Auckland Rugby League Tournament

Just last week our school League team went down to Cornwall park to challenge for the best school in Auckland at Rugby League. I was very excited about this and couldn't wait to go. I was confident that our team could go all the way, we had the right mix of fitness, speed and strength.

We already knew that this tournament would be nowhere near easy for us. We would have to dig deep and give all of the matches our best effort. We were put into a tough pool, with the big guns and reigning champions De La Salle College, a big team in Wesley College and the unknown Rosmini College. We were in for a tough ride if we wanted to make the semi finals.

We played to our potential and won all three matches, we were quite excited to be in the Semis and were prepared to go one step further. We were up against a fast moving Kedgley Intermediate.
We were unfortunate to lose by a try in extra time. I was quite stunned by the result seeing as it was the last time that we would be playing together as brothers, other than that I had an awesome time competing against other school. I just can’t wait until next year...

North VS South Region Of Origin Game 2

For the past few weeks I have been training for a team called the Auckland North U 13’s. We are playing a three match series against the South Auckland U 13’s. So far we have played 2 games, we won the first game 30-12, and just today we took the series out winning the match 38-4.

The field conditions were perfect not to hard and not to soft but the real problem for both sides was going to be the terrible wind. With the windy conditions going against the South boys North kicked off but soon recieved the ball back with the ball swaying and bouncing straight to the touch line. The South Aucklanders were able to hold us out early in the game. But when our monstrous forwards were able to get good quick balls while the South boys were still back peddaling caused by quick play the balls we managed to get on the score board first with a try. From this first try our forwards were able to get good with space to run which gave us good field possesion. So we ran out to a 12 point lead. Though the momentum had changed from a mistake in our own half with the South boys camping in our half ordering a try which was scored with some good quick hands out wide to score. The score was then 12 - 4 to North.

Dissappointed in our efforts to stop South from scoring we were able to get the ball back and our forwards to get us back out to a 12 point lead. The conversion succesful which meant that the score would 18-4. From that point on we dominated the game scoring try after try, the score ended up being 38-4. We were proud of our efforts and enjoyed the match. After the game I had a chat with some of my friends from the other team and had a good laugh. We are all looking forward to the last game. There is some talk that the last game will be played at Mt Smart Stadium!!! That would be a dream come true!

U13’s Game 2: 38-4 To North
U14’s Game 2: 16-16 DrawNorth VS South Region Of Origin Game 2

Mount Wellington off to an Impressive Start!!!

Two weeks ago we played our very first game of the season, we played against Bay Roskill again (We played them in our pre season game) we won 38-6. This week we played a big team in the Richmond Bulldogs. Their forward pack were quite big, all close to hitting the 6 foot mark, maybe even 6 foot!!! On the day we both played gutsy footy, both sides leaving big gaps in the defence. In the end we beat Richmond 42-10, we managed to take control of the game and use the ball quite well. I put together a clip of the highlights from our team take a look.(I'm #13!!!)

Mount Wellington U14's Season Under Way!!!

After weeks of training, my club team, Mt Wellington U14's league team had our first hit out against a willing Bay Roskill team, we went out to Block house bay and played tough footy, with our valuble forwards 'Wayjo' getting injured in the first minute and another hard working forward 'George' and myself both getting sent off because of bleeding noses. The team basiclly played with only 11 players for most of the game.

The opposition were quite big, but as part of playing league you got to think to yourself 'Size doesn't matter'. We managed to get their big men tired beating them 10-16. All of our team played quite well with good, tough defence it was a pretty good start to the season. Our first real game game for the season is this week so we'll prepare for it. We really enjoyed the game and can't wait for the season to get under way. (TIGERS WON!!!)

Kiwis:Almost There Boys

The Kiwi Jersey brought an unexpected attitude to the game. They played a lot better than expected and could of drawn but lost to the Australians 8-12. The young pack of Kiwis played with loads of momentum and had the Aussies on there feet for quite a while. Debutant Zeb Taia had a good game for a start. He made a few yards and gave them a few offloads.

The Kiwis were well in the game throughout the opening half but the score went to the Australians 6-0. But through the beginning of the second half the Australians ran in a try for Dragon Winger Brett Morris which gave him two tries for the night. With ten minutes on the clock the Kiwis had to do something. So a Kiwis move and a perfect execution from Lance Hohaia gave Dragons right side Winger Jason Nightingale a try in the corner. Rabbitohs superstar hooker Issac Luke missed the kick from out wide and the score remained 12-4.

With five minutes left the Kiwis sent Junior Sau over the line with his incredible strength. Once again Issac Luke missed the conversion and the game seemed like it was over with the score 8 to 12. In the end the Kiwis played a really good game losing by 4 points this was only because of conversions.

Let's hope the Kiwis will take the confidence from that game and crush them in the Four Nations Thanks to http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/image.cfm?1 for the picture. GO THE TIGERS!!!!!!!(Next game against the Rabbitohs!!)

