Lightning League 2014 – information pack.
A key focus is to develop a programme specific to the female game. Targeting participation at Secondary school ages. Looking to create a pathway for female participants of Rugby League – there is no current provision for Rugby League in the North for females over the age of 12. The Kiwi Ferns have been one of Sports most dominant teams, winning three consecutive World Cups.
Last Friday night, Kamo High School defeated the odds, to be crowned NABT 2014 Champions in a final that demonstrated that Secondary School Rugby League is alive and well in Northland. Standing in Kamo’s way were the favoured Whangarei Boys High School. High had amassed a whopping 190 point differential through the 2014 NABT competition and had won the coveted Tohunga 2 times out of three, plus they had won their earlier encounter with Kamo 38 – 16 to rightly be favourites.
BUT as they say, Finals football is a different game altogether. In front of a healthy and vibrant crowd under lights, Kamo High school were able to deal with the pressure of the event more than Boys High. The first half was a tight encounter with both teams going into half time at 4 points a-piece after tries from Kamo’s Brandt Shortland and WBHS’s Shane Paraha.
Kamo came out in the second half with a true belief that they could go one better than the 2013 Kamo High School team that lost in the dying minutes to Kaitaia. First centre Cole Lundon-Tonga retrieved a wayward bomb to scurry over in the corner, then Lyse Haretuku finished an impressive back line move to score in the corner. Both tries were unconverted with Kamo taking a lead 10 – 4.
Finally Boys High came to life with barnstorming Tiaki Smith smashing his way over near the posts, Caleb Aikens converted to bring the game to 12 – 10. Kamo lead with 15 minutes left on the clock. Kamo Coach, Joe Henare, was rightly nervous as his 2013 team had given up a similar lead, however the Kamo team held firm. Boys High threatened a number of occasions but Kamo defended as if their lives depended on it.
Joe Henare was elated, “This has been three years in the making. When we first started we had a five year plan to develop League at Kamo. I can’t believe the boys heart out there. Reniera Campbell was a man mountain on defence tonight and he deserved to get man of the match” The win was especially pleasing as Kamo had played the entire match with only 13 players – they had two Year 9s on the bench but didn’t use them!
Kamo High School 12; Tries to: Brandt Shortland, Lyse Haretuku, Cole Lundon-Tonga
Whangarei Boys High 10: Tries to: Shane Paraha, Tiaki Smith. Conversion: Caleb Aikens.
Player of the Final: Raniera Campbell.
In another entertaining match full of end to end running, Tikipunga High School edged out Bay Of Island College 22 -14 to win the Northern Swords Shield the plate division of the NABT. The game was great advert for Rugby League as it was fiercely contested up the middle with two forward packs not giving an inch. To cap it off both teams had speed to burn out wide.
The 10 all half time score demonstrated the even nature of the game. However Tikipunga High came out with more fire in the belly. With Jack Rangitaawa and John Wright in the halves giving them ability to get the ball out to the impressive fullback Wayne Iripa. Tiki racked up 12 unanswered points in a fifteen minute period.
For the last 15 minutes, Bay of Islands looked on the verge of a comeback, when with 5 minutes left on the clock, Danyon Hati scored. However, man of the Match Chaz Watene, couldn’t convert. Tikipunga held on to win the match 22 – 14.
Alex Smits GM of RLN was ecstatic about the evening’s events. “We had three great games of football tonight* and a big crowd turned out to watch. We now have 10 Colleges that are committed to League and the standard of football is brilliant. You can really tell that the kids are loving their league and it’s played in a fabulous spirit! Congratulations to Kamo – it’s always great to see an upset in a final. I wish Kamo and Boys High the best of luck as they prepare to go the NZSSSC Nationals.”
*Dargaville and Whangaroa drew 28 all in a curtain raiser match that was supposed to be the 3rd and 4th playoff – however Kaitaia College withdrew and Dargaville High took their place.
Finals Standings NABT 2014:
Dargaville High School
Walk into any smoko room on a building site and you are bound to hear banter about who the best trade is on site. Each trade reckons that they are the most important people on site and that they do the best work and the others are always the spanner in the works holding the site up!
In Northland, the trades now have the ability to stand behind their reputation – stand by their fellow tradesmen – put their ego where their mouth is and walk the walk, that they have been talking.
It comes in the form of the “Frings Trade of Origin” and the first trade, to gain bragging rights, were the Placemaker Chippies, as they won the inaugural Frings Trade of Origin 2 – 1, by winning the deciding match 50 – 28 over the Scott Electrical Sparkies, in a bruising encounter at Mangakahia Sports Club on Saturday 29th November.
The Frings Trade of Origin was a concept devised by Andy Liddall, from Attina Electrical, who engaged Scott Electrical to support the concept from the electrical Side. Scott Electrical Director, John Cornwall, is a devout league man and is an avid sponsor and supporter of the Vodafone Warriors, so they became a natural supporter for the Sparkies.
The next challenge was to get another trade to play against – the natural target according to Andy were the builders as they are the always the loudest on any building site. So he approached old time mate Matt Legg,from WRC Construction, who recently returned to Northland from Australia where he fell in love with League.
Meanwhile Andy had another “bright spark” moment, engaging the support of Placemakers for the Chippies, with Placemakers seeing an opportunity to promote community sport, while developing camaraderie within the building trade.
Andy also gained the support of Rugby League Northland who jumped at the chance to support the concept, “People are getting busier and busier and some guys just can’t commit to playing regular weekend sport – the Frings Trade of Origin concept allows guys an opportunity to play a few games of league without having to make a commitment,” said RLN GM General Manager Alex Smits.
“We wanted to develop the concept so we partnered up Frings Brauhaus Brewery to sponsor the series. Frings are a local Brewery and Bar in Whangarei so it was perfect fit for the concept and for them.” Smits said.
The Placemaker Chippies won the first match 40 – 16. The Scott Electrical Sparkies bounced back to win the second match 38 – 16. The Chippies were too strong in the deciding match. It was a tough physical encounter with no love lost between the two teams. The Chippies dominated the first half going to a 26 – 6 lead at half time. However, the Sparkies were first to score in the second spell and then clawed their way back to a 6 point deficit at one stage, only for the Chippies to storm home with three late tries and win 50 – 28.
It is hoped that the Trade of Origin concept will grow in 2015, the Civil Engineers, Drainlayers, Sheet Metal Workers, Fireman and even a local Farming group have all expressed and interest! Watch this space in 2015!
For more information about entering the competition in 2015, contact RLN General Manager Alex Smits.
Email – alex.smits@nzrl.co.nz or Mob – 021 273 9675.
September 12th 2:30pm at Moerewa will see the Northern Swords play against an Auckland Vulcans selection. This is a non-competition game – so it will be an opportunity for Coach, Jon Renes, the ability to try out different combinations.
On September 19th get back to Central Rugby Ground, Lindvart Park, to be part of a festival of Rugby League with the Northern Swords taking on the Orcas at 12pm – surrounding the day will also be the first bi-annual Barney Wharerau Memorial Nines Tournament.