The first round of the Northtec Adam Blair kicked off on Wednesday with 12 teams getting their first hit out. This year, the competition attracts 15 schools, an increase from 11 last year, Broadwood and Abundant Life are new additions as well as h a new combined team of Te Kura Kaupapa o Kaikohe and Taipa Area schools in the north and Bream Bay and Te Kapehu Whetu in the South pool.
The Northtec Adam Blair competition is a highly competitive tournament where schools vie for the honours of taking home the Adam Blair toanga. The competition consists of six rounds of pool play, semis and grand finals. Players are also individually competing for a place in the prestigious NorthTec Adam Blair XIII selection, which will have the opportunity to play a Warriors Development team on 26th March.
The 2015 champions, Whangarei Boys High took on Bay of Islands College in a close encounter, which Whangarei Boys came out the victors. New comers Te Kapehu Whetu took on Tikipunga in what looked like a close encounter at 20-20 at half-time. However, injuries plagued the Tikipunga team, which finished with only 11 players, and meant Te Kapehu Whetu ran away victors. Overall the first round was a great success. For some, this was their first hit out in a awhile, along with a lot of new players. Other results included Dargaville High School beating Bream Bay, Whangaroa College beating Braodwood, Kaitaia College beating Okaihau College and Northland College beating Abundant Life.