Rebounding from first-round loss to lift the national title
The U16 Nelson mixed touch team takes some time to celebrate after winning a national title. They are (back) coach Dion Taikato, Will Daniel, Izayah Tuitupou Kutu, Ahurei Devon-James, Liam Soper, Tane Johnson-Stephens, Flynn Simkin, Fergus Jolly, Nixon Marfell, Archie Geddes(c), Shunn Yokoyama, assistant manager Jeen Salton, (front) manager Annemarie Kovert, Makenna Holland, Dani Clements, Brooke Hutchinson, Tayla Richards(c), Lili-Rose McCormick, Ivy Toa, and coach Courtney Lott. Photo: Supplied.
Nelson's mixed U16 touch team are national champions.
Despite losing their first game of the tournament, hosted in Auckland, the team bounced back to take the title with a 7-5 win over Whanganui, while Nelson's mixed U18 team won the Plate Final to finish fifth.
Coaches Dion Taikato and Courtney Lott say the team's first-round loss was the wake-up call it needed, bouncing back to finish the tournament with five wins from seven games and lift the title.
It was a classic final, the coaches say, with the squad keeping their structure and composure in the face of a team who came up to the line quickly to disrupt, with the defence being the difference maker in the end.
"It also helped that the players played out their skin and left everything they possibly could on that final's field."
They say the secret ingredient was that they were a "well-oiled structured machine," with their fitness and composure being the difference maker.
"We were confident in the team's ability and game knowledge."
"We didn't have any expectations other than each individual had a job to do and if they did it well the game results would follow."
Of the 45 tries the team scored over the three days of the tournament, Archie Geddes dotted down 17 of them, earning him the team's boy's MVP.
Co-captain Tayla Richards was awarded the girl's MVP for her leadership and composure, while Brooke Hutchinson's defensive prowess in saving three tries in the final saw her awarded the coach's choice award for her development over the tournament.
The U16 Managers Annemarie Kovert and Jeen Salton, the U18 manager Lee-Anne Manson, and tour manager Jemma Taikato also deserved special mention for helping run the teams so smoothly.
While half the U16 team will graduate into the U18 team for next season, there's still a strong core of players who will look to defend the title.
"There is an exciting pool of talent in the U16 age grade at the moment. So even though we lose players, we still have up-and-coming players to gain," say the coaches.
The region's U18 mixed team had a strong carryover of players from last season who had built strong connections.
They had expected to make the top four but faced stiff competition in pool play as they missed out on their place in the playoffs after a countback.