Ki o Rahi team snare bronze at nationals

Te Kūiti High School senior Ki o Rahi team punched well above their weight at the recent National Secondary School Championships.

An outstanding performance at the nationals in Rotorua saw them bring home the bronze medal.

On day one, they produced four superb performances to go through unbeaten.

First up was Bay of Islands, who they smashed 43-16; second to suffer defeat to the talented Te Kūiti side was a Lincoln/Waihora combined side, who lost 18-10.

In their third game, the Te Kūiti side hammered Central Hawkes Bay 33-4, while in their final clash of the opening day they knocked over Tongariro 19-9.

Topping their pool meant they were in a strong position on day two and first up they defeated a Dannevirke team 17-15, while in their next clash they came from behind to win by a point and secure a spot in the top four.

They lost their semifinal against Gisborne, who went on to finish second in the final.

Te Kūiti High School coach Nano Te Whare was incredibly proud of his team and their effort at nationals.

“It was awesome. It was cool. Huge achievement for Te Kūiti High School.

“I am really proud of them. They have put in plenty of hard work to try and get to where they are, so to go to nationals and finish third equal was an awesome achievement.”

Their goal for the nationals was to make the top eight.

“I told the students there on the opening day that we had the team to go all the way.

“We are always striving to make the top eight, making that is always one of our biggest goals and anything further is huge for our small school.”

They had the chance to finish outright third but wanted to watch the final, which was scheduled for the same time as their clash, so they opted to share third with their opponents, Te Kura O Te Kaokaoroa O Patetere.

“Our game was at the same time as the final.

“Third is huge for us.”

“All the sacrifices we had to make for trainings and everything else were worth it.

“Coming third is awesome.

“It’s so cool looking back and getting the results we did.”

Captain Potahi McTanish said Ki o Rahi nationals were a great experience for her team.

“It was awesome. We loved it. Something new for us to do and we loved the experience.”

McTanish, who has moved across from Piopio College and is in her second year playing the sport, said coming third was special.

“It was cool we placed third. We were buzzing with that result.”

She said the level of competition varied throughout the tournament.

“Some teams were very good and really challenged us, while others weren’t quite as difficult.”

The school also has a team heading to the junior nationals in Wellington later in the year.