Warriors thrash Blues in surf boat battle

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

The Blues will be hoping for better results with their rugby season after they were cleaned out by the Warriors rugby league players in their cross-code surf boat challenge at the Auckland Viaduct Harbour on Tuesday.

Two crews from each club raced each other with the Warriors claiming victory in all four heats.

They then won the final as well with the Blues mixing their crews in attempt to close the gap on the Warriors.

The crews raced pursuit style for three laps around two buoys set 150m apart  in the Princes Wharf and Maritime Museum waterway.

The squads used the challenge as part of the preseason training.

Former Kiwi Rugby League international and now the face of the TV Show 'Piha Rescue', Mark Bourneville is the head organiser of the event alongside former triathlete champion Rick Wells, and he said the competition was a great initiative to get the players fit whilst also raising awareness of surf life saving.

"I've done training sessions over the last few years with the Warriors and it's great for fitness and building unity so we thought let's do something with the rugby boys and developed the idea of a clash of the codes competition," Bourneville said.

"It's a great opportunity to raise awareness of the surf boats out there and also raise awareness of summer and the drowning season because Piha and Muriwai record the most drownings in New Zealand," he said.

"We know a lot of the people we drag out of the water on those beaches are big rugby and league fans so we thought let's use the vehicle of the Warriors and Blues to get everyone focused on summer and water safety."

- © Fairfax NZ News