Under 15s in action at Te Kūiti’s Centennial Park
Tauranga City Tridents and Taranaki Kraken flag football teams clashed at Centennial Park on Sunday, showcasing a game set to feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Three-pronged – three Tridents, all from the Hayward family LtoR: Lewis, Nat and Manoa
The event was held while the Ōtorohanga and Waipā districts battled slips and flooding, the weather in Te Kūiti played ball.
“It went really well,” Tridents’ club president Alex Hatwell told The News. “Despite heavy rain in the days leading up to it, Centennial Park was a great venue and the ground was reasonably solid. We had a bit of rain throughout the day, but nothing that disrupted play.”
Effectively, flag football is a five-aside, non-contact version of American football where players aim to remove an opponent’s flag rather than tackle.
Featuring 24 games across all divisions, the first Coastal Bowl contested in the King Country was a hit with crowds, Hatwell said.
The Tridents dominated the scoreboard winning the Men’s, Women’s, Legend’s (seniors) Under 20s and Under 15 showdowns. However, the Kraken wasn’t entirely leashed – Taranaki teams secured the Under 12s and Under 10s.
The Coastal Bowl trophy
“Both the women’s and legends series were fierce with four of the six games decided by less than one score, so the competition was a lot tougher than some of the results might make it seem.”
Based on its reception, Te Kūiti will likely host more flag football in future, Hatwell said.
“We’re really grateful to the Waitomo District Council for making the venue available and supporting the event, and we’d absolutely love to come back,” he said. “The response was encouraging, and we’d love to keep building momentum in the region. We’d love to see more clubs popping up in the regions and helping build a vibrant scene outside of the main centres.”
It’s not quite as grand as the Superbowl, the Coastal Bowl was more about the games than the halftime show.
“Lorde, Alien Weaponry, Marlon Williams, Shihad and Kaylee Bell all (politely) turned down our requests, but we’ll try again next year!” Hatwell said. “But there was plenty of action on the field, which is the main thing for us.”
The tournament provided the teams with a chance to dust off the cobwebs before the sport’s national championships in late March. In addition, it was intended to grow the game and attract new players.
However, King Country Ram’s fans need not be nervous – as it’s a summer code, poaching players is not the aim, Hatwell said.
“There are plenty of transferable skills between the two codes, but American football, both flag and contact, is played over summer in New Zealand so it fits in nicely alongside rugby. It could be a great way for Rams’ players to stay fit, keep their skills sharp and try something different.”
Even in Meadsville, the sport could take off.
“Te Kūiti is a great central meeting point for both clubs – the Kraken and the Tridents. Raising the profile of the game in regional communities is important,” Hatwell said. “Then, if there’s enough interest locally, we’d love to see the game grow here and eventually support the development of a club in the King Country.”
Under 15s in action at Te Kūiti’s Centennial Park
