Ice blocks fund Aims

Selling purple ice blocks for a dollar each made a big contribution to the Papakura Normal School’s Rip Rugby players getting to Zespri AISM Games this year.

The sales formed part of the fundraising efforts for the team, who formed especially for the tournament.

There is no current Rip Rugby programme at the school, instead, students from Year 7 and 8 banded together to represent the school in the biggest intermediate-aged sporting event in Australasia.

One of the students is Rose Lepua, a member of the Rip Rugby team representing the school in this years’ games.

Rose says it’s their first time at the games, and, though “the traffic’s bad”, she loved the opportunity. She especially loves playing here because she can see the skills of the competing team and be able to raise her game.

Rose says “it’s a “big opportunity “ she says, though they say that they have only won one game. They’re quick to criticise themselves and are modest when they recount their performance.

Similarly, Waimarie Tuhaka, 13, from Whangarei Intermediate is also playing Rip Rugby. She says that “playing with (the) team” is the best thing about the event.

Waimarie has been at Aims for three days and will be here another two, but says that this will be her last year competing, as she will be off to high school next year.

Papakura Normal School scored 57-64 in the Rip Rugby Finals and placed 61 in the field of 99, while Whangarei Intermediate scored 41-48 in their final match and placed 48 overall.