Raiders shine at Kiwi festival
Hibiscus Coast Raiders players have outshone their competitors and taken the inaugural Kiwi Junior Rugby League Festival.
The tournament for under 10,11 and 12 age groups, hosted in Whakatane by Global Games, saw 38 teams from 19 clubs around New Zealand competing.
It focuses on sportsmanship and teams, their managers, coaches and supporters were judged by their actions on and off the field over the three days.
Global Games founder and director Tyrone Campbell says the actions of the Raiders saw clubs around the country approaching officials with praise.
‘‘They mentioned what outstanding individuals they were and they played really hard, but really fair, and in the end it was an easy choice of them winning the award,’’ Campbell says. ’’The Hibiscus team showed outstanding sportsmanship throughout and they really bought in to the whole concept of the event.’’
Raiders players and supporters took time to get to know teams after games and gave all teams they played a plaque. If a call from a referee went against them or the referee got the decision wrong, Raiders supporters encouraged both their own team and the opposition to give positive support, Campbell says.
‘‘You go to some sportsgrounds and the comments some of the parents make are pretty horrific. That’s why at our events we are pushing against that and we want to put up on a pedestal clubs like the Raiders.’’
The Raiders took an under-11 and under-10 team to the event.
It was the under-10 team who claimed the overall Best and Fairest Champions trophy, but the success was due to every Raiders member in Whakatane, under-10 team manager Tracey Baty says.
‘‘It was an amazing achievement for the team and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without our under11s. We went down with them together, we fundraised together, we supported and we laughed and we cried and did all the good stuff together,’’ she says. ‘‘We are feeling very humbled and very, very proud of the boys.’’
‘‘The club is big on promoting sportsmanship and friendship so to receive the award for Best and Fairest Champions out of 38 teams across NZ proves that our core values are being built in.’’