Top Raetihi schoolboy rugby season ends

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 601, 29 August 1995, Page 20

Top Raetihi schoolboy rugby season ends

Last Friday the prize-giving for the Raetihi School boys rugby was held in the Raetihi rugby club gym with a large turnout of parents and children. Kevin Dodds, the schoolboys club president, did the honours with the opening speeches. Mr Dodds thanked the parents and the sponsors, Ruapehu Hotel and the pub charity, the Raetihi Cosmopolitan Club for allowing the raffles to be run in the club, Jessie Seaman, Christine and Selwyn Herewini, Mike and Karen Gordon. Special thanks went to Keith and Rowena Kui for their "much appreciated contribution". This is the last year that the Kuis will be involved in junior rugby as their son will be attending college next year. A small presentation was made to Keith and Rowena. All players from all grades received certificates with prizes presented to the following: Midgets: Most improved forward, Shaun Hall; Most improved back, Krishane Edmonds; Sportsmanship, A J Lynch; Best attitude, Hamish Parkinson; Outstanding player of the year, Wiremu Te Tawhero. Juniors: Most improved forward, Roman Tai; Most improved backs, Bobby Brown and Alex Herewini; Sportsman of the year, David Lynch; Most outstanding player of the year, Francis Hutchins. All the coaches from all grades made mention that in their opinion, if Francis so chose, she could go on to become a New Zealand All Black (womens) representative. Intermediate: Most improved forward, Joel Corbett; Most improved back Zarich Arahanga; Sportsmans certificate, Anthony Dodds; Sportsmans Trophy, Mathew Journeaux; Best attitude, Jamie Renata; Player of the year, Fraser Hammond. Rep players - Wanganui, Fraser Hammond and Mathew Journeaux; Northern Wanganui, Fraser Hammond, Mathew Journeaux, Thomas Kavanagh, Shaun Hammond, Sam Pen-

ning, Chase Tasker, Zarich Arahanga and Kyle Martin. Seniors: Most conscientious player, Shaun Dodds; Player of the year, Jonathan Kui; Most improved back, Nicki Leary; Most improved forward, Fabian Marumaru; Sportsmanship, Rangi Ruke; Most points forthe season, Ivan Hall; Attitude, Raymond McDougal. The senior coach, Merv Williams, said that his team did particularly well this year and only lost one game in the season — to Taihape — in the first round. They played Taihape in the finals and won 52/5. Rep team players selected were: Ivan Hall, Rangi Ruke and Jonathan Kui for the under 60kg Wanganui rep team; Ivan Hall, Rangi Ruke, Jonathan Kui, Damian Manahi, Samual Arahanga and Gordon Cribb for the Rangitikei reps. An all-grades annual Northern Wanganui school boys tournament was hosted at Raetihi this year and the Raetihi midgets won the tournament outright, (from their grade), the only Raetihi team to do so. The team was: Krishane Edmonds, captain; Wiremu Te Tawhero; Titapu Te Tawhero; Tane Ponga; A J Lynch; J Decker; Boey Pearce; Clayton Herewini ; William Condon; Shaun Hall; Derek Matoe Jnr, vice captain. It should be noted that the women certainly do play their part within the club, the midgets were coached by Christine Herewini, manager and Maxine Mills, Matoe. Brendon Kavanagh, the coach for the intermediate grade, paid tribute to all parents, supporters, sponsors and helpers and in particular those parents who offered to take players in cars during trips away. He introduced Brad McCoubrie who captained the Raetihi seniors and came from Wanganui to present the certificates. Mr Kavanagh said Mr McCoubrie also started his rugby in Raetihi as a junior in the same way that the kids were doing today. Following the prize-giving, a meal aftd disco was provided.