And the winners are – Cambridge High School’s 1st XV girls squad pictured after their win.
What do you get when you mix a passionate team, a former Black Fern, an enthusiastic sponsor, 300 sausages and a haka?
A day Cambridge High School’s 1st XV girls’ rugby team will remember for a long time.
The side finished their season on a “massive high” last Wednesday, beating close rivals Hamilton Girls’ High School 15-10 to win their U17 grade and claim the Vanessa Cootes Cup.
“I’m ecstatic,” said coach Annaleah Bodle (nee Rush), who played for the Black Ferns from 1996-2002 and helped them win two World Cups.
“I’m so stoked for the girls; I’m chuffed they were able to string it together and come through for this final because we’ve played Hamilton Girls twice during the season and they’ve both been extremely close games.”
Bodle, who has coached Cambridge High rugby for seven years, said the team had gathered an “awesome supporter base” over the season.
“Our sponsor Errol Newlands is absolutely awesome and is always there, the boys’ 1st XV come along, our parents are amazing, the head girl comes to every game – she gets everyone out there, she spreads the word – the sideline was 3-4 people deep of people watching our final,” she said.
“It was the most amazing atmosphere for the girls. They were nervous but I talked to them about soaking up that atmosphere and using it to our advantage to boost their energy.”
Revved up supporters made short work of 300 sausages fried up by sponsor Errol, who brought his barbecue and gazebo along.
Cambridge started strongly early in the second half led 15-0. Hamilton Girls struck back with two tries, closing the gap to 15-10 with just minutes remaining, but the home side held on, to the delight of the home crowd.
“The icing on the cake was, at the end our boys’ 1st XV and our kapa haka group did a haka for the girls,” said Bodle, whose daughter Livy is a lock in the team.
“It was so awesome. To see that school culture come alive after we’d won was just an amazing feeling.”
Captain Carys Aveyard, who organised extra team fitness trainings with PE teacher Josh Toa, said she was proud of her team for “putting in the work even when they didn’t want to” and turning up for each other.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the season with the girls for my last year,” the year 13 student said.
