Whangaroa College v Dargaville High School

From left to right: Maddie Gillingham – Jetts Fitness Whangarei , Jarrod Calkin from Westpac, Alister Gates iSport Foundation, Alex Smits Rugby League Northland, Nga-Atawhainga Manukau – Jetts Fitness Whangarei

Currently the name Richie McCaw and Dan Carter would bring only visions of victory in Sundays World Cup final, however to Rugby League in Northland it brings a picture of generosity as the iSport Foundation a foundation set up by McCaw, Carter and Ali Williams was responsible for supplying Primary Schools with Rugby League balls yesterday at Rugby League Northlands best of the best festival.

Yesterday’s Best of the Best Rugby League festival was a culmination of a number of festivals played throughout Northland in 2015. In total over 40 Primary Schools (Years 4- 6 and 7-8) played Rugby league from Ruawai in Kaipara to Paparore in the Far North. All the festivals are run on the back of the Leadership through League Program that sees the Maori teaching philosophy of Tuakana Teina in action, with older siblings coaching younger siblings, as College students earn credits for coaching in Primary schools and organizing festivals for the schools to participate in.

It was a great spectacle to see so many young students with a high skill level displaying their wares. It was also fantastic to see so many young girls mixing it up with the boys and showing that they have got the goods to compete at a high level too, in fact, some of the female players were the stand out players of the tournament. Particular mention has to go to Sheridan Kera and Meadow Cook from Dargaville Intermediate.

All games were closely contested all the way through to the finals series. Several of these games in fact went into golden point, which goes to show the Far North students know how to close out games. All regions of the North had representation in the final series. It was very pleasing to see teams outside of Whangarei, pushing the city based schools.

2015 is the second year that Rugby League Northland has run the Best of the Best festivals. Played in two grades, Year 4- 6 and 7-8. Eventual winners in both grades BOTH successfully defended their 2014 titles. Year 4 – 6 Whau Valley. Year 7 – 8 Whangarei Intermediate!

Click Facebook link to see a range of photographs from the Festival

Year 4-6
Championship Winners – Whau Valley
Championship Runners Up – Kaikohe West
Plate Winners – Ohaeawai
Plate Runners Up – Dargaville

Year 7-8
Championship Winners – Whangarei Intermediate School.
Championship Runners Up – Dargaville
Plate Winners – Okaihau
Plate Runners up – Tautoro