11/8/2016
Women’s NPC Rugby Profile: Rina Paraone (Kaipara College) and Pia Tapsell (Takapuna Grammar)A group of secondary school girls are involved in the nine provincial squads in this year’s Farah Palmer Cup Women’s NPC rugby competition. The Farah Palmer Cup started last weekend, and all three of North Harbour’s secondary school squad members played in their side’s 31-11 win over Bay of Plenty. These players are Rina Paraone (Kaipara College), Pia Tapsell (Takapuna Grammar School) and Florida Fatanitivake (Glenfield College). This week College Sport Media caught up with two of these players, Rina and Pia, about their growing rugby careers outside school. Name: Rina Paraone Secondary School: Kaipara College Playing positions: midfield, winger Name: Pia Tapsell Secondary School: Takapuna Grammar School Playing positions: Loose forwards - No.8 and Flanker College Sport Media: When did you start playing rugby? Rina Paraone: My first year playing rugby was in 2015 (last year) when I was 16. However I started playing rugby Sevens in 2013. My brothers influenced me to play because I wanted to do whatever they did. The Harbour union also has given me lots of opportunities to be involved with rugby. Pia Tapsell: I first started playing rugby when I was eight. I played for my local club, North Shore Rugby Club, and was in J5. I had gone along with my parents and younger Brother to his rippa muster and was probably a little too keen to get dirty and run around with all the boys outside the club. I wanted to play rippa but my parents told me I was too old and would have to play tackle. We ended up getting half way home before I decided that I wanted play. CSM: What school and club rugby do you play? Rina Paraone: At the moment Kaipara College is currently playing in the North Harbour 10s competition, with the final play-offs next week. However with fifteens coming up we are starting to train for the Blues competition, fingers crossed it all goes kapai. Pia Tapsell: Over the past couple of years I have been playing for Hato Petara College in the 10s competition. Both years we made the finals and came close to winning with almost half of our team making the North Harbour U18 School girls team too. I had played both secondary schools and club last year but this year the team I played for (East Coast Bays Women’s), due to our success last year, had made it into the top grade, so I decided to focus on playing Women’s club rugby. Although the season was definitely a step up from the development grade and we took a while to adjust, as a team we grew and learnt more and more as the season continued. CSM: What’s a memorable rugby moment? Rina Paraone: One of my most memorable rugby moments was probably winning the North Harbour 10s competition last year. Would have had to be the toughest final I had ever played. But I think to date my proudest moment is being part of the Hibiscus (FPC) team. Even being in that type of environment for me is an experience in itself. Pia Tapsell: One of my most memorable rugby moments would have to have been when myself (along with Rina and Florida) were selected to participate in the Women’s Sevens Super Series. We got to play alongside some of NZ’s top and up and coming players as well as some of our idols. Although the most memorable part of this experience was when I managed to split my eyelid open in a head-clash and wasn’t able to play the next day, but was instead left with quite a puffy swollen black eye. CSM: Do you also play Sevens rugby and have you competed in the Condor Sevens? Rina Paraone: Yes I play for my school, I love Sevens so much. I’ve competed in Condors twice and hopefully I get to again this year. Pia Tapsell: My school didn’t have a team for the Secondary School Sevens competition so I played for Hato Petera again. Due to the fact my school hasn’t got a team I have been unable to compete in Condors however I did play in the North Harbour Womens Sevens team. CSM: What other sports do you play? Rina Paraone: Sport pretty much runs through my blood. I’ve played touch rugby for my school team who are going to nationals this year, also for North Harbour and Waikato. I’ve played netball since I was 6 (wish I started playing rugby back then) and it’s mostly just a hobby now, Waka ama for Kaipara and even football. Pia Tapsell: I used to play netball and touch and really enjoyed them however it got too hard to juggle all my trainings and school work so eventually had to sacrifice them. I also started playing tag a couple of years ago and made it into the NZ U18 team for the Tag World Cup over in Australia and the Trans-Tasman Series, however again this year I have had to cut down in order to balance both school and sport. CSM: Do you have rugby or sporting role