Polocrosse: Kakatahi hang on for title

A GRADE: The victorious Putaruru-Tirau team. From left, Nicky Schraff, Paddy Cornelius, Steve Watson, Mirren Tye, Tony Schraff, and Lauren Tye. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

Kakatahi club claimed the C Grade championship after two days of hot and fast action at their club's annual polocrosse carnival at the weekend.

There were 16 teams from eight polocrosse clubs at the carnival this year, many looking to complete unfinished business after the 2015 edition saw many match-ups cancelled because of rain.

In the C Grade final against the Te Mata club, Kakatahi took an eight-goal lead into the final period of play - or chukka - but just managed to hang on by one point after the Hawke's Bay team came back at them.

At the prizegiving, Kakatahi's Dave Ruatara and Sarah Wills were named the No2 and No3 best players in the grade respectively, behind Te Mata's Zane Neil.

It was a sweet victory for Waikato's Putaruru-Tirau club in the A Grade final, having come runners-up in 2014.

They won the final yesterday against Kaitieke 18-12, with captain Tony Schraff saying the clubs worked through the morning draw of games quickly so they could finish just after 1pm and beat the worst of the afternoon temperatures.

"The heat does affect the horses but everyone does their best to rehydrate them."
Unlike polo, players must use only one horse for a polocrosse event unless in the event of injury. Schraff said the score went back and forth in the early chukkas before Putaruru-Tirau pulled away near the end.

"We've got a few younger people into the team to add a bit of enthusiasm."
Local Jack Kinder played for Te Mata in the A Grade and was named the No1 player, followed by team-mate Chris Kereopa and Putaruru-Tirau's Steve Watson.

Te Mata completed a good carnival for their club by winning the B Grade, beating Putaruru-Tirau in the final.

Jesse Hill was named No1 best player, while team-mate Cathy Coleman was No2 and Putaruru-Tirau's Steve Tye was No3.