NEW Zealand’s age group District Nines finals have been staged over the past week with titles in this exciting abbreviated version of rugby league awarded for the first time.
In the Under 18 at Bruce Pulman Park in Auckland, locals Howick Hornets took on on Wellington Orcas in the girls decider. An exciting final was tied with less than three minutes remaining, with the Orcas snatching a 12-8 victory at the death.
The men’s Under 18 final pitted Canterbury against Bay of Plenty, with Canterbury leading 8-0 at halftime on the way to convincing 20-0 decider to make a little piece of history for themselves.
The same venue hosted the Under 16s finals.
Wellington and Mangere East were the combatants in the girls final, with the lead changing early. Wellington held a 10-6 advantage at oranges but it was a lead they could not maintain, the Auckland (pictured) side scoring twice in the second stanza to snatch a 14-10 victory.
In the boys division for under 16s, it was Canterbury and Waikato Mana with the Canterbury lifting their second age group District Nines title with a 14-4 success .
Photo: Mangere East Facebook
