Tawa youngster shows class
Tawa 13-year-old Ryley Bridges showed outstanding form at the Taekwondo Union national championships at Te Rauparaha Arena last weekend.
The rising blue belt had to battle through two hard fights to earn her gold medal.
Club instructor Mike Murray was delighted with Tawa’s performance – Tawa’s 34 fighters won 10 golds, nine silvers and seven bronzes.
‘‘We’ve done well for ourselves. We had some very good fights. Some of the divisions were quite big,’’ Murray said.
Fighters from as far afield as Christchurch, Ashurst and Patea battled it out both weekend days in front of loud and proud spectators.
Titahi Bay Taekwondo Club’s 15 fighters shared four golds, nine silvers and a bronze.
‘‘It was a hard slog. They did very well. I’m stoked,’’ club instructor Paleti Murphy said.
He said the tournament was hard work for many of his fighters, who often had two or three fights to reach a final.
Murphy singled out two fighters for special mention.
Vorayouth Ngaoluangraj, 15, was named one of six North Island fighters of the weekend after impressing many instructors and examiners.
Junior black belt Annaliese McMahonHerewini, 12, is new to the club, but Murphy said her talent would likely land her in the Oceania team next year.
Paremata-Plimmerton will face Tawa in the Ed Chaney Cup Senior 1 rugby final on Saturday at Ngatitoa Domain, 2.30pm. Top qualifiers ParemataPlimmerton beat Hutt Old Boys 17-15 at Ngatitoa Domain in one semi-final, and third- placed Tawa upstaged second- placed Wainuiomata 22-18 at William Jones Park.
Tawa’s Central League football status was confirmed after Wellington United were relegated following their 4-3 defeat by Upper Hutt. Tawa looked in deep trouble three weeks ago, with just a solitary point all season, but have secured seven points in their last three matches.
Tawa fought out a 1-1 draw with Lower Hutt at Redwood Park on Saturday. Mike Ramaekers scored for the home side.
Western Suburbs still have a mathematical chance of winning the league, following their thrilling 4-3 win over Petone on Saturday. They are six points adrift of Miramar with two games left, and have an inferior goal difference.
In premier Kapi Mana netball play, Norths 1 proved their top dog status by beating second-placed Rockz 1 37-21. In other games, Kahurangi 1 overcame Kahurangi 2 46- 37 and Plimmerton Tuohy edged out Aotea Red 27-26.