Touch: Unfinished business for Bay junior touch team

Bay of Plenty under-15 touch team pictured with McFall Fuel's Sheryl Dawson, who donated travel bags for their trip.

After months of training, fundraising and game time the Bay of Plenty under-15 boys' touch team will compete at the NZ Junior Nationals touch tournament to be held in Christchurch on February 12-14.

Bay of Plenty is sending four under-15 and three under-17 teams plus a group of referees to the nationals with a contingent of around 120 players/managers and officials.

The Bay of Plenty under-15 team is made up of five players from Rotorua, six from Whakatane and two from Tauranga. Eight of the players return from the previous season when they made the finals but unfortunately had to settle for a silver medal.

The team's aim of this week is to move through pool play and then on to finals.

They want to extemd a huge thank you to all their parents, supporters and sponsors for assisting with the fundraising and gathering of money to attend the nationals.

Each player had to raise $1000 each in order to travel to the prestigious tournament.

They would like to thank the following businesses that helped the team: Event Personnel, Mair Venison, ASB Bank Whakatane and McFall Fuel.

Bay of Plenty under-15 team:

Rotorua - Jordan Tuakana-Hudson, Kalem Strickland, Caleb Piua, Khacey Piua and Tome Poona.

Whakatane - Zavia Walker, Dallas Teepa, Ote Abraham, Whetu Wiremu, Keeley Sexton and Katera Tutua.

Tauranga - Jake Broadmore and Jack McManaway.

Coach Steve Hudson, manager Mike Te Kurapa, assistant manager Ina Piua.