Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate School’s touch teams recently competed in the prestigious South Island Year 7 & 8 Tournament, The Koru Games. Held over three days at Rolleston’s Foster Park, the event was played in fine, albeit often windy, conditions. Our three teams showcased tremendous skill and perseverance against tough competition throughout the tournament.
The girls’ team were our standout improvers. Despite losing their first two games, they rallied together over the final two days to secure an impressive 5th place finish. This was a remarkable achievement, especially considering it was the first touch tournament experience for many of the players.
The boys’ team also performed admirably, finishing 7th overall. They got off to a strong start by winning both their matches on the opening day. However, a crucial loss on the second day shifted them into a tougher part of the draw. One of the boys humorously remarked, “This is a bit different from the touch we play at school—I keep forgetting we can’t kick the ball!”
Our mixed team, the strongest of the three, were perhaps the most unfortunate. They narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot by just two tries on countback, ultimately finishing 5th. Their performance was certainly worthy of a medal, and their teamwork and sportsmanship stood out as they supported the girls’ and boys’ teams throughout the competition.
A heartfelt thank you to all the parents who came out to support our teams during the tournament—it truly made a difference.