Big Deal:You Spoke To The Mayor Of Auckland

It was one extraordinary day, You know why? I got up close and personal to the MAYOR OF AUCKLAND!!!

THE Mayors name was John Banks. He came to our school to talk about some issues that we have here at our school. Helen Tui and Paulitia introduced him to our school and brought him into the room where we normally have our meetings. As soon as he came into the room our presenting team started to present.

I was a bit nervous when it was my turn but once I settled into my speech I was comfortable to talk. After we finished our presentation we sat down and had a korero with the Mayor. We gave him a presentation on how our changing rooms at our local beach are always locked. We also talked to him in depth about the cost of our local pools and how we could solve the problem.

He was very impressed with the way we showed him our presentation.

He started talking, but the thing I was most interested in was when he said "I could easily go back to my office, take these papers and get to the bottom of this," But! "I'm going to make you guys speak for yourselves! It was quite cool to know that John Banks knew that we could speak for ourselves!! He then said " First you're going to make a presentation for the Community Board" "WOW!!!" I thought in my head. But if that doesn't work out then your going to make another presentation for the AUCKLAND City Council. That was so cool to know!!!

"I'm sending you on a journey" is what he said to us. When I thought about what we had just accomplished. It seemed like we had done we had done a good job. I can't wait for what lies ahead for the future of our school

Storm Result: We Show NO Mercy

The Storm came into the match with a furious strike showing that the incident had no part of their emotions in the thrashing against the Warriors. The ending score was 40-6! The Warriors played the role of sitting duck's. The Storm sent the Warriors under the pump through out the whole game.

Some of the Storm players were a bit dirty, starting scraps, causing arguments and people getting on report. The Storm fired with thunder forgetting what had happened. Warriors fill in Captain Micheal Luck was deeply considering trouble maker Brett White as a nasty little man. White was quite disturbing to the Warriors Captain gave him a piece of his mind chucking in a few blows before team mates stopped him. The Warriors only try went to the Tongan Powerhouse Ukuma Ta'ai. Ukuma took a bit of anger off his shoulders chucking the ball at Billy Slater's head which caused a bit of grief between the to teams. It was a fantastic display of footy by the Storm , they have to keep playing like that if they want to get through this season.....GO THE TIGERS!!!!!!!!!

My Day With The Legendary RUBEN WIKI!!!

Last Year in 2008 Point England Primary School won the Auckland Rugby League competition for Primary Schools. We won the over 45kg section. As part of winning this competition we won a Hubbards Breakfast. This breakfast happened today!!

MAN!! What an awesome day! Today Point England Primary School was visited by the Auckland Rugby League Development,the Auckland Police and one of the BEST Kiwi in the history of Rugby League...he has played 312 games...guess who it is......RUBEN WIKI!!! Everybody was so excited when they heard the news that RUBEN WIKI was coming to our school! The other cool thing about this day was that we had a Hubbard's breakfast with the legend too! While we were eating breakfast we saw clips of Ruben when he was still playing Rugby League, he looked amazing in his League days but I'm not saying that he isn't good now!! He's still super!

After that we had some training drills with the Auckland Rugby League,the Police and of course RUBEN WIKI!! First of all we were split into three groups,then we were taken to one activity each. First I started with Jerry Seuseu (ex-Warrior, Kiwi) from the Auckland Rugby League association. My second station was with Keith who visited our school earlier this year with the Rugby League World Cup. My third and final station was with Ruben Wiki!! All three stations covered basics skill when you play Rugby League the whole time the police offices were helping out with activities too!

Our final game was a game by the name of ''Bullrush'' It is a game when some people stay in the middle of the field,some people are behind a line,after that one of the people in the middle will say ''Bullrush!!'' Then the people behind a line would try to get past the people who are in the middle without getting touched or tackled - it was fun watching the police running in their full uniforms!

After a while there were a few people left Jerry called out ''Bullrush!'' I ran into the biggest gap I could, I thought I was going to be safe but no I was wrong - straight ahead was a Policeman. I was frightened I tried to step him, he reached with a ball I jumped in the air and he had just missed me. He still hadn't given up yet, he was chasing me down the sideline. I said to him ''Laters!!'' I sprinted as hard as I could - the policeman had his serious face on as if he was chasing a real criminal! I dived over the line like Israel Folau just before the Policeman - what a day!!

I had the honour of thanking all the people who made today possible.

Thanks to Ruben Wiki you are truly a legend, I am very blessed to have had this day with you.

Thanks to Hubbards for all the yummy cereal, milk and fruit. My favourite cereal was Big Bugs in Mud! Delicious.

Thanks to ARL for our drills, the world cup and organising this for us. You have done a great job.

Our local Police officers - I'm glad that you came along and helped with the activities.

Last but not least thanks Miss Va'afusuaga for making this possible. None of this would of happened without you!!