2024 Manarahi Secondary School Kī-o-Rahi National Results Day 1
What a day and what a luxury to have 2 sets of games shown on live streaming.
I found this year's Kī-o-Rahi Nationals Day 1 an enjoyable watch with a heap of teams showing growth from previous years.
Following is the results from Day 1.
Our blog today will focus on our Top 16 teams but we wish all other teams the best as they jostle to get the best placing for their team this year.
Finishing in the top 16 means a couple of things. You were either the best team in your pool, teams 1 - 6 topped their pool and didn’t lose a game in the process. Teams 7 - 12 finished second losing only the one game. Teams 13 - 16 finished third in their pool losing two games but had stronger for and against than most.
What does this mean for today and Day 2 of Secondary School Kī-o-Rahi Nationals?
It means the better you placed yesterday you earned the chance to play a team that finished lower in the ranks.
It also means if you can win your first game of Day 2, you are automatically into the Top 8, lose and you fight it out for places 9 - 16.
Before we take a look at the 8 match ups let’s give a shout out to some teams who are in the Top 16 for the first time.
Shout out to Central Hawkes Bay College, Newlands College, Te Puna Wai o Waipapa and big movers Manutuke! You guys all looked really good yesterday and are well deserved of your placing, go hard today.
Awesome to also see Ritana Toa back in the Top 16 where they belong! Kia kaha koutou!
Don’t pay too much attention to the order teams finished on Day 1. These rankings come down to who had a better for and against it means some teams may have had an easier or harder pool than others. In saying that if you can win all games in your pool on Day 1 you are definitely favored to win your first game today and to take out the title. But let’s take a closer look at today’s games because anything could happen:
Game 1 - Te Kuiti v Ritana
As mentioned in a previous blog Te Kuiti have progressed gradually every year over a long time, I remember Te Kuiti at 2014 Nationals and I’m sure they’ve been there or thereabouts since then.
This is their best ever finish and will go in as favourites against Ritana.
But Ritana are previous champions and they have knowledge and experience in their camp about what it takes to push on on Day 2, having plenty of support and whānau on hand will be a big help too. Should be a good game.
Game 2 - Manutuke v Central Hawkes Bay
Another team from the area Manutuke have had their best finish at Nationals, they have some very good players who have played in some representative teams, no doubt they’ve been prepping alongside other teams in Gizzy and it shows.
They will be favorites but don’t count out Central Hawkes Bay who looked good in their games yesterday. The Taniwha finished 3rd in a pool that had Te Kaokaoroa and Rakaumanga in it so they will be battle hardened and could cause an upset, looking forward to a mean game.
Game 3 - Hamilton Boys and Girls v Newlands College
Hamilton Boys and Girls finished top of their pool on Day 1 after narrowly beating Wainuiomata in their final pool game yesterday.
Wainuiomata are the current regional champs for the Wellington Region that Newlands comes from so it makes sense for Hamilton to be favored but you never know with Kī-o-Rahi, sometimes it comes down to a battle of styles and your own team style might just be the kryptonite to another teams style of play. Newlands also have experience of Top 4 play amongst their coaching ranks so that will prove valuable.
Game 4 - TWTT v Te Puna Wai o Waipapa
I thought TWTT looked really good yesterday, they are one of my favourites for 2024. They’ve switched up their Taniwha play alot and were picking up alot of points against frustrated Kaitiaki.
Te Puna Wai o Waipapa are into the Top 16 for the first time and have the whole South Island behind them. They finished third in a pool with Te Koutu and Te Kuiti leading the way. Be so awesome to see them get a win in this game and move into the Top 8.
Game 5 - Te Kaokaoroa v Ngā Taiātea
Two kura who know each other very well being from the same region. Te Kaokaoroa had the best defence of all kura yesterday only allowing 29 points in, this was by far the best defence as 2nd best defence TWTT allowed 40 points. On the other side of things though Te Kaokaoroa will be hoping to score a few more points today as they had the 3rd lowest points for in the top 16 from yesterday with 98.
Ngā Taiātea finished second in what I thought was the most difficult pool, losing only to TWTT means they did super well yesterday. They have the advantage of knowing their opponent well and it will be a battle of wits out there today. This one is being shown on the live stream so keep an eye on it.
Game 6 - Westlake Boys and Girls v Rotorua Boys and Girls
One of the only disadvantages to ranking teams 1 - 16 based on points from Day 1 is that two teams who played each other the day before can end up playing each other again and that is what has happened with this game.
Westlake beat Rotorua in their pool game yesterday so they will be favourites in this however, you learn alot from playing a team once in pool play and I’ve seen teams lose when it comes around to a second game as they are more aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Will be an interesting watch this one, it is also livestreamed.
Game 7 - TKKM o Te Waiū v TKKM o Te Koutu
The kura kaupapa battle should be a good one. I’m guessing these two kura will be fairly familiar with one another through recent battles at Wiki Hā.
These two teams are quite similar in that they are both just go about their business not attracting much attention. Both float around the Top 8 - 16 at different tournaments and have the potential to upset teams sitting higher than them on the board. Will be an awesome game.
Game 8 - Rakaumanga v Wainuiōmata
I wish this game was being shown on the live stream because this one will be a doozy.
Both teams had one loss yesterday, Rakaumanga to Kaokaoroa and Wainuiōmata to Hamilton.
Of all the games listed this one is the most like a semi or grand final. Whoever wins this one will go into their next game with alot of confidence.
Wish both teams all the best.
With all these amazing games plus the rest you really should head down to Watson Park, Gisborne today and get amongst it. If you’re not able to then definitely tune into the livestream by Whakaata Māori on YouTube. Below is the draw for the first two rounds:
