Runners Up at Auckland Rippa Rugby Champs 2016

Our awesome players - Runners up at the Auckland Rippa Champs
16 April 2016, May Road Park, Mt Roskill

Our 2 girls and mixed rippa rugby teams - played with a lot of heart at the Auckland rippa rugby championship tournament yesterday.  They truly did their very best and we are so proud of their efforts.

Held at the May Road War Memorial Park in Mt Roskill, they both had won enough games to make it to the final against the same school, Holy Cross Papatoetoe.

Holy Cross are the defending Auckland and New Zealand mixed champions so our team knew that they would be tough opponents. Having beaten them in the pool round game 4-3, the team were going to face a hard-fought battle in the final.

Both teams played so well, however it was all over when Holy Cross crossed over the try line in the dying minutes of the game to win 3-2.  Meanwhile, playing at the same time, our girls team were playing a close match, but also went down by 1 point, 2-1.   There were a few tears which showed how much they had really tried to win but it wasn't meant to be and we will learn and grow from this.  What we should celebrate the most, is how much they had improved in their skill level, their attitude and their knowledge of the game.

So to end the day on a high and happy note, we were given 30 free tickets to attend the Auckland Blues Super Rugby match against the Sharks last night.  This is always the best part of the day for our kids.

Enjoying the Auckland Blues game at Eden Park

They got their faces painted, received a free Blues flag, a 'try' banner and entered the 'Super Bang Bang 'Dab' dance competition to try and win $10,000.  The night was a wonderful occasion that they'll always remember.

Thanks to our coaching and management team, Mazel & Te Awhina Vaevae, Tasesa Folau and Zac Moran and also our families, for the time spent over the past few weeks in preparing and supporting our kids at the rippa tournaments.  We need you again because we will be back next year to have another go at the Auckland title.

Rippa Rugby teams win 2016 Eastern Zone titles

The Eastern Zone primary girls Rippa rugby final was played between our team and the St Heliers School girls team on Monday 4th April. The lunchtime weather and conditions were perfect, on an impressive artificial turf at St Heliers School.

Our girls came out the winners, beating St Heliers 5-2, with Jorelle scoring 3 outstanding tries and Naomi and Kerstein scoring a try each too.

They will join our mixed team who are also the recent winners of the Eastern Zone title in their grade, to play in a tournament at Eden Park on Saturday 16th April.

The winners at Eden Park will represent Auckland in Wellington at the national Rippa rugby tournament later this year.  That would be pretty exciting!

Y5 & 6 Rippa Rugby team are off to Eden Park!

Primary Eastern Zone Rippa Rugby Tournament, Dunkirk Rd, Panmure

Our Year 5 & 6 mixed rippa rugby team earned a place to play at Eden Park against the champions of the West, South and Central school zones, by winning all of their games at the Eastern Zone Challenge Series on Friday, 27th March.  Our girls team automatically qualify for the Auckland Inter-Zone tournament as they were the only team who entered the series in our zone.

The tournament at Eden Park will determine who will represent Auckland at the annual September NZ national tournament in Wellington.  The prospect of playing at the epic Eden Park where the NZ All Blacks won the World Cup in 2011, is exciting enough for the players and for some team members, it will be their first experience - the team is thrilled to be going!

They played 6 games against Howick School, Elm Park and Glendowie School, playing the final in a tough encounter against a coherent Glendowie team, just winning 5-3.  The highest male try scorers on the day were Flynlay Kake (7 tries) and Alfa Kepu-Saafi (7 tries) and our speedy female winger, Faioso Faletanoai (5 tries).  The girls were solid contenders, who were able to match male opponents with their skills and confidence, contributing overall to a strong team performance.

This is the 3rd year that Pt England will represent the Eastern Zone area, having either a mixed or girls team compete in the fiercely contested tournament.  This year will be no different.  What's also rewarding about their win, is that they are invited to stay and watch the Super Rugby Round 11 game between the Auckland Blues and the Western Force team on Saturday, 2nd May - a great initiative created by the ARU, Auckland Rugby Union.

Y5 & 6 Team (as in photo): Back standing left to right: Montel Brack, Emmanuel Taka, Jonathon Fifita, Lani Puri, Angelica Vahai, Aneelis Gataua. Sitting left to right: Lomio-Lee Gataua, Rosalina Paketama, Faioso Faletanoai.  Lying down left to right: Flynlay Kake and Alfa Kepu-Saafi