Dannevirke Junior Rugby winds up

Preston Teller breaks a tough defence for Dannevirke 12th Grade against top side Clive.

A perfect day for running rugby ended the Dannevirke Junior Rugby season on Saturday, September 19.

The Dannevirke 11th Grade Team at prize-giving.

Both Hawke's Bay Grade teams were playing at home with the 11th Grade pulling off a great win 28-15 over Napier Pirates in an exciting match enjoyed by a bunch of proud parents.

The team held its prizegiving after the game with a special award to Krain Hauiti - the Unison Medal - awarded by Hawke's Bay Rugby for discipline, work ethic and sportsmanship. The side has had a good season, the players learning to adapt to other teams from out of Tararua for the first time.

The game the 12th Grade Dannevirke side was looking forward to all season happened on Saturday when it played unbeaten Clive which had walloped most sides by huge scores. Sadly, Dannevirke was under strength with two top midfielders unavailable and no reserves.

In the game Clive struck early with impressive forward and back play, scoring five tries before Dannevirke defenders began to adapt to the pace of the game. Then its big forwards started to make inroads and two great runs from Preston Teller and Boston Kaa had the score more respectable at half time 33-14.

Dannevirke started the second half really well scoring two tries to Thomas Nikora and Hunter Brown but Clive reorganised and began to dominate, running away with the game 63-28.

Coach Nigel Alexander was proud of his team, saying they had trained hard and played well all season.

Meanwhile the Midgets and Rippers were having a great morning running hard with the ball – a great way to finish the season.

Chairman of the Dannevirke Junior Rugby, Shaun Baxter, said the season went through unaffected by weather after a late start with nine rounds featuring teams from Dannevirke, Puketoi and sides from the Hawke's Bay and Central Hawke's Bay.