Rugby: Te Puna event a good warm-up for new season

Enjoying the rugby at Te Puna are left to right, Paora Elder, Tekapene Williams and Cassidy Brown. Photo/George Novak

It was everything rugby should be - fast, tight, loose and physical.

A considerable amount more fluid than the 15-a-side game and without the cheap novelty factor that sometimes pervades when just seven men are tasked with defending the entire width of a rugby paddock.

It was the Te Puna 10s, and it was outstanding rugby union. Te Puna won the tournament - breaking Whakarewarewa's hold on the tournament with a 17-0 shut out in the semifinal - with young gun Te Aihe Toma named player of the tournament.

The home side proved far too strong for a gallant Arataki in the final after the red-and- blacks based side spent plenty of petrol subduing Rangataua 22-21 in their semifinal.

The match between Arataki and Ngati Hangarau to decide a semifinal spot was a ripper; culminating in Billy Russell sealing a 10-5 victory for Arataki with a flat duck of a drop goal which barely made it over the bar as replacement referee Amon Rimene's time expired.

Tournament organiser Aidan Kuka described the annual tournament as a great way to bring the clubs together.

"We've had this tournament for 17 years and it's an event on the calendar now. The clubs support it and we are thankful for that," Kuka said. "It's a good drawcard. We try to get the whole club involved, not just the premier team. Today we have four teams so we have done well.

"It's a good day for us. The people always come out and that's what it's about."

The tournament, including a team consisting of some ex-pat Te Puna players now living in Australia, enjoyed a solid crowd that grew as the muggy weather improved throughout the day. Kuka said the tournament was the ideal way for the club to build into the season ahead.