North Harbour Amateur Representative Rugby Report – 7 October

On Sunday 8 October Hibiscus Women travelled to Nelson to play bottom placed Tasman Makos in a Mitre 10 Cup curtain-raiser and came away with a 25-12 win. The game was played in waterlogged conditions which had a significant effect on how the game was played.  The Hibiscus struggled at times to gain ascendancy in the first half but they led 8 – 7 at half time with a try and penalty.  However, in the second half they scored an additional 3 tries and a conversion to win by 25 to 12 to achieve maximum competition points. Tries went to Olivia Ward-Duin, Claudia McMeekin, Kate Williams and Laishon Jones with McMeekin kicking a conversion and Sophie Fisher a penalty.  Now running third in the championship on 9 points with a semi-final spot secure, Harbour will play second placed Otago (on 10 points) to finish pool play back at QBE Stadium on Sunday 15 October.  Semi-finals will be Saturday 21 October.

Te Raki Pae Whenua North Harbour Maori continued their representative season with the U17 team overwhelming Taranaki 72-12 win at Waitemata RFC, Auckland in the second of three rounds of the Te Hiku O Te Ika Northern Region Maori Tournament.   Maori Seniors had the bye.  The final round is at Rotorua International Stadium on Saturday 14 October and the Maori seniors will play Te Awaiariki Bay of Plenty and Maori U17 face Tamaki Makaurau Auckland.

The North Harbour Roller Mills team are in tournament mode on Tuesday 10 October at St Peters College, Cambridge in the Waikato. They went down to Auckland West 24-36 in their first game, a pre-tournament competition fixture 30 September.   Harbour will play Taranaki at 3pm on Tuesday,  Bay of Plenty at 12.45pm on Wednesday, have a bye on the Thursday and play Thames Valley on Friday at 12.15pm in pool play.  Semi -finals/play-offs are on Saturday 14 October and Finals Sunday 15 October.