models? Rina Paraone: Omg yes! Portia, she is actually a god. Straight up my idol. I also look up to my older brother who inspires me every day to be the best that I can be. Oh I can’t forget my team mates, the girls in my FPC team, they’re so supportive and I have so much respect for them. Pia Tapsell: It’s a little bit predictable but Portia Woodman. The work ethic and dedication she puts into the sport is inspiring. She is so passionate about the game but yet so humble about her skill and achievements. I’d also have to say Chelsea Alley. Purely because of her love and dedication for game and how much she has done not only for me but the North Harbour Rugby union as well. Not only does she play the game but works incredibly hard off the field growing and promoting the game and encouraging young girls to play and developing those who already are. The amount of opportunities she has created and provides for us have been amazing and I’m sure she is probably idolised by many young girls in our region. CSM: What would you say to other school girls hesitant to try rugby? Rina Paraone: Get out and give it a go, you never know. I’m just a girl who fell in love with the game, and you might too. Pia Tapsell: Honestly just give it a go. At first it will seem quite scary and you may not know anyone but you’re always going to be scared and get knocked around a bit at first, and in any sport that will happen, but the more you put in the more you will get out. Take a friend along with you if you need to and do it together! Rugby will literally change your life. You will meet so many new people and they will not only become your friends but your sisters too. The skills you learn will not only apply on the field but off the field too. Not to mention the fact that Womens Rugby has made such a massive jump over the past couple of years that anything is possible, and if you’re passionate enough it can even become a career for you. Looking for USA Scholarships? Check out USA CONNECT Looking for $40000 University of Waikato Study Scholarships CLICK HERE Looking for Sport Exchange Opportunities to Australia CLICK HERE
10/8/2016
Reece Revelling In New ZealandOn this day two years ago Reece Plumtree and his family moved back to New Zealand after periods in South Africa and Ireland. Life could hardly be better. Dad John Plumtree has just helped the Hurricanes win their maiden Super Rugby title while Reece and his younger brother Taine Plumtree (Wellington U16’s) will line-up for Wellington College in Sunday’s WelTec Premiership final against St. Pats Town at Jerry Collins Stadium. Wellington have qualified for the decider as the top ranked team. They beat defending champions Town 20-16 in the round robin, but finishing top dog in the regular season has been a poisoned chalice in the capital. The last six sides to have won the round robin have lost the final. “It will be a tough game. I expect Town to throw new things at us. The last time we played they couldn’t break us until right at the end. Our defence will be important,” Reece says. Last year Wellington College could hardly buy a win. They lost to St. Pats Silverstream, Scots College (twice), St. Pats Town, Christchurch BHS, Wairarapa College and surrendered the quadrangular title for the first time in 13 years to Nelson College. Wellington began 2016 in ropey fashion, thumped by Hastings BHS, Gisborne BHS and Palmerston North BHS. The win against Town was vitally important and commenced a run of seven consecutive victories. “The Town game and the earlier win against Napier Boys’ in the Tranzit Coachlines festival were really important. It showed us we could have a decent team,” Reece reveals. Reece scored 15 points in the Town triumph and 16 points in the 21-19 Napier victory. In both games he scored long range individual tries. Better was to come against St. Pats Silverstream where he bagged a double and 19 points in a 29-26 win on Land Rover First XV rugby. “We played pretty average in that game. Twice we were down by 11 points, but when their centre went off they kind of fell apart and we came back strongly to win,” Reece remembers. Reece believes Wellington’s best performance of the season was the 26-10 win against Christchurch BHS. Reece scored a key try before halftime and things in that game really clicked. “This year’s team is not split like the 2015 team. There was a bit of a schism between the senior players and the rookies last year. This season everybody gets along and the senior players have learned to be more inclusive. Younger guys like Ish Perkins, Josh Morgan-Ranui and Taine have really stepped up,” Reece explains. Reece easily switches between fullback and centre, but is happier in the latter position. “I like centre because you get more chances