SHOWDOWN: The King Country U16 team perform a haka in their recent quadrangular tournament in Turangi. PHOTO SUPPLIED
TE Kūiti High School’s Payten Sheehan loves sidestepping opponents. The slightly-built fleet footed fullback was part of a King Country U14 team for this year’s representative campaign and made every post a winner. He used his acceleration and footwork to bamboozle several opponents. Payten, who is softly spoken, said he bases his game around Waikato and Chiefs superstar Damian McKenzie. “I just love the way he plays rugby. He’s small but never takes a backward step.” It’s a sport that Payten has grown up around, having been introduced to it when he was five years old through family members. “The trials and games were fun. “We learned some skills and techniques from the coaches and played well.”
‘STOKED’ Like most aspiring rugby players Payten wants to be an All Black but for now, he’s stoked to be representing King Country again. “It’s been good facing Poverty Bay, East Coast and Whanganui.” He enjoyed his season with the Te Kūiti High School under-15s. Meanwhile, it’s been a busy few weeks on the rugby paddock for several of King Country’s aspiring rugby stars. The North King Country U13 team had a thriller against the Bay of Plenty Wasps going down 58-48 in a high-scoring encounter. In other representative matches, the King Country U18 boys’ fell to a disciplined New Zealand Harlequins side 20-15 in a closely fought match, while the secondary school girls team which featured Payten’s schoolmates Morgan Hussey, Naomi Cooper and Masarati Fahey, all of whom were key figures for their school side this season.
ENJOYED PHYSICALITY The trio enjoy the physicality of the game and meeting new opponents, but that didn’t help as they fell to a 31-3 loss to a NZ Harlequins side. All three said making the King Country team was a highlight and they hoped to carry on with their rugby in 2023. Although they didn’t win, they loved the experience and were excited for further matches in the coming weeks. The King Country U16 team fared well at their Heartland Quad Tournament in Turangi winning two of their three fixtures. They knocked over East Coast 17-5 and Thames Valley 24-12 before falling to a strong Wairarapa Bush outfit 27-5. This weekend a strong contingent of King Country players have been selected in a Chiefs Heartland under-20s team to face their Hurricanes counterparts in Napier this Saturday.
SELECTED Halfback Liam Wano, fullback Cory Sargent and team-mate Kane Barlow have been selected from Waitomo, Taupō Sports supply Huia Anderson, Brandon Pakome and fleet-footed fly half Jaxyn Tufala. Piopio duo Nathan Crooks and Brock Gower are part of the squad as is Bush United’s Zylar Hatu-Pratt and Tongariro duo blindside flanker Nicholas Spence and Jarvis Ali. King Country’s women’s team have also been playing some games and will line up again next weekend against the Ngāti Porou East Coast Wahine. Some rippa rugby tournaments have also been held throughout the King Country.
