• Bay touch side wins Maori Nationals title

Bay touch side wins Maori Nationals title

Talk about exceeding expectations ... Te Matau A Maui's Open Women's team did at the weekend's Maori Touch Nationals in Rotorua.

The Anaru Bartlett-coached side won the four-team Open Women's grade with a 4-3 victory against Tauranga Moana in the final.

Co-captain of the sole Hawke's Bay team at the International Stadium-hosted event, 16-year-old Karamu High School Year 11 student Reiley Bartlett (pictured below), received the taonga for the Wahine Player of the Tournament award.

"Reiley showed maturity beyond her years and really stood out as a player and a leader," her father and coach Anaru Bartlett said.

"Our campaign was more about the journey and the progress the girls are making from when most of them started as an under-14 team two years ago.

Winning was a bonus but the attitude and maturity the girls had shown in a National Open Women's tournament was outstanding. We can't wait to find out what the future holds for these girls," coach Bartlett said.

He pointed out only two of the 12 players were over 20 and the team travelled north without three regular first stringers.

"All three watched the livestreaming of the girls matches and they now know they face a big challenge to get their starting berths back. Most of the sides we faced had experienced international players on their rosters," coach Barlett added.

In the final the score was 3-all at the end of regulation time. Te Matau A Maui started the drop off with the ball and five players and scored. Tauranga Moana were unable to reply.

In the semifinal Te Matau A Maui beat Ngapuhi Ahi from Counties-Manukau 6-5 courtesy of a length of the field touch down from Hine Soloman after an intercept of a long pass on the final hooter. The Ngapuhi Ahi team included several New Zealand age grade reps and former Touch Black captain and current Touch Black Open Women's team coach Jean Waaka.

In round robin play Te Matau A Maui drew 8-all with Tauranga Moana, beat Waikato's Raukawa Ki Waikato 6-4 and lost 6-5 to Ngapuhi Ahi.

In February the team will compete in a Waikato-hosted tournament for the country's top eight club sides and the Hawke's Bay-hosted Waitangi Weekend Clubs Classic before heading to the Christchurch hosted national tournament in March.

The full team pictured in the photo above (with ages in brackets) is:

Back: Angel TeHiko (18), Ratahi Corbett (15), Holand Marsh (16), Monique Poa (16) Laine Robinson-Bartlett (22), Ranche Honotapu (15).

Front: Llewellyn Combs (26), Tiaana Rolls (15), Hine Soloman (17), Reiley Bartlett (16, co-captain), Parish Kelly-Harmer (15), Shyan Murphy (18, co-captain).