Pleasant Point seek national title
Pleasant Point Primary School’s rippa rugby team have a pretty big love affair with New Zealand’s capital city.
For the fourth successive year, under the guidance of coach Mick Geary, they have qualified for the national rippa rugby tournament in Wellington at Wakefield Park, beginning on September 18.
The Pleasant Point team made up of one year five and nine year sixes, had an impressive season winning the South Canterbury Primary School’s competition and the Hanan Shield tournament without dropping a game.
Geary said the team get along really well and that has led to their success.
‘‘We try and make them eat lunch together but also do things together as a team so they’re getting to know each other and that seems to work quite well.’’
Geary, who takes the side with Jamie Linton, said their coaching combination seems to work well.
‘‘I’m a rugby man, while Jamie is a football man and we seem to notice different things and get on really well.’’
Geary said the team were excited at competing in Wellington.
"They’re just treated like royalty up there.’’
Last year All Black Keven Mealamu and Black Fern Kendra Cocksedge were at the tournament for the whole three days, which was great for the kids.
‘‘The kids were like magnets to them but they were fabulous with them, they really were.’’
Amelia Geary and Lydia Giles went last year – the latter is off to Wellington for the third successive year. They face, Northland, Southland, Wanganui, and Waikato in pool play.