It was “pure joy and excitement” at the Māori Touch Nationals on December 1 in Rotorua when a Hauraki team won the open mixed final.
The Hauraki Māori Open Mixed Touch Team took out the open mixed grade in the final match with a score of 6 – 5 against Weraroa.
Team captain Keanu May Matafeo told The Profile it was a suspenseful win in an over-time drop off scenario.
But the team’s success was clearly built on strong relationships. “I think the biggest factor to our success is the chemistry that we have as a team on and off the field.
“We’re all local players that grew up playing together through secondary school and with the Thames Valley.”
Keanu said with that came a core crew with countless trainings and many tournaments “under the teams belt”.
The next goal for the team was to “support local” by attending the Boydys Memorial Touch Tournament in Coromandel, he said.
“Hopefully we can get amongst the younger Thames Valley teams that will be competing and give them support and advice where we can to help with their development.”
Team mate Deija Gray said it was awesome to have a team from Pare Hauraki at the tournament.
“It’s been several years since our iwi last attended so to take home the gold is an even better feeling.”
Deija said she wanted to thank team managers Shaun McRae and Troy Hirawani, and the team’s sponsors, Manavation and Te Kōpū Limited, for their tautoko (support).
