Pacific Portraits were on hand to capture all the great moments at the Junior National Touch Championship. All photos are now available for purchase as hi-resolution files that you can then print at sizes up to A4.
Touch New Zealand has been impressed with the depth of talent available at this tournament; the Junior Nationals now being crucial as the first step in the pathway to Touch Blacks selection.
In the senior most grade here at Junior Nationals, Waikato and Counties met in a match that promised an open and exciting contest.
Southland came into this match as defending champions and got off to a flyer with Courtney O'Callaghan scoring after a sequence of quick play the balls saw Southland make their way up the field to provide her the opportunity to touchdown.
Having played twice before in the tournament for a win and a loss each, this was anyone's game and it was a bright start form both teams.
The two most deserving and competitive sides made it through to the final as Auckland took on Hawkes Bay in the Under 15 Mixed Final.
Not many opportunities is what you could say about much of this game. Not finishing off some promising play was an issue for both teams in a first half that was relatively quiet for a final.
Counties Manukau and Auckland battled out an intriguing final today in Nelson, the mathc going down to the wire and Counties winning 5-4.
These two teams met after Auckland had defeated Hawkes Bay earlier in the day while Kapiti got over the line against Southland.
In this elimination match, Kapiti Horowhenua and Southland had the chance to put behind them a patchy run of form and make a push for the final. Kapiti started off the strongest by taking an early lead as the crowds only just began to roll in at the beginning of todays play.
Day two in Nelson featured the round robin completed and semi final spots secured. It was a long and hard day of Touch with teams now looking ahead to the business end of the tournament tomorrow.
It would be no surprise if these two teams ran out on the field on Sunday afternoon for the final in this grade and a good show was put on as both teams sized each-other up and gave nothing away in the opening stages.
Southland and Counties Manukau have survived almost two full days of competition unbeaten, unfortunately one team would lose thier perfect record in the last round of day two.
These local rivals had both enjoyed fairly successful tournaments so far without lighting the world on fire. With a history of close encounters, this game had potential to be well contested.
This had all the hallmarks of a Big One with the two top teams from friday going head to head for the first time in the tournament.
After strong opening rounds for both teams on the opening day, this match provided the opportunity to stake a claim as the Championship frontrunner.
In the first round of day two, these two Under 15 Boys sides remained unbeaten. This was a top of the table clash between the two unbeaten sides of day one.
The two teams were not going into this match as strangers having played a couple of warm-up games prior to the tournament. Wellington had come out the better in those encounters so it was up to Kapiti Horowhenua to bring it today.
Counties looked threatening from the very first set in this match which rattled the Canterbury side. Vai Thomson-Faaofo scored the first touchdown after only a few plays.
Auckland are the current holders of the Under 17 Boys title and come into this tournament as one of the favoured sides. Day one is the day to push your credentials and against a Wellington side more than capable of holding their own it was set to be a good match-up.
An early touchdown each for these sides may have suggested a tight encounter between these sides. However, this fixture turned out to be anything but that.
Canterbury won the toss and it was a fast start by both sides in their first sets of six; you could feel this one would go down to the wire. Harbour scored the first try through Alysha Mills who took a pass from dummy half just out from the line to score a short-ball special.
Counties Manukau are scouted as one of the favourites in the senior-most grade at this tournament and began their campaign against the local side Tasman.
It was hot overhead this morning as the Under 17 Mixed Grade tapped off in Nelson. Tasman are a fancied team this time around but were made to work hard in the opening three minutes by a Wellington outfit that began the match with some serious pep.
Check back throughout the Tournament for News and Match Reports