Friday, 03 September 2010
OPOTIKI JAB rugby teams won four of the seven Eastern Bay finals matches played last weekend.
In the under-9 final, Opotiki beat Whakatane 50-10, in the under-10s they beat Kawerau 30-25, Whakatane under-11s went down 29-10 and they beat Paroa 55-7 in the under-13s.
In other games, Te Teko beat Kawerau 16-11 in the under-7s final, Kawerau defeated the Opotiki Stags in the under-8s 70-0, and Kawerau beat Opotiki 39-36 in the under-12s.
Whakatane’s under-9 team had gone through the season unbeaten – their worst results being draws against Opotiki and Kawerau.
The boys were confident and were looking for a good result. The game started well, with both teams looking very evenly matched. Opotiki took the lead, but Whakatane countered. Half way through the first half it was tied at two tries each and looked to be a tight game.
But in a piece of brilliance, Opotiki got a runaway try and from that point there was no looking back for the visitors. Opotiki played a well-structured game and had great fitness. They went in to half time with a good lead and came out firing in the second half.
The Whakatane under-11s also played Opotiki. They had trained hard for their game and were keen to live up to their standing as “top of the table” team. During the year Whakatane had played Opotiki twice, earning one win and one loss. Both sides were well drilled and both had a healthy respect for one another. The Opotiki team came into this final having won their previous five finals in the various age groups, they were determined to make this number 6 and they succeeded.
The Te Teko under-7s team won the Julian and Donna Tunui Trophy for its win over Kawerau.