A defiant haka and jubilant celebrations echoed across the Arnold Rae Park on Saturday as the annual Smoke-Free JMB World Cup tournament finals wrapped up the Mangonui junior rugby season for another year on Saturday.
Results from the third and final week's play in the annual tournament, along with each grade's most outstanding player and the one showing the most sportsmanship during the season, were:
Under 7s final: Kaitaia Pirates 16 Awanui 2; Most outstanding player: Moengaroa Tani Metua (Takahue), Sportsmanship Trophy: Terry Thompson (Waipapakauri).
Under 9s final: Eastern 5 Takahue 4; most outstanding player: Robin Herbert (North Hokianga), Sportsmanship Trophy: Levon Pure (Te Rarawa).
Under 11s final: Waipapakauri 36 Rarawa 7: The most one-sided match of the day and a well deserved victory for the form team in this grade; most outstanding player: Corey Evans (Waipap), Sportsmanship Trophy: Jordan Tavares Williams (Te Rarawa).
Under 13s final: Takahue Soldiers 10 Eastern 7: The game provided a fitting climax to the day's action. The score was tied with a converted try apiece when Takahue pressure won a free kick on fulltime.
A cool Brody Tamaroa converted despite immense pressure to prevent the game going into extra time ('golden point wins') and give Takahue the championship and igniting jubilant celebrations. Outstanding POTY: Charlie Lorenz (Eastern), Sportsmanship Trophy: Rewi Windleborn Rawiri (Takahue).
Northland presence
The local JMB finale was enjoyed by Northland ITM Cup players, including English IRB Sevens speedster, Dan Caprice, and forwards David Morgan and William Whetton.
There to promote the NRU policy of providing free access to Toll Stadium for all under 14s players for Northland's home games this season, it was likely watching the youngsters enjoying themselves would have revived fond memories to the Taniwha trio (who were all unavailable for the opening round of the ITM Cup championship competition against Otago through injury and other reasons).
Caprice said he had made himself unavailable for the opening round because he was carrying an injury niggle which would have made him "touch and go".
Hailing from Kent and renowned as a fast winger, Caprice said he decided to play club rugby in New Zealand because he felt this was where he could best "develop" his game; at least, more so than back home.
The Englishman proved friendly, laidback and very approachable, and said he hoped his style of play would fit in with Taniwha coach Adriaan Ferris' plans during the national provincial championship campaign this season.
"Northland are looking to play some expansive rugby this year," he said.
As for first impressions of Northland (having been to New Zealand previously to play in two IRB Sevens tournaments in Wellington) he said it was, "really nice and green".
A bit more laconic, the bearded Whetton (the younger brother of Jack Whetton who scored a try in Otago on Saturday) was more frank about being in Kaitaia on Saturday: "I didn't make the cut," he said referring to Ferris' selection for the Otago game.
Comfortable at either No.8 or No.6 roles, Whetton said the attempt to inject a feeling of brotherhood among the Taniwha this year was starting to happen.
"Yeah, the team [morale] feels pretty good."
More images from the JMB World Cup finals on Saturday can be viewed on the Age website; and will also feature in upcoming editions.
ITM Cup openerOtago 40 Northland 34 (ht 23-13): Northland began its ITM Cup with a loss in a high scoring game at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday afternoon.
The best aspect of the game from Northland's perspective, against an Otago featuring All Blacks Tamati Ellison and Adam Thompson, was in battling back from a 20-3 deficit to take an all-too brief lead during the second half.
Northland's next game in week 3 of ITM Cup is against Waikato in Hamilton under lights this Saturday (September 1) at 5.35pm.
The first home game of the season (week 4) takes place at Toll Stadium next Wednesday, September 5, against Manawatu kicking off at 7.35pm, following by another home game (in week 5) vs North Harbour on Sunday, September 9, at 4.35pm.