Kamo High School sports day pits past against future

Former Northland lock Geoff Crawford takes on the current students' defensive line. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Experience triumphed over youthful exuberance in Kamo High School's Past and Present sports day.

A number of former Northland representatives across five sports returned to their old school to take part in the event, where the elders took out six of seven matches.

Deputy principal Darryl Davies said the event was a great success and it was pleasing to see a tradition continue from his own schooling days.

"As an old boy myself and having played these games as a student in the 1970s and as a past student in the 80s and 90s they were always the highlight of our sporting calendar," he said.

"Brad Flower, one of our board of trustees reps and a former student, welcomed the idea of returning an "old" tradition back to the school and co-organised the event with sports co-ordinator Cheryl Baker. The day was a fantastic sporting spectacle."

Traditionally schools have been the focal point of the community but this seems to have decreased in recent years.
boys' male football, where they won 7-3. The other matches (hockey girls and boys, rugby, basketball girls and boys, and netball) went in the opposition's favour.

Davies said they hoped to make it an annual event for the school.

"We intend to run these on an annual basis and based on the feedback from our past students, many have already booked time off work for next year's event, we should have no problems attracting past students teams," he said.

Results: Girls' Basketball: Past 38-16
Boys' Basketball: Past 66-63
Boys' Football: Present 7-3
Girls' Hockey: Past 1-0
Boys' Hockey: Past 10-5
Netball: Past 28-15
Rugby: Past 65-35

Northland Representatives:

Basketball: Aaron Sadler, LJ Hetaraka, Manassah Hetaraka, Kentucky Shortland, Rowie Davis Cooper, Reanon Hetaraka-Sadler
Football: Keegan Baddeley, Mark Ruddell, Nathan Steel
Hockey: Laura Douglas, Toni Wright (both Black Sticks), Peggy Shepherd (NZ Masters), Marika Currie, Shane Attwood, Roland Price, Bruce Patton
Netball: Alexis Chapman
Rugby: Geoff Crawford, David Holwell (Hurricanes), Russell James, Justin Collins (Chiefs, Blues), Brad Kini, Aorangi Stokes, Neil Walters, JT Thomas (NZ Sevens, played basketball on the day), Brad Miller (played basketball on the day)