Team does town proud

RGP 18Dec14 - (Back) Laynah Hemopo, Sherraijka Bruintjes, Princess Elliot, Stevana Tuhoro, Coral-Lee Graham, Jimmie Leigh Curry, Georgina Bruintjes, Jayda Stewart (front) Fleur Moses-Pryor, Parek

In October this year Kawerau mums Anneke Hepi and Debbie Maxwell formed a foundation touch team to compete in the Maori Touch Nationals in Rotorua at the beginning of December.

The under-16 team was the first team to come from Kawerau and play in Maori Touch Nationals.

"Players were carefully selected for the individual strengths they would bring to the team and most of the girls have known each other for years, which made for an instant united team culture," Anneke said.

The team consisted of 12 Kawerau girls and two Whakatane girls.

Under the wing of their coach, Darkie Reedy, the team took in every opportunity to enhance their skills, training twice a week at Firmin Field, Kawerau and attending a two day training camp before playing in the Kawerau Touch Tournament, then heading on to Rotorua for the Maori Touch Nationals.

"The representation of our area and participation of highly skilled young persons drew attention quickly. Community members would stop and watch the team practice and comment about the level of skill and positivity of the team," Anneke said.

"Many commented how proud they were of the girls representing our area."
The team played under Mataatua with great mana and strength and gained enormous experience at Nationals, coming away with three wins and one loss.

All the players and parents are looking forward to their return next year and would like to publicly thank their sponsors. Without their support the team would not have been as fortunate.
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Thank you to Mataatua Sports Trust, Kawerau Medical Centre, Tuwharetoa 3 Peaks Kaumatua Group, A9 Land Trust and Kawerau New World for your generous donations.
"Also thanks to Kawerau South School for hosting the training camp and Rocky Masters for the beautiful artwork for the strip, and last but not least to the all the players' whanau for the behind-the-scenes player support.