Sport

The challenge: Win the Palmerston North Schools’ Rippa Rugby Tournament

The reward:  Travel to North Harbour, meet up with the All Blacks and play in a National Rippa Rugby Tournament around World Cup time

Just making one of the two Riverdale teams to go to the tournament was a test. Many talented players trialled, with 24 finally being selected.  The teams trained every lunchtime for several weeks.  Then came the big day.

Five round robin games were played.  Mr McNaught’s Riverdale Hawks team won won the same number of games as the other teams in its pool, but missed out on the play-offs because of points differential.

Mr McCallum’s Falcons team came top in its pool, won its semi and found themselves in the final.  I’ll leave it up to Samuel P to report what happened:

We are in the final facing Asshurst, our arch enemies.  They score. 0-1 nil to them.  Then again and again.  It’s 0-3.  Now we score three in a row.  Both teams score more tries. The hooter blows and it’s 6-6.  That’s it – we are going to go into extra time.  It’s 2-0 to us, then they score. 2-1. The game is over.  We’ve won.  Everybody rushes on.  We  are handed the trophy. We are told that we will be going to fly up to stay in a motel and see the All Blacks and then we play in the North Harbour Stadium in a Mini World Cup. I am taking a ball up to get signatures on.

The result: Victory

More photos here

Hockey Winners

Congratulations to the Rivertere (Riverdale-Aokautere) team. First place in Division Two Junior Competition.

From Riverdale: Britt, Kieran, Liam, Alan, Josh, Eden

From Aokautere: Quentin, Brodie, Josiah

What an outstanding season you have had.  Thank you to Chris and Michelle Kirk for doing such a great job of coaching and managing the team.

Hockey

Tee Ball Manawatu