Katherine Rugby Union hosted a day of rugby celebrations to mark Waitangi Day, New Zealand's national day. Local teams and clubs from Katherine and Darwin took to the field in front of a healthy crowd on Saturday afternoon. Union secretary Shannon Jennings said the day was a success despite the weekend's wet and wild weather. "The day was great... speaking to the Darwin clubs after the games they said they thoroughly enjoyed it," she said. "We had about five, six hundred people... it was a really great time." Waitangi Day marks the anniversary of the initial signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between the Indigenous Maori people and British colonisers in 1840. The treaty is considered the founding document of modern day New Zealand. The day kicked off with a junior skills clinic before a women's exhibition match between Katherine club Barbarians and a combined team of local players and Darwin club University Pirates. It was a fast paced and physical game with Barbarians controlling most of the play with their individual skill in a 27-5 win. After the women the Golden Oldies wound the clock back and took to the field for a quick game. Next on the field was a Katherine men's competition game between the first and second placed teams on the ladder, Pirates and Barbarians. Remarkably, the match ended in a 22-22 draw leaving both teams in their top two ladder positions, and leaving the bumper crowd with plenty of entertainment. The final match of the night was an all-Darwin affair between University Pirates and Swampdogs in the Darwin B Grade competition. It was a tight game with the scores level on 7-7 at halftime, before Uni Pirates pulled away for a 17-13 win. Ms Jennings said it was "great to see" the two Darwin sides bring their game to Katherine for the event. While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday at 6am from the Katherine Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.
Sharon Jennings launches the ball into opposition territory. Picture: Tom Robinson.
Katherine Rugby Union hosted a day of rugby celebrations to mark Waitangi Day, New Zealand's national day.
Local teams and clubs from Katherine and Darwin took to the field in front of a healthy crowd on Saturday afternoon.
Union secretary Shannon Jennings said the day was a success despite the weekend's wet and wild weather.
"The day was great... speaking to the Darwin clubs after the games they said they thoroughly enjoyed it," she said.
"We had about five, six hundred people... it was a really great time."
A University Pirates player avoids a tackle and runs the ball up the field.
Waitangi Day marks the anniversary of the initial signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between the Indigenous Maori people and British colonisers in 1840. The treaty is considered the founding document of modern day New Zealand.
The day kicked off with a junior skills clinic before a women's exhibition match between Katherine club Barbarians and a combined team of local players and Darwin club University Pirates.
It was a fast paced and physical game with Barbarians controlling most of the play with their individual skill in a 27-5 win.
After the women the Golden Oldies wound the clock back and took to the field for a quick game.
Next on the field was a Katherine men's competition game between the first and second placed teams on the ladder, Pirates and Barbarians.
Remarkably, the match ended in a 22-22 draw leaving both teams in their top two ladder positions, and leaving the bumper crowd with plenty of entertainment.
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