-week series which saw Northland thrash Counties Manukau 120-0 in Whangarei on September 30 and then suffer a narrow loss in the second round to Bay of Plenty in Auckland the following Saturday.

The other team in this competition was Auckland.

Team supporter Tracey Albert said it was an awesome game to watch.

"Big hits, big tackles great skills from both teams featuring up and coming rugby players for ladies rugby," she said.

On behalf of the side, she thanked coach Damian Tana and manager Mike Ngawiti. Also thanked were all the whanau for their support, the other teams, and the Northland Rugby Union for allowing theses girl "to show that we have a lot of talent up here".

The majority of the players in the Northland Maori under-19 women's team were from the Far North.

The Northland under-19 women were one of three teams representing Northland Maori Rugby at the Northern Region Maori Rugby tournament finals in Rotorua on Saturday. The under-17s won their division while the under-19s only just lost to Auckland 36-32.

The resurgence of the Northland Maori Rugby concept has been driven by Kawakawa man Hector Davies over the past few seasons and he said the above results justified his efforts to keep Maori rugby on the Northland calendar.

"We've done pretty good in our first year back in that tournament for a number of years. Quite a big thing."

Davies noted Maori rugby was in danger of being scratched but the efforts of stalwarts from the North Zone in particular, i.e. Bay of Islands, Mangonui and Hokianga and their participating and support of the rejuvenated Johnny Isaacs tournament - between North Zone and South Zone sides in youth and senior grades - had helped keep the Maori rugby programme on the road.

He also noted the Johnny Isaacs also offered the last vestige of a true North Zone vs South Zone representative competition since the Harding Shield had been done away with.