Back-to-back championships for open mixed team

Nelson Bay’s mixed open team finished their season on a high after defending their national title in Palmerston North.

With a team largely unchanged from last year, the squad was in top form as they lived up to the high expectations put on themselves, says coach Wayne Anderson.

“We knew we had a good team.

“Our Nelson game is more of a running game, we’ve got some good fit and fast players.”

With the team coming together from all over the country to represent their home region, they had suffered from a lack of training, which showed as they started their tournament.

But as the games went on, the team continued to build into their stride and were at full sprint by the time finals rolled around.

“It’s more unique for a small town, but all of these ones (who live out of town) came up through our age groups.

“South Island teams play a little differently. . . we ruck the ball up the field with a lot of pace, while the North Island teams are more focused on getting the ball close to the try line and having flashy set piece plays.”

With 18 teams in the mix this year, Wayne says the team still had their work cut out for them.

Shortened game times because of the number of teams meant their style of play, wanting to run the other team off the park with their superior fitness, was tested at times.

“In a couple of games, we won by just one try, but over (a normal) 40 minutes, we would have won by more,” says Wayne.

With two back-to-back titles already in the bag, he was quick to say it’s tricky to say if Nelson Bays Touch has started a dynasty.

But with a large squad of young players and more coming through the ranks, he says, “two is a bit of a start”.

Nelson’s U21 mixed team was unlucky in missing out on the final four playoffs, having finished fifth after a countback.

Coach Weesang Paaka says the team showed the makings of a strong side, with a number of their players still in high school.

“The calibre of some of the talent coming through is so high and we’ve got years to keep them in the system.

“We have a very good team and the building blocks, with only four ageing out (of U21).”

But a draw to the winless Waikato was the difference maker, despite beating Canterbury and Bay of Plenty, who progressed through to the playoffs.

The 10-4 win over Canterbury and a 11-2 win over Bay of Plenty showcased the capability of the team, Weesang says.

Both coaches wanted to thank the tireless work of their manager, Jemma Taikato, who they say was instrumental in setting the squads up for success.

The national tournament acts as a bookend for the local touch season, with local touch wrapped up until next summer.