Te Puke Tigers mark great league season
The Te Puke Tigers Rugby League Club gathered to celebrate a great season recently. More than 50 young league players took to the field this year in four age grades as the sport continues to grow in the Coastline District. On the field the Tigers under 11s made the semifinal, and were just beaten by eventual winners the Papamoa Bulldogs. In the third and fourth-place playoff, the Tigers beat Putauaki Stags 34-6. Seven of the Under 11s team have been selected to represent Coastline at the Ma¯ori Nationals next month in Taranaki. The Tiger Under 7s went undefeated this season, with only one try scored against them in 14 games. The Under 7s also travelled toAuckland to play a curtain raiser before aNew Zealand Warriorsmatch. “It was an awesome experience for our boys, running out on to Mount Smart stadium, seeing their names come up on the big screen,” says club chairman David Taffard. David says hewants to thank all the players for their skills, passion, dedication, teamwork and sportsmanship as well as the coaches, trainers and managers for guiding and encouraging. He also thanks parents, family members and friends for going to games and showing great support and the club’s committee and sponsors. Awards went to: Under 6s: Most Improved (MI) Kohen Newdick, Player of the Year (PoY) Te Ururoa Stevens and Hitman (Hm) award for best tackler, Liam Smith. Under 7s: MI Diaz Ronaki, PoY Arana Rayner and Api Patuawa andHmKihirini Ronaki. Under 9s: MI Soul Mather, PoY and Hm, Kade Warren. Under 11s: MI Jeremy Cameron and Dallas Leaupepe, PoY Rhys Puata and BraeHauraki andHmRhys Puata. Coach of the year: Kihirini Ronaki. The Tiger of the Year award went to the Cameron family. Five season Tiger awards went to Rhys Puata, Mikaere Kokiri-Ford and Trey Hemmingway.