to tackle and more support when defending. I like the challenge of setting up my outsides and have enjoyed playing alongside Stone Warren-Robertson. He has been real solid,” Reece says. At the annual Quadrangular tournament in July, Wellington’s resolve was broken for the first time. They were tipped over by hosts Christ’s College in the final. A controversial try ruling went against Wellington and the defence wilted in the last few minutes. “That was really disappointing. We didn’t get the rub of the green at all and they broke us. Ngani Punivai (Christ’s centre) is pretty sharp, but we should have won that game,” Reece insists. Reece played for the Hurricanes U18’s who beat the Crusaders equivalent 64-20 in the term two holidays. He has scored 160 points for Wellington College this season (14 tries, 30 conversions, 10 penalties). Reece says he misses the mates he made at Kearsney College in Durban, but believes New Zealand rugby is far more innovative and challenging. “All they do is run it straight,” Reece laughs. In 2017 Reece intends to play for Old Boys University and study industrial design (“architecture without the Maths” he laughs) at Victoria University. Note: Kearsney College founded in 1921 is a strong private rugby school in Natal. Their most famous recent rugby alumni are English international Brad Barritt and twins Jean and Daniel du Preez. Looking for USA Scholarships? Check out USA CONNECT Looking for $40000 University of Waikato Study Scholarships CLICK HERE Looking for Sport Exchange Opportunities to Australia CLICK HERE
9/8/2016
Thor ReturnsJust in case you have been wondering what former Sacred Heart College pupil Taniela Tupou has been up to lately... Looking for USA Scholarships? Check out USA CONNECT
Looking for $40000 University of Waikato Study Scholarships CLICK HERE Looking for Sport Exchange Opportunities to Australia CLICK HERE A group of secondary school girls will be involved in the nine provincial squads in this year’s Farah Palmer Cup Women’s NPC rugby competition. The Farah Palmer Cup starts this weekend with a full round of four games. Canterbury has the bye. Our first profile is with Brooke Tauaneai, who has been selected in the Wellington Pride squad after a storming season playing for her local Wainuiomata senior club side as a lock/loose forward. College Sport Media: Congratulations on making the 2016 Wellington Pride squad, how did you hear the news? Brooke Tauaneai: I got called by the manager Mickey early the next morning (the day after the trial), and because I was one of the youngest and had trialled for both Pride and the Under 18’s squad, I had to decide what I was going to do and to talk to my parents before saying yes or no. CSM: How long have you been playing rugby for? BT: I started playing rugby in year 8. I was asked if I wanted to play for the high school, and so I played a couple of games that season with them and then continued in the next year. CSM: What positions do you play? BT: I have always played in the forwards either at prop or second row. The positions I have played this year for my club were blindside flanker and lock. At school I play prop and lock. CSM: You have just spent a full season playing senior women’s rugby in Wellington for your home club Wainuiomata – what have you learned this year? BT: I have learned a lot playing with older/mature women, new skills, tips and trick better ways to do things. They do not just teach you how to play but you learn life with them. My team (players, management, coaches) has such a great culture and family environment they are all like older sisters me and elders that I look up to. CSM: Prior to this year, when did you make your debut for Wainuiomata in senior women’s rugby, can you recall your debut match? BT: I started playing in year 10 for the Wainuiomata women’s team and that was Sevens as I was asked and from then I decided to give rugby a go in 2014 I was about 14 turning 15 that year. CSM: Tell us about your school rugby? BT: I play for Wainuiomata High School on Wednesday nights. This year we have been progressing well, there are always things to work on and it has been fun. Our big games have been Hutt Valley High School and St Catherine’s College. CSM: Have you also played Sevens rugby for Wainuiomata High School? BT: I have played Sevens for the school since I was year 9 (2013, age 12/13) and that year we won the wellington Condor Sevens competition that was played at Naenae College and we went to Auckland to play against all the bigger teams. CSM: What other sports do you play? BT: Athletics - every year I do throwing event discuss and sometimes shot put. Netball - every very since year 4 I have played netball, except this year as a lot of the sports I chose have conflicted with one another. I have also played cricket and play volleyball. CSM: Wainuiomata is a close-knit community – who are your role models, in rugby or other sports? BT: We are close-knit community; my role models growing up were and still are my parents. I aspire to be a Black Fern like my teammate Jackie Patea. My family loves rugby. Although my brother and I did not start with it we have grown to love it, my cousin’s play for their schools/clubs and my sisters are playing league. CSM: Sieni Mose, another Wainuiomata High School alumni, got her first break in rugby league. You will be of playing age next year, are you intending on playing the 13man game? BT: I first started out playing league from the age of 5-12 and the only reason stopped was because a new rule came in that females were now not allowed to play the under 13’s grade because of the physical difference between boys and girls. Whilst I was playing, there were not many of us girls but we were playing big roles in our respective teams and when the rule came into effect, I think it just hindered the female population in league in continuing later on in life. I think about playing again but I am still not sure as I know I have a big love for rugby. CSM: You have stepped up your training another level this year, what has been your motivation? BT: My motivation was my goals, to be better than my opponent was. If I was playing 6 I wanted to play better than the 6 on the other team, my family also motivated and there support has had a huge impact on why I play and love to play. CSM: What would you say to other school girls hesitant to try rugby? BT: What I would say to those who want to is you never know unless you try. If you are scared, take a friend who will go to the training with you and support you or contact a person you know who plays rugby who you can... Looking for USA Scholarships? Check out USA CONNECT Looking for $40000 University of Waikato Study Scholarships CLICK HERE Looking for Sport Exchange Opportunities to Australia CLICK HERE Napier BHS: 17 (Toby Holden try; Zarn Sullivan 4 pen) Palmerston North BHS: 17 (Matene Ruawai, James Stratton tries; Stewart Cruden 1 pen, 2 con) For the first time since 1994 the Polson Banner has ended in a draw. Palmerston North BHS keeps the prize as 2015 holders, but required a last-play try to centre James Stratton to do so. Down 17-3, Palmerston North scored their first try in the 59th minute after rare continuity and territory inside the Napier 22. Nine phases were strung together and blindside Matene Ruawai muscled over from close range. Palmerston North kicked smartly and forced errors from the hosts. On fulltime Stratton wriggled over and Cruden nailed the conversion from about 20-meters out to confirm a share of the honours. Palmerston North should never have been in a position to achieve such a result. Napier dominated much of the match and left several points on the field. At one stage Palmerston North was reduced to 13 players when No.8 Brayden Iose was yellow carded for a tip tackle and halfback Hunter Waller sin-binned for stomping. Napier first-five Zarn Sullivan punished Palmerston North ill-discipline by kicking four penalties, three before halftime which made the score 9-0 at the break. In the 48th minute Napier scored their only try when prop Cam Huata burst to within inches of the line from a set-move and recycled quickly for lock Toby Holden to pounce. Napier had a catalogue of missed chances. After 30 seconds lock Hunter Harding charged the ball down and knocked on while attempting to gather before the goal line. In the 13th minute standout openside Will Tremain charged 60-meters and chipped dead. In the 15th minute wing Al Momoisea was tackled into touch while reaching for the goal line. In the 23rd minute Momoisea bombed a try when he dropped the ball while slipping through a yawning hole. In the 36th minute Palmerston North hooker Te Ariki Te Puni dived on ball close to his line to prevent Napier fullback Humphrey Shield from dotting down. Palmerston North's comeback was inspired by Iose who made several telling runs and Napier mistakes. Napier ends Super 8 with three wins, an improved of two from 2015. Palmerston North were winless for the first time. This was the first drawn match in Land Rover First XV rugby since the 2014 National Top Four final which was shared 26-all between Hamilton BHS and Scots College. In the other codes Felix Foertsch scored three goals to guide Palmerston North to an 8-3 win in the First XI hockey. Napier won the basketball 74-70, after trailing by a point at halftime. The First XI football match was drawn 1-1. Thomas Viles scored for Palmerston North, but in the opposite of the rugby Napier rallied late. Full list of results from the exchange below (PNBHS Home team): Under 15 Colts Hockey - won 6 - 0 1st XI Hockey - won 8 - 3 Premier A basketball - lost 70 - 74 Junior Football - drew 2 - 2 2nd XI Football - won 3 - 1 1st XI Football - drew 1 - 1 Junior Debating - lost Senior Debating - lost Golf - lost 2 -6 Year 9 Rugby - won 38 - 24 Colts Rugby - lost 5 - 27 Development XV - lost 10 - 38 2nd XV Rugby - lost 5 - 55 1st XV Rugby - drew 17 - 17, PNBHS retain the Polson Banner Looking for USA Scholarships? Check out USA CONNECT Looking for $40000 University of Waikato Study Scholarships CLICK HERE Looking for Sport Exchange Opportunities to Australia CLICK HERE New Plymouth Boys' High School have been stripped of the points achieved in their 19-16 Super 8 victory over Hamilton Boys' High School on June 8 after fielding an illegible player. New Plymouth have made no comment on the deduction of four Super 8 points, but College Sport Media understands the breach relates to an over-aged international player. Super 8 rules state each school is permitted to field two 19 year's olds as long as they are not new to school in the year they play for the First XV and hold a New Zealand passport. Hamilton Boys' High School have been awarded five points from the game. Evidently in the match between New Plymouth Boys' High School and Rotorua Boys' High School played on 28 August 2015, two Rotorua players were included on a signed team sheet for Rotorua who were not eligible to play in the Top 4 competition. Rotorua was demoted from second to last in Super 8. Looking for USA Scholarships? Check out USA CONNECT Looking for $40000 University of Waikato Study Scholarships CLICK HERE Looking for Sport Exchange Opportunities to Australia CLICK HERE Wairarapa College has only been in the Premier One grade of Wellington First XV rugby for two years, but on Saturday they achieved a result that will be talked about for many more years. Wairarapa College beat Scots College 7-3 in the quarter finals of the WelTec Premiership, eliminating last season's National runners-up from Top four contention. Scots thrashed Wairarapa 38-7 in the round-robin, but Captain Lochie Macrae insists Wairarapa were hopeful of achieving victory especially when the weather turned sour. "It wasn't a very good day so we figured early on it would be a low scoring game. We wanted to play in their half and try to stay with them. We broke the game down into 15 minutes blocks. Our first goal was to keep them scoreless in the first 15 minutes and we did that. Then we wanted to score or at least prevent them from scoring too heavily. It was 3-0 at halftime. We scored in the final 15 minutes and hung on," Macrae says. Scots became rattled as the game went on. Errors piled up and Macrae could sense the belief of his team building. "Every attack of theirs we foiled was like a small victory. They were pretty quiet and we were pumped. You could tell by their body language they were getting frustrated," Macrae recalls. Wairarapa halfback Guy Percy was named Player of the Match. His tactical kicking was a big part of the visitors’ victory. Using the wind to great effect, a Percy kick helped create the only try of the match. "We kicked into the Scots 22 and managed to force an error. From a five-metre scrum our first-five Jack Harley challenged the line and slipped through. It was a great try," Macrae enthuses. Predictably Scots rallied and spent most of the final ten minutes anchored in the Wairarapa 22. Macrae provides an insight into Wairarapa's emotions. "We were bloody nervous, but determined. Everybody was outstanding and dug deep. Our hooker Cullum Pritchardand No.8 Brad Griffins had huge games," Macrae reflects. On his own performance he says, "I did my job I guess." The last play of the game was a real compliment to the Wairarapa defence. "Scots did a lot of pick and goes, but we shut them down. Their outside backs were dangerous so we tried to stop them from getting the ball. When they got the ball one of them put in a grubber kick which went dead and that was the last play," Macrae remembers. A bus load of supporters from the Gladstone Rugby Club were in attendance. Needless to say the celebrations were memorable. "It was unbelievable. The support was amazing. I just want to thank everybody who came down. It was a special afternoon," Macrae says. Ironically Scots No.8 Jack Loader attended Wairarapa College and played in the local reps for many years with Macrae. This Saturday Wairarapa tackles Wellington College in the semi-finals. Unbeaten Wellington tamed Wairarapa 22-0 in the round-robin, but last year Wairarapa beat Wellington. "We hope we can do it again, but we will be the underdogs," Macrae concludes. Photo Credit: Andy McArthur |
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