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Hawks celebrate making finals
After struggling to field a team at the start of the season, the Otamatea Hawks turned its fortunes around, making the final of the South Zone Championship last month.
Coach Mike Peeni said he was excited for the future of the club after a great season with strong player turnout.
His highlight was a match held at the Maungaturoto Club in which the Hawks beat table leaders Mid-Western. It was Mid-Western’s only loss of the season.
“We turned that match into a family rugby day and had a lolly scramble with the kids at half-time. We focused on building the culture this season and it turned it around for us.”
Ultimately, it was Mid-Western that took the final off the Hawks at 27 to 20.
Coach Peeni said seeing the Otamatea club thriving again was more important than winning the championship.
Toby Phillips and John Luke Whitehead received their 100-game jerseys this season.
Coach Peeni said two players who had moved up from the under-18s team, Tyrone DeArdenne and Lewis Harris, had also had an excellent season. Both have been selected for the Northland under-19s team.
Mangawhai Netball under investigation
At a special general meeting last month, the Mangawhai Netball Club resolved that the Rodney Netball Centre and Netball Northern Zone would take over governance and administration of the club. There will also be an investigation into the affairs of the club.
“While the investigation is conducted, we appreciate members’ support and cooperation in managing sensitive conversations to retain an amicable and inclusive culture,” centre president Kelly Ayres said in a statement.
“We understand that this is an unsettling time for the club and the Rodney Netball Centre is committed to working as quickly as possible to ensure the season is completed and teams are not unduly affected.”
Kaiwaka weightlifter win
Athlete Bernie Hall, 45, beat the young bucks in their 20s at the national masters and juniors powerlifting competition last month.
He successfully performed a 260kg deadlift, earning him the trophy for best overall men’s deadlift.
He had been aiming for his personal best and the world record of 275kgs, but was caught out by a referee for allowing the bar to touch his thighs. Repeating the lift left him fatigued before his final attempt.
He will have two further chances to attempt the record this year. “I’m never going to give up on chasing that record. I’ve been after it for so long,” Hall says.
Banks selected for Harbour NPC
Warkworth’s Kade Banks has been selected for the North Harbour premier squad for the Bunnings NPC as an outside.
It is his second season playing for the team and has him one step closer to his dream of playing for the All Blacks.
Bank’s first match of the season will be against Waikato on Sunday, August 8, at 2pm at the North Harbour Stadium.
Banks has also been playing for Takapuna Rugby Club and the Mahurangi Sevens team.
Pickleballers leave rivals salty
Mahurangi Pickleball won its first ever exchange with Pickleball Auckland Central last month.
The Auckland team was a combination of top players from five clubs.
Over two hours of play, Mahurangi took the win, with nine matches to six, in a gruelling showdown at the Mahurangi College gym.
Auckland Central will have the chance to “get its revenge” later in the year.
Meanwhile, club members Murray and Bev Billington also took gold in the super mixed division at the pickleball Mid Canterbury Winter Classic in Ashburton, last month.
The Mahurangi Pickleball club plays on Tuesdays at Mahurangi College from 7pm to 9pm. It costs $5 to play, including use of bats, and all are welcome.TT
