Martinborough dominate rippa rugby

It's finals time in the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union's popular rippa rugby programme.

Last week saw the year three and four competition come to a close with teams from Martinborough, St Teresa, Carterton, Lakeview and Douglas Park playing off for the major spoils. And in the end it was Martinborough who prevailed, beating Douglas Park in the decider.

Today it is the turn of the year five and six teams to strut their stuff at Memorial Park and the same venue will be used for the year seven and eight finals next Monday.

The rippa rugby programme is run over the second and third school terms with 38 schools involved.

In term two every class receives three lessons on catching, passing and teamwork and cluster tournaments are held in term three to determine the finalists in the various age groups.

Unfortunately bad weather saw the four tourneys to be held in the Bush region rained out but schools have asked for them to be held in the fourth term and that will be the case.

The format will, however, be different with children assembling on the day and being put into teams on a random basis, meaning they will have greater opportunity to meet and mingle with pupils from other schools.

Referees for rippa rugby are provided by local intermediate and secondary schools and full training is provided to them by WBRFU staff responsible for delivering the programme.

Spokesman Doug Bracewell said the feedback from the participating schools on the refereeing standards had been positive with one teacher from Gladstone taking the time to write they were "fantastic ... polite, fair and consistent".

Bracewell said the WBRFU had a policy of introducing rugby players at primary and secondary schools to community service as coaches or referees.