Nines: Youngsters lift Pikiao to title

Pikiao player Percy King (with ball) in action at the nines tournament on Saturday. Photo / Stephen Parker

Pikiao Rugby League Club have won the annual Bay of Plenty District Rugby League Nines Tournament in Rotorua.

A late Percy King try helped Pikiao (Rotorua) beat Pacific (Tokoroa) 21-15 in the final of the premier division on Saturday at Puketawhero Park.

The nines tournament is held every year before the proper league season gets under way, featuring all the top teams from across the region.

The scores were level late on during the premier final, when King chipped the ball over the defence before regathering and scoring close to the sticks.

"I knew I wasn't going to beat them with a run so the next best option was to chip it over and I'm just glad it worked out, he almost held me up there," King said after the game.

Meanwhile, Mangakino won the division one title and Taupo Phoenix won the reserve grade.

King - who has been part of the Pikiao premier side for about seven years - said he was rapt with the young players who played for the club.

"We really wanted to shake all the cobwebs off as this was our first pre-season hit-out," he said. "And the young guys really stood up for us today ... the majority of the players were old enough to be the coach's son. So they really pulled through for us and I guess we haven't had that speed in a while."

He said they would now turn their focus to the premier season which gets under way in two weeks' time in Tokoroa.

"We know that nines doesn't really count in our competition, so when it hits 13-a-side we are into the grind. But this is definitely a lift for us winning this tournament."

Twelve teams took part in the nines tournament.

Results from the nines:

Premier final: Pikiao 21 Pacific 15

Reserve grade final: Taupo 33 Pacific 14

Division One final: Mangakino 17 Central 0