OPOTIKI Tai Mitchell chairman Tony Howe was proud of the team’s performance over the weekend in spite of facing bigger and more experienced teams, Opotiki’s Tai Mitchell rugby team fought hard.
The four-day tournament at Rotorua Boys High School started last Thursday, finishing on Sunday, with Te Puke taking first place.
Opotiki finished eighth in the competition, but Howe said it had been “a pretty solid tournament”.
“We had some pretty close games, and the kids didn’t get thrashed,” he said.
Howe said the small but dedicated team had “given it everything they could” over four days and five games.
“I was really proud of them,” he said.
Following their performances, four Opotiki players were hand-picked to trial for the Bay of Plenty Under 13 rep team, who will compete in the Northern Roller Mills rugby tournament in October.
Trialists Kalin Elmiger, Kodre Tai, Kasey Hiwarau and Karlos Howe will compete for a place in the team over coming weeks, with selections expected in mid-August.
Results for Opotiki in the Tai Mitchell tournament Opotiki lost 34–24 to Rotorua Maroon; Opotiki beat Galatea 26–12; Opotiki lost 33–17 to Tauranga North; Opotiki lost 33–20 to Tauranga North.
In the seventh and eighth place play-off Opotiki lost 26–31 to Rotorua Maroon.
