The best junior Ki O Rahi players from Westlake Girls and Boys combined to create a formidable team at the recent 2020 Auckland Secondary Schools Ki O Rahi Championship where they put Westlake into a Ki O Rahi final for the first time since the event began 5 years ago.
Westlake entered two teams in this year’s tournament held at Botany Downs. Toa Team was made up of year 10 students while Kahurangi was reserved for Year 9’s. Toa dominated their pool play during the round robin, opening with a 29– 8 win over TKKM O Te Raki Paewhenua. Toa continued their successful flow with a 20 – 9 and 18 – 6 result over Rutherford and Onewhero before meeting perennial favourite and national champion, TKM Nga Tapuwae in the semi-final.
Too strong for them, Westlake moved swiftly into the final after winning 16 -5 and readied themselves to meet Hoani Waititi who had just beaten Botany Downs 39 – 3 in the other semi-final. Trailing by just 2 at half time, Westlake came close but Waititi won the 16 team competition strongly.
Westlake’s second team, Kahurangi, finished 9th overall, but relished the experience.
Ki O Rahi is a fast running contact sport, played on a circular field, involving innovative ball handling, elusive movement and passing of a “ki” which means ball in Maori. The game combines team strategising, chasing, touch and fun.