Maori

NZ Inter-Regional Maori Team

Congratulations to the following North Harbour players who have been selected for New Zealand Inter-Regional Maori Teams (paper team only) following their performances for Te Hiku O Te Ika (Northern) in the inter-regional Maori games against Te Tini A Maui (Central) and Te Waipounamu (Southern):

Senior Team
* Leigh Thompson (North Shore)

Colts Team
* Karetai Williams (East Coast Bays)
* Jake Ruwhiu (North Shore)
* Jacob Botica (North Shore)
* Raniera Takarangi (Glenfield)

These players are a credit to the coaching staff, their clubs and union for their willingness to play to the very best of their abilities. On behalf of the 2012 Te Raki Pae Whenua coaches and managers we are very proud of these men.

"Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini"
Success is not the work of one, but the work of many.

Te Hiku o te Ika North Region Maori Tournament, Saturday 3rd March, Hautapu RFC, Cambridge 

Maori Colts Final: Harbour Maori Colts vs (Tainui) Waikato Maori Colts

Harbour Maori Colts 19 - Waikato Maori Colts 29

North Harbour took on the much talked about weather bomb to put a 1st class selection of U21 players on the field to face Waikato in a final for the Te Hiku o te Ika Colts trophy.  Both teams fronted as undefeated contenders in this years competition with North Harbour beating Auckland and Northland in the Northern half and Tainui dispensing of Counties Manukau and Waiariki (BoP) in the South.

The enthusiasm and passion delivered in both teams haka was a great display of preparedness and set the tone for a fierce and intense battle.

Weather conditions played an integral part of match play and North Harbour battled against the wind for the 1st half showing great determination to contest the barrage of wind gusts and Waikato’s attacks at the same time.  It was inevitable that this half was very much a defensive campaign for North Harbour Maori and Waikato took just 10 minutes to draw 1st blood with a try and conversion to start the points – 7 Nil.
 
Michael Little set up North Harbours 1st points with a great break through the Tainui backs and Raniera Takarangi took the honours to score near the posts, Jacob Botica slotting the conversion.  Waikato attacked hard but were evenly matched by North Harbours defensive line however 3 min to half time, Waikato got the better and went to the break leading 14 – 7.

The 2nd half looked promising for North Harbour but Waikato’s rejuvenated approach saw them score 8 minutes on from the whistle.  North Harbour worked well to put Tainui in check and Raniera followed through for a well worked try in the corner.  North Harbour had pitched camp on the Waikato 22 but an opportune intercept by the Waikato fullback saw a 71m dash to the line and Tainui were in a great leading position 29 – 12 with 20 mins to play. 

North Harbour continued to show their resilience with some really positive set plays and in the 32nd minute, Jacob Botica crossed over and took the score to 19 for Harbour.  A huge effort in the last 5 minutes wasn’t enough to find the 11 points needed to win the game and Harbour succumbed to the Runners Up title at the end whistle. Final Score 29 / 19 – Waikato.

Point scorers for Harbour

Jacob Botica - 1 Try, 2 conversions

Raniera Takarangi - 2 Tries

Congratulations to the following Colts selected to represent Te Hiku O Te Ika:
Ray Hutton, Will Friconnet, Michael Little, Jake Ruwhiu, Blake Hall, Blair Rush, Karetai Williams, Raniera Takarangi and Jacob Botica.

A great Colts campaign which our North Harbour Maori whanau are really proud of.  Acknowledgements to the coaches, players and supporting staff of all our whanau. I look forward to the challenge of uplifting the Winners trophy in 2013.

Te Hiku o te Ika North Region Maori Tournament, Saturday 3rd March, Hautapu RFC, Cambridge 

Harbour Maori vs Counties Manukau Maori

The final game against Counties Manukau Maori was cancelled due to Counties unable to field a team. This result placed Harbour in 3rd position overall. The 2012 season was very disjointed in that only one game was played against Auckland. This one game ensured the Te Hiku o te Ika (Northern) selectors saw enough of our players to include them in their regional team to meet Te Tini A Maui (Central ) and Te Waipounamu (Southern). Congratulations to Leigh Thompson, Jaime King Ewe and Karyss Adams on their selection. They will be playing against Southern Maori at Waitemata RFC, Auckland 10th March 2012 then Central Maori 17 March 2012 in Manawatu.  Management and coaching staff wish these 3 and our colts that were selected the very best.  “Whakanui ai i te mana - Building the mana of Maori Rugby”

From the onset of meeting at Hato Petera at 10.15 the Colts were well tuned to deliver a topline performance.  The tone was set by Northlands haka at the start of the match and North Harbour stood strong to inhale that haka energy and harness it for their use over the next 80 minutes.

Northland were 1st on the score board with a penalty early in the half.  They presented an aggressive approach to tie North Harbour up in their own half for the 1st 20 minutes and a converted try took the visitors to a 10 nil lead.  The North Harbour team settled to ignite their own game patterns and propelled across the line for 3 tries – 2 of which Jacob Botica converted.  A penalty also added to the scoreboard and at half time North Harbour had claimed the lead 22-10.

Training paid off for North Harbour in the 2nd half and continued ball possession meant North Harbour capitalised on the panicking Northlanders to cross over for 3 more tries.  The North Harbour backline clearly shining over the Northland defence.  Not to be completely put out of the picture – Northland received a penalty after a North Harbour high shot and yellow card in front of the sticks and a late charge managed to get them over in the corner for a consolation 5 points.

North Harbour showed a great flare of individual talent throughout the game and this was reigned in to compliment the 15 man effort being made to send Northland home 41-18. A feat not able to be managed by North Harbour for several years past.  A proud effort and well deserved win.

Thanks to Mahurangi RFC for their host and catering contributions – it was very well presented and received! Thanks to Stuart Parsons for refs duties. Thanks to Northland Colts but most importantly thanks to Te Raki Pae Whenua Colts – a glorious day had by all.

Point scorers for Harbour

Jacob Botica - 1 penalty and 4 conversions

Jack Ruwhiu - 2 tries

Michael Little - Try

Raniera Takarangi - Try

Franck Friconnet - Try

Karetai Williams - Try

Harbour Maori vs Auckland Maori, Sunday 12th February, Waitemata RFC

Harbour Maori 25 - Auckland Maori 19

The North Harbour Maori team played their 1st competition game against Auckland Maori on Sunday 12th Feb 2012.  The team comprised of a few new faces and some old hands whose guidance on the field ensured that North Harbour held on for a very hard fought win.

Harbour were ably led by Leigh Thompson who showed the grit and determination to seal a North Harbour victory with a rampaging run from just within the Auckland half to seal the victory after leading 20–19. North Harbour's front row, Jaime King-Ewe the youthful Tank Hina and Karl Shepherd dominated up front to ensure our scrum never faltered. Jaime’s youthful enthusiasm providing an extra gear amongst  the tiring forwards.

The backline were superbly served by Matt Clarke at 9 and Clayton Kiwara at 10. Having a quality combination like these 2 makes play a lot easier for those outside backs. Rewi Norman running at 15, Sean Cooper and Baden Woodman used the ball wisely and were unfortunate to not dot down.  To back up our 9 and 10, Raniera Takarangi and Jacob Botica came off the bench with 20 minutes after having played 80 minutes of colts rugby. They showed the maturity to step up and still provide the quality service to the outside backs as well as front up on defence.

Final score North Harbour Maori 25 – Auckland Maori 19 and North Harbour still holders of the Peter Maihi trophy.

Point scorers for Harbour

Matt Clarke – Try, 2 penalties and 2 conversions

Leigh Thompson – 2 tries