Mud, sweat and tears during Taniwha Shield

 

Though the Taniwha Shield rugby tournament is for those under 57kg and 13 years, it certainly lacks nothing in commitment, enthusiasm and skill from the young players and ensures the status of rugby as our national sport is safe for many years to come.

Nowadays the Culham’s Cup is a legacy of the former Roller Mills tournament, the premier primary school competition which carries the Dave Culham Taniwha Shield to the winner of the sub-unions of the Northland Rugby Union.

Hosted by the Kaiwaka Sports Association over July 8-12, it was already going to be an emotional week for the Taniwha Shield tournament given the sad passing of 17-year-old Otamatea player Jordon Kemp. Kaiwaka Sports Association founder John Keighley also passed away that weekend. Followed by the weather bomb, it was a combination that could have threatened any sporting competition, however organisors bravely closed ranks and forged ahead.

The weather turned the competition into the epitome of grassroots rugby with the blood and sweat equalled by the mud and wet courtesy of several days of torrential rain and heavy winds, power cuts and road closures. But both players and spectators seemed to relish the conditions.
In a bid to preserve the Kaiwaka grounds for finals, the Thursday semi-final matches were transferred to the Wellsford Rugby grounds but were no less entertaining.

Northern Wairoa scored 78 match points in topping Pool A from Bay of Islands who, with one especially big 60-0 win finished second on the table.

In Pool B the Grizzlies had three strong wins amassing 91 match points to clearly top the table over Rodney/Otamatea.

These four teams then fought hard in the semi’s with Rodney/Otamatea edging out Northern Wairoa 20-17 while the Grizzlies were a bit more clear cut in winning over Bay of Islands 33-17.

The finals were to be held on Saturday, rain or shine and though the ground was sodden, the weather was relatively fine and the sun did appear. The Grizzlies then carried on their unbeaten week with another comfortable but hard-fought win over Rodney/Otamatea in the final to carry off the shield.

Though the rain and sometimes gale-force winds played havoc with ball-handling skills, all players seemed to relish the conditions and were roundly applauded by the many parents, coaches and supporters who turned out to out to enjoy this feast of junior rugby.

Grizzlies number 6 Jordan Dwight was named player of the tournament.