Sports Results – Term 1, Weeks 3 & 4
Touch Rugby
The following players from WBHS played at the NZ Touch Youth Nationals representing Te Tai Tokerau in the U18’s Boys team: Jack Saunders, Jayden Steward, Reef Sofala, Henare Parangi, Tobias Marsh, Rhythm Taua-Glassie, Toko Tito, Dreyahn Mahanga-Edmonds and Tamatoa Hebden-Penitoa. They placed 8th.
The following WBHS players played in the U16’s Boys team at the tournament:
Ali Crewther, Duan Galvin, Jordan Parangi, Kawana Te Iringa, Te Aarahi Tito, Kingston Utakea
The team placed 9th out of 14 teams, losing by 1 point to the winning team, Counties Manukau in the round robin games.
Sonny-Beau Waddington-Connelly played for the TTT U18 Mixed Team. They placed 9th out of 12 teams
Rowing
WBHS rowers competing for the Whangarei Rowing Club had a fantastic NZ Rowing Champs at Karapiro. The Novice Mens’ four of Tai Pullen, Fergus Manson, Hugh Manson, Devin Armstrong and Guy Manson as cox pulled off a stunning race to snatch the silver after a bad start. Lagging back in 5th for much of the race, the boys went feral with Fergus leading the charge with his usual gusto to work their way through the pack to the silver medal position.
Later in the day Fergus and Tai had a late surge to try and snatch the bronze in the novice double, but fell just short taking the 4th position.
Devin and Hugh raced a well executed novice double and took second in the B final.
Casey Podesta took a third in the B final of the Intermediate single and raced really well with Fergus in the Intermediate double. They ended up in the fastest semi, so ended up just missing the A final.
Tamati Caldwell and Sam Mandeno joined Devin and Hugh in the quad with coach Chris McAseys daughter, Brooke, doing all the yelling at the boys from the cox seat.
They made the A final and took 6th place.
Remembering that this is an open regatta and the boys were racing men at times, it bodes well for their peak event which is the North Island Secondary Schools in a couple of weeks.