Northland Year 7-8 students take on mixed rugby league nines tournament

Kotahitanga's Maia Allan speeds around her defender and heads towards the tryline at the Year 7-8 mixed rugby league competition at the Otaika Sports Park on Tuesday. Photo / Tania Whyte

Northland's young rugby league players braved the heat on Tuesday to take part in a Year 7-8 mixed rugby league nines competition at the Otaika Sports Park.

Teams from eight schools converged on a hot Northland day for a competition which aimed to promote fun and increase the numbers in youth rugby league.

Northern Advocate photographer Tania Whyte went along to catch the action.

Results:

Swords pool:

1st: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe
2nd: Bream Bay College Black
3rd: Wellsford Primary School
4th: Taipa Area School

Vipers Pool:

1st: Kotahitanga
2nd: Bream Bay College Yellow
3rd: Okaihau College
4th: Te Horo School

Okaihau College players Maihi Wilcox (left) and Auron Williams (right) try to stop Bream Bay College's Brody Schuster (centre). Photo / Tania Whyte

Tobias Marsh kicks off with precision for the Kotahitanga team. Photo / Tania Whyte

Taipa's Peter Torrance (with ball) tries to shove off his tackler. Photo / Tania Whyte

Kotahitanga's Izayah Houghton-Peita (right) holds the ball in two hands as teammate Ritchie Peapall supports from behind. Photo / Tania Whyte

Jack Brownlee from Bream Bay College (left) grits his teeth as he charges the oncoming defensive line. Photo / Tania Whyte