SPORT
10 Hauraki-Coromandel Post
hcpost.news | Thursday, August 21, 2025
KatiKati Rugby Club - shared milestones, lasting the test of time
B y S teve G raveson , CO-AUTHOR SEVEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED & EIGHTY SATURDAYS: THE 140- YEAR HISTORY OF THE KATIKATI RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB M arking 150 years is a remarkable milestone — and in Katikati, it comes with a sporting twist. In 2025, the Katikati Rugby Club (KKRFC) will celebrate 145 years, almost matching the township’s own anniversary. When the Ulster Irish settlers arrived in 1875, they were only the second wave of newcomers to leave their mark on the area. They brought with them new cultures, faiths, traditions and ways of life, determined to embed these in their new home. Establishing houses, schools, and churches was a priority — but so too was forming sports teams. Even though times were hard, money was tight, and the infrastructure we take for granted now was still years away. The community needed something that they could use to unwind and take their minds off the tough times, and as a result, rugby took root. Sport has always been a great tool for bringing people together, no matter who you are or
PHOTO: KKRFC COLLECTION
The 1912 Katikati team.
1986 after winning the Baywide Championship. It has endured economic changes, survived wars, a depression, and even a global pandemic. It has given the town numerous local heroes to cheer on every winter Saturday. KKRFC has brought cultures together. It soon became clear that a love of rugby was shared not only by the Irish settlers but also by the tangata whenua, who embraced the game with a
where you have come from. For Katikati, the local Rugby Club in its various forms has been a cornerstone of the community. The club has shared in the area’s highs and lows, the tough times, uniting people through a shared love of the game. From the 1920s through to the 1950s, Katikati was one of the leading clubs in the Thames Valley Union, before moving to the Bay of Plenty Union in 1965. Its greatest achievement came in
a fresh energy and passion that has added a new dimension to the game. The club congratulates the Katikati community on its anniversary and looks forward to sharing and supporting the community of Katikati for the next 150 years.
natural talent and passion that made it seem as if they had been born to play it. Generations of both Māori and Pākehā whānau have helped shape the history of the club. In more recent years, the Polynesian community has also become part of that story, bringing with them
PHOTO: MARK BROWN - ONE-OF-A-KIND PHOTOGRAPHY
Spirits are high in the Thames Camp.
Thames FC: Rendall Hat-Trick Fires Thames Women FC to Title’s Edge by J onathan C oles A nother crucial step in Thames Women FC’s season came with a 6-2 victory over Cambridge Rubies, leaving them on the brink of title glory.
PHOTO: MARK BROWN - ONE-OF-A-KIND PHOTOGRAPHY
Lily McCarthy in possession.
decider, and we can’t wait for it.” Elsewhere, it was a dismal day for Thames Men FC, who were comprehensively beaten by a slick and efficient Northern United Debacles side. Misdirected defensive passes gifted the opening three goals, with the hosts capitalising to put the game beyond reach inside 20 minutes. Northern went into half-time 4-0 up with well-taken games from John Togher and Jordan Goodrich. A more resilient Thames emerged after the break, with damage limitation the priority. Despite their efforts, Northern comfortably protected their clean sheet, with Thomas Horrox rarely troubled in goal. Michael Pouwels added a fifth late on to seal Thames’ heaviest defeat of the season in their penultimate match. They now welcome title- chasing Waihi to Rhodes Park next week for the season finale.
finish smartly. Another defensive mix-up gave Cambridge their second goal with just minutes remaining, but it was Rendall who had the last word. The winger had been a thorn in Cambridge’s side all afternoon, involved in every promising attack, and she capped off the day by sealing her hat-trick. Another through ball sent her racing clear and, for the third time, she slipped the ball neatly into the net-capping a wonderful player-of-the-match performance. The title could be sealed next week as Thames welcome Northern United to Rhodes Park. United sit one point behind in second, meaning a win would secure the championship ahead of Thames’ cup campaign. “That was a fantastic win against third in the table,” said coach Xavier Brown. “Now it all comes down to next week against Northern United - it’s the title
rebounded off the post and back into play. Thames added their third and fourth after a series of slick passing moves. First, Rendall weighted a pass to McManus, who powered through the defence and applied a trademark finish. Then a throw-in from Adelle Brown found McNab, who played a neat one-two with Rendall before dinking the ball superbly over Ariana Hawker in the Cambridge goal for 4-0. Thames had defended astutely all afternoon, but Cambridge pulled one back from a wide free kick to give themselves a flicker of hope. However, that was soon extinguished as Thames added their fifth to put the result beyond doubt. McManus drifted in a cross from the left, finding Rendall in the box. Her initial shot was well saved, but Powell reacted quickest to
Cambridge began to settle and started to pose a threat on the counterattack. One sweeping move down the right found Anna Waddell in the box, but her shot was well saved by Bryony Wayne in the Thames goal. After withstanding a sustained spell of pressure, Thames grew back into the game and ended the half in the ascendancy. A swift passing move between Megan Jamieson and Keltie McManus found Rendall in the box, but her shot was pulled just wide of the near post. The second half continued in a similar vein, with Thames creating chances at will. A long clearance from Taimania Hinds was well controlled by Ariel McNab, who turned neatly but fired over the bar. McManus was next to come close when a Cambridge goal kick was intercepted, but her snapshot
If there were any nerves on this critical day, Thames didn’t let them show. A fast start set the tempo and produced the opening goal. Jess Rendall was alert to intercept a pass before bursting forward to outrun the covering defenders and applying a neat finish for 1-0. Fifteen minutes later, the lead was doubled. Rendall again underlined her potency in front of goal, firing in her second after an inch-perfect through ball from Beth Powell, capping off a brilliant opening half-hour for the visitors.
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