A hard frost wasn’t enough to stop a group of determined children from taking off their shoes and socks and battling barefoot in the Tasman Primary School Regional Rippa Tournament last Tuesday.
Despite the chilly morning, the sun was shining, and Tasman Rugby Union — which hosted the tournament — described it as “near perfect conditions for running rugby.”
Held at Henley Primary School in Richmond, the event brought together ten schools from across the region to compete for the top spot.
In an exciting final, Springlands Primary School from Marlborough claimed the title for the first time, defeating a strong Brightwater School team with a 6–4 win.
Earlier in the day, Brightwater had edged past Springlands in pool play 9–8, but the Marlborough team turned the tables when it counted the most.
Tasman Rugby Union praised the spirit of the tournament.
“It was a great day all round. A special thanks to the kids, their whānau, teachers, and all the schools for their support, and to Henley Primary School for allowing us to host such an awesome event!”
Final placings: 1st Springlands (Marlborough), 2nd Brightwater, 3rd Henley, 4th St Mary’s, 5th Fairhall (Marlborough), 6th St Paul’s, 7th Victory, 8th St Joseph’s, 9th Māpua, 10th Collingwood.
