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Hundreds of junior touch players took to Puarenga Park in Rotorua to compete in the Northern Interprovincial Series at the weekend.
The event included under-10, under-12 and under-14 age groups for boys', girls' and mixed teams. Bay of Plenty sides picked up impressive results throughout all three age groups.
There were division 1 tournaments for elite teams and division 2 for development teams.
The best of the Bay of Plenty teams were the under-14 mixed, who beat Counties Manukau 5-2 in the division 1 final to claim first place.
Their coach Jason Pirika said his players gave up their own time throughout the Christmas period to train and the hard work had paid off.
"There were great improvements from the time we started and I'm very proud of having a group of new players together, a lot had never played touch at this level. For an inexperienced crew they gelled well together at the tournament and came away with a good result.
"The performance in the final was the icing on the cake. They've been working hard for the last two months and that was the best performance they've had since we first came together.
Bay of Plenty under-14 mixed player Tane Howe makes a run. Photo / Ben Fraser
"This tournament is great, I think it's a great pathway for the kids in this age bracket to come together in the central North Island and it's a pathway that'll make them become better young men and young women," Pirika said.
Bay of Plenty's under-12 girls beat Counties Manukau 3-2 in a hard-fought division 1 third-place playoff.
Their team manager, Tracey Morgan, said they improved throughout the tournament.
"On Saturday we played the big teams, Auckland and North Harbour. Today they played out of their skins and we are so, so proud of them.
"Their best quality is their camaraderie, they are such a tight team - not one argument, not one squabble the whole tournament. Our parents have been amazing, for all the Bay of Plenty teams. We have some amazing support," Morgan said.
Other highlights for Bay of Plenty teams included first-place finishes in under-10 division 2 girls and division 2 mixed, and under-12 division 2 girls.
Northern Junior Interprovincial Touch Series - Bay of Plenty results
