Casey, Rewiri- Wharerau get gongs
Kaikorai loose forward Lucas Casey and Alhambra-Union loosie Bella Rewiri-Wharerau have scooped the major prizes at the Dunedin community club awards at Kaikorai Rugby Football Club last night.
Casey is a natural openside, but he moved to No 8 this season and worked in tandem with Slade McDowall.
The pair were quick to get to the fringes and force turnovers. And Casey's ability to pop up out wide and run through holes made him a huge asset.
He stood out most weeks for his attacking potency, and Kaikorai played a brand of rugby which suited his game.
They gave the ball width and Casey had the speed to exploit any opportunities.
Casey also picked up the award for the most tries — he nabbed 13 of them.
Bella Rewiri-Wharerau
Rewiri-Wharerau was outstanding for Alhambra-Union all season and captained them to the women's division 1 club title.
She was brutal off the side of the scrum. She is a big ball carrier and a staunch defender who scored a stunning individual try in the final.
Rewiri-Wharerau was massive in the club final until a nasty lower leg injury cut her game and season short, ruling her out of the upcoming season for the Otago Spirit for whom she has cemented a starting spot the past two seasons.
Hard-working University midfielder Claudia Broomfield was named women's breakthrough player of the year, while Harbour first five Rique Miln won the Ben Smith Medal (emerging player). He had an outstanding rookie season for the Hawks.
Kaikorai pivot Ben Miller was the top points scorer in division 1. He collected 150 points for the season and was influential in Kaikorai's championship run.
University Rugby Football Club club captain Andy Ellis received the club champion of the year award, and referee Fraser Hannon was named referee of the year.
Abbey Cochrane, from Big River Country, collected the awards for most tries (12) and most points (98) in the women's division 1 competition.
The Ainge Shield will be awarded following the colts finals this weekend.
The Otago Daily Times will livestream both the colts finals on www.odt.co.nz.
Kaikorai and Dunedin will do battle in the under-20 division 1 final at Tahuna Park at 2.45pm today, and Kaikorai and Dunedin will contest the under-21 division 2 final at 12.45pm.
— Additional reporting Kayla Hodge.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Regional riders in strong world championship team
Malik Boatwright. PHOTO: ODT FILES Four Otago cyclists have booked their ticket to Switzerland. Queenstown downhill riders Jess Blewitt, Malik Boatwright and Indy Deavoll, and Alexandra enduro rider Cooper Millwood, are part of a 47-strong team representing New Zealand at the UCI world mountain biking championships later this month. Mountain Bike New Zealand president Ryan Hunt said it was arguably the strongest overall team the Kiwis had sent to the world championships across the mountain bike disciplines. There are riders racing in cross-country, downhill, enduro, e-enduro and cross-country marathon. Fifteen New Zealanders rank in the top 10. Leading the way is No 1-ranked women's elite cross-country rider Samara Maxwell, who is also ranked fifth in short-track. Elite downhill riders Blewitt and and Rotorua's Lachie Stevens-McNab are ranked in the top10. There has been a strong crop of next-generation talent coming through. Millwood has been consistent this season and sits second overall in the world junior men's series. Eight Kiwis sit in the top 10 for the junior downhill. Hawke's Bay rider Tyler Waite is second, followed by Kaikoura's Oli Clark (fifth), Palmerston North's Jonty Wiliamson (sixth) and Boatwright (ninth). In junior women, Tauranga rider Eliana Hulsebosch is third in the rankings with Bellah Birchall (Rotorua) fourth, Kate Hastings (Rotorua) seventh and Deavoll 10th. There are eight separate UCI world championships to be contested across different venues from August30 to September14. — Allied Media
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Williamson set to build on last week
Matthew Williamson. PHOTO: ODT FILES Matthew Williamson is hoping to make up the difference on day two of the Southern Surge. Day one at Winton last week was a case of close but not quite close enough for the Oamaru trainer, who racked up plenty of top-five finishes with his team. With the move to Ascot Park tomorrow and some key draw upgrades, Williamson is hopeful he can land some of the boosted winning stakes on offer during the series. Judging by his Winton effort, He's No Romeo is in a position to do just that. The pacer raced wide throughout his Winton run after starting from a tough draw in barrier 13. But tomorrow, He's No Romeo faces a much different prospect from barrier 4 around the tighter-turning Invercargill track. "His run at Winton was great. He didn't get too many favours but he kept running on well. "From a better draw this week he would have to be a nice each-way chance. "He has come through that last run quite well and we look to have a few options early, too." Mack Pack lands the same draw he ran third from at Winton last week in barrier 7. The pacer burned early before fighting on well to run third. While no better off this week, he is no worse off either. "His run last week was good too. He seems to have lifted his game lately and got better with more racing. "He can get off the gate as he showed last week, so the draw shouldn't be too much of a worry for him. "If he gets a bit of luck he should be a nice chance." Draws are not so much of an issue for Majic N The Port, who will attempt to break her maiden in race 1. What is much more crucial is her tyres staying pumped up. "She got a flat tyre last week when she ran second, so it was a handy effort. "The manners will be the key to her. If she does everything right she's probably as good a chance as any in there." Landing the ace draw should only aid the chances of Sargent Best. The pacer got a long way off the pace at Winton, but should settle much handier this week. "He has shown when he gets the right run in this grade he's pretty competitive, so he would have to be a top four show." Flying Bird also gets the chance to land handy and boost her form for the Williamson stable. Mighty Miki is one pacer among the Williamson squad who swings to a tough draw in barrier 14, while Mr Cash Man meets a similar field to the one he ran fifth in at Winton last week. Cody Banner looks the best chance of Williamson's three outside drives at Ascot Park. The trotter is fresh up against race-hardened opposition, but he has faced tougher fields in the past.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Casey, Rewiri- Wharerau get gongs
Lucas Casey. PHOTO: ODT FILES Kaikorai loose forward Lucas Casey and Alhambra-Union loosie Bella Rewiri-Wharerau have scooped the major prizes at the Dunedin community club awards at Kaikorai Rugby Football Club last night. Casey is a natural openside, but he moved to No 8 this season and worked in tandem with Slade McDowall. The pair were quick to get to the fringes and force turnovers. And Casey's ability to pop up out wide and run through holes made him a huge asset. He stood out most weeks for his attacking potency, and Kaikorai played a brand of rugby which suited his game. They gave the ball width and Casey had the speed to exploit any opportunities. Casey also picked up the award for the most tries — he nabbed 13 of them. Bella Rewiri-Wharerau Rewiri-Wharerau was outstanding for Alhambra-Union all season and captained them to the women's division 1 club title. She was brutal off the side of the scrum. She is a big ball carrier and a staunch defender who scored a stunning individual try in the final. Rewiri-Wharerau was massive in the club final until a nasty lower leg injury cut her game and season short, ruling her out of the upcoming season for the Otago Spirit for whom she has cemented a starting spot the past two seasons. Hard-working University midfielder Claudia Broomfield was named women's breakthrough player of the year, while Harbour first five Rique Miln won the Ben Smith Medal (emerging player). He had an outstanding rookie season for the Hawks. Kaikorai pivot Ben Miller was the top points scorer in division 1. He collected 150 points for the season and was influential in Kaikorai's championship run. University Rugby Football Club club captain Andy Ellis received the club champion of the year award, and referee Fraser Hannon was named referee of the year. Abbey Cochrane, from Big River Country, collected the awards for most tries (12) and most points (98) in the women's division 1 competition. The Ainge Shield will be awarded following the colts finals this weekend. The Otago Daily Times will livestream both the colts finals on Kaikorai and Dunedin will do battle in the under-20 division 1 final at Tahuna Park at 2.45pm today, and Kaikorai and Dunedin will contest the under-21 division 2 final at 12.45pm. — Additional reporting Kayla Hodge.
