Waiheke rugby junior prize giving

The coaching panel for the very successful Under 13 Waiheke Rugby team ran away with the club’s top award at the junior rugby club’s prize-giving last Friday.

Coaches of the year - chosen from all the coaches in the senior and junior clubs - were the co-coaches of the Under 13 team – Tony Wood (backs) and Jimmy Kilpatrick (forwards) - backed up by manager Sue McCann.

They received their award from Donna Gauci of SeaLink, one of the club’s main sponsors, in front of a packed MORRA Hall.

Other key awards went to:

Most outstanding player - Scott Annandale

Small Black award - Jackson Page

Scotty Reeve Memorial award - Trent Beauchamp

Nig Marshall, the convener of the NZ Rugby Union’s young, under 18, talent identification programme, and former chairman of Waiheke Island Rugby, told the children, their parents and caregivers that the aim was to enjoy their rugby while gradually building their skills.

Nig says it is often harder for people in places like Waiheke to catch the eye of the selectors.

“But that just makes it all the more noteworthy when players such as Scott Annandale, chosen for the Central West Auckland Roller Mills team, are noticed,” he says.

Team awards went to:

U6 Best Ripper - Mia Arlove

U6 Most Improved Player - Nico Hemopo Chambers

U6 Most Dedicated Player - Leroy Lewis

U6 Most Future Potential - Tane Wikaira

U7 Sharks Best Ripper - Cory Cormack

U7 Sharks Most Improved Player - Tuiohu Unga

U7 Sharks Most Dedicated Player - Kahn Nicholson

U7 Sharks Most Future Potential - Chace Harris

U9R Best Back - Azra Pirihi

U9R Best Forward - Jackson Page

U9R Most Improved Player - Pounamu Davis-Behan-Kitto

U9R Most Dedicated Player - Milo Inglis

U11R Best Back- Trent Coleman

U11R Best Forward - Ethan Leftbridge

U11R Most Improved Player - Brody Musson

U11R Most Dedicated Player - Tommy Beale

U13R Most Dedicated Player - Jack Rippingale

U13R Most Improved Player - Ernie Ford

U13R Best Forward - Matt Singh

U13R Best Back - Josiah Phillips

Rugby tournament on Waiheke this weekend

A Presidents grade (over 35 years) mini rugby tournament will be hosted by Waiheke Island Rugby Club this Saturday at Onetangi Sports Park.

Running from 11.30am to 3.30pm it will feature teams from Marist, Takapuna, Auckland Referees and the Waiheke Brewery-sponsored Waiheke Presidents side.

The city sides enjoy visiting Waiheke and have a lot of fun with their rugby - particularly the after-match hospitality.

- Waiheke Marketplace