Wellington wins Central Region Te Tini a Maui tournament

Update: Wellington wins Te Tini a Maui tournament

Wellington has won the The Central Region provincial Maori Te Tini a Maui tournament.

Wellington beat defending champions Taranaki Maori 36-16 first up, then beat Manawatu Maori by default on Saturday.

On Sunday, Wellington beat Whanganui Maori 43-10 in the final. 

Wellington's key players included the Henrys, Whetu and Jared, first five-eighth Greg Mullany and wing Andy Ellis. 

Others to play well were young blindside flanker Dean Ropata and the McMillan-Paratas. 

Tournamnt preview Friday

The Central Region provincial Maori Te Tini a Maui tournament is being played in Whanganui this weekend.

Maori representative teams from Wellington, Horowhenua Kapiti, Whanganui, Manawatu, Taranaki and Wairarapa-Bush will contest Senior Men (Tane), Senior Women (Wahine), U20 (Rangatahi) and U18 (Taiohi) divisions at the annual two-day tournament, which is being played at Whanganui for the first time after previously being in Palmerston North since 1999.

The men’s teams play for the Hikaia Amohia Trophy, named after the King Country Kaumatua for his dedication to Maori rugby. The trophy was presented to the Central Maori Rugby Council in 1986. King Country hosted the first tournament in 1987, where Hikaia Amohia blessed the trophy. King Country Maori were also the first winners. Taranaki go innto this year's tournament as defending Men’s champions.

The U20s will be contesting the Huri Maniapoto Taonga, the U18s winners will be presented with the Jimmy Aupouri Memorial Taonga and the Women are playing for the Toko Te Kani Taonga.

Matches at Whanganui City College run from 10.00am to 6.00pm on Saturday and from 11.00am to apprpximately 2.00pm on Sunday. Day one matches are 30 minute halves, while the final on Sunday will be 40 minutes each way. Draw listed below.

From this tournament, Central Region men’s, women’s and colts teams are selected to play a tournament against Northern and Southern Region Maori representative teams late this year. The George Nepia Shield (Men’s), Dr Farah Palmer Taonga (Women’s) and Mani McDonald Cup (Colts) and Prince of Wales Cup (overall winner) are all played for in this tournament.

The Wellington Men’s team competing this weekend is:
Ryan Nepia (Avalon), Whetu Henry (Ories), Marcus Roil (Petone), Apirana McMillan Parata (Paremata-Plimmerton), Teariki Kie Tonga (Paremata-Plimmerton), Apanui Heemi (Upper Hutt Rams), Daniel Cotton (Petone), Mykel Herewini (Johnsonville), Dean Popata (Johnsonville), Maihi Henare (Johnsonville), Tama Leaf (Upper Hutt Rams), Tane McMillan Parata (Paremata-Plimmerton), Jarrod Burnett (Poneke), Taurima Morris (Petone), Declan Hay (Ories), Greg Mullany (Poneke), Jared Henry (Ories), Trevor Marama (Ories), Kewa Parata (Paremata-Plimmerton), Andy Ellis (Ories), Max Pearson (Upper Hutt Rams) Tu Greenland (Johnsonville), Tawera Rameka-Styles (Johnsonville), Taina Hetet (Johnsonville). Coaches: Andrew Wharakura and Joe Hopkins

Te Tini a Maui tournament draw

Saturday 5 March

Men’s (Tane)
10.00am Game A Horowhenua-Kapiti v Whanganui, Field 1
11.30am Game B Taranaki v Wellington, Field 1
2.00pm Game C Winner of Game A v Manawatu, Field 1
5.00pm Game D Loser of Game A v Loser of Game B, Field 1
6.00pm Game E Winner of Game B v Manawatu, Field 2

U20s (Rangatahi)
1.00pm Horowhenua Kapiti v Wairarapa Bush, Field 2

U18s (Taiohi)
11.00am Manawatu v Whanganui, Field 2

Women (Wahine)
12.30pm Wairarapa Bush v Whanganui
5.00pm Whanganui v Manawatu

Sunday 6 March

Men’s (Tane)
Loser of Game D – no more games
11.00am Loser Game A v Loser Game B, Field 1
12.00pm 3rd v 4th playoff match, Field 3
1.00pm Final, Field 1

Women’s (Wahine)
12.00pm Manawatu v Whanganui, Field 2