Junior rival rugby teams combine for tournament

A long standing junior rugby tournament has begun which combines two local rival clubs.

Years five and six boys from Matamata and Hinuera Rugby clubs have joined together to take on other sub unions.

Competing rugby sub unions include Tokoroa, Morrinsville, Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Hamilton.

They will play for the title of the strongest sub union.

One of the co-ordinators of the Matamata sub junior rugby, Tony Brown, says the teams have shown incredible dominance so far and he has no doubt they will continue to represent the Matamata sub union well.

‘‘These teams are coming together as a Matamata group. Meeting bettering rugby.

‘‘They are going to be very competitive, in the pre-season games they have had so far, they’ve been dominant.

‘‘It’s pretty cool to watch these young juniors, there’s some future stars there,’’ says Brown.

Brown says the teams have new uniforms, sponsored by new friends and extending and their Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tours, which ‘‘the players proudly wear like they’re All Blacks’’.

‘‘They (Hobbiton) have shown us fantastic support.’’

Brown says the teams just played their third game last weekend, year six lost 15-10 to Cambridge, and year five’s won 7-5 against Cambridge.

This weekend both teams will play at Bedford Park on Saturday.

Year six play at 10am and 12noon. Year five play at 11am and 1pm.

At Hinuera on Sunday, year six plays at 10am and 1.45pm. Year five play at 11am and 2.30pm.

Brown is hoping the Matamata community will get down to both fields over the weekend to cheer on the two teams and enjoy some ‘great games of rugby’.