The national touch title no one was expecting

““Our team’s ability to work hard for each other was great. After the first couple of games we started to see the results and we knew that it was possible to get a good placing. We did what we had to for each other and the coaches.””

— Rico Fisher

No one north of the Old Coach Road really thought Southland had a chance of winning the New Zealand under 18 mixed touch title in Christchurch this year.

What they didn’t know was just how hard this team was willing to work for each other during the three-day tournament which started February 10.

The Dennis Thompson and Scott Eade coached team finished the tournament unbeaten (six wins, three draws in pool play) after playing 11 games in three days, culminating with a 6-5 come-from-behind win over Waikato in the final.

Southland lost in the final two years ago - the 2022 event was cancelled due to Covid - and won the same title in 2017 with a team that included World Cup-winning Black Fern Amy du Plessis.

“It was a great weekend,” Scott Eade said.

“They had limited preparation in terms of training and people coming to training due to other commitments and other things going on, but they fronted up,” he said.

“Always at those tournaments if you start well you can develop some rhythm and confidence and they scraped a couple of wins and some draws on the first day and I think that just gave them that wee bit of belief. From there they just hung in the fight and kept winning games and that was awesome.”

It was a great way for a cohort of players who had come through the grades together to finish off, Eade said.

While there were a number of standouts - captain Rico Fisher led well, Mika Muliaina scored the decider with some neat footwork with only two minutes left in the final and Claudia Broomfield scored twice just before halftime when Southland were trailing 4-2 - it was a team effort.

Caption: Rico Fisher. Photo: Nudge Photography

“They made a habit out of letting the other team get out to a lead, which wasn’t so good for the (coaches). They had to dig deep at times and I think that stood them in good stead when it come to finals day,” Eade said.

“It was pretty cool, especially to see some of them go to a place they might not have thought they could go to. In terms of staying in the fight, they just came together as a team and connected really well and I think that’s what helped them get through in the end.”

With a shortage of girls in the team, Broomfield and Maraea Te Huia both played four full games on the second day of the tournament, but they played so well that the same tactic was carried into finals day.

After round-robin play, Southland went into the final without dropping a game, while Waikato’s only loss was to Southland.

Southland opened the scoring through Justin Shaw in the final and, after falling behind 2-1, levelled the scores with a Jak Morton try.

The momentum then swung Waikato’s way with two quick tries, before Broomfield struck back twice to tie up the game 4-all at halftime.

Waikato went ahead 5-4 with only four minutes left, but then Thomas Spain scored and Mika Muliaina skipped through for the decider.

Fisher, who has come through SBS Bank Academy Southland and is now studying first year law at Otago University, said teamwork was a crucial aspect for success.

“Our team’s ability to work hard for each other was great. After the first couple of games we started to see the results and we knew that it was possible to get a good placing. We did what we had to for each other and the coaches,” Fisher said.

“Dennis and Scott are pretty busy people, they were floating between two teams, but they made it work. They were really influential and always had good stuff to say on the sideline. Scott encouraged us to just keep grinding.”

Fisher, who has also enjoyed plenty of success in athletics including a bronze in the New Zealand under 18 decathlon, rated the tournament win as one of the most satisfying of his sporting career.

“I’d rank it pretty highly. I’ve always been motivated playing touch, but we’ve never really gotten results as a team so it was cool to come away from nationals with a medal, especially a gold one. It was cool to do it with a team, compared to athletics where you get the medal for yourself, it was great to see the reaction of the coaches and my teammates.”

Fisher will line up for the Southland mixed team at the Open Nationals in early March, followed by the New Zealand under 18 mixed team’s campaign at the Pacific Cup in Australia in May.

“That’s something I’m really looking forward to, putting that silver fern on. It’s something not everyone gets to do so it’s pretty cool that I get the chance to represent New Zealand.”

Abbie Middlemass, who is also part of SBS Bank Academy Southland, said the winning feeling after the final whistle was fantastic. It was the first time she had been part of a national-title winning team.

“It was unreal, there was just a heap of massive hugs at the end.”

Middlemass is now looking forward to the netball season with Southland Girls’ High School, as well as playing basketball and rugby.

Southland under 18 mixed touch team: Abbie Middlemass (SBS Bank Academy Southland), Claudia Broomfield, Jordan O’Connell, Preston Evans, Jak Morton, Rico Muliaina, Trelise Edwards, Maraea Te Huia, Cody Stevens, Justin Shaw, Rico Fisher (SBS Bank Academy Southland), Sophie Hika, Mika Muliaina, Nic Ellenden, Jacob Te Rangi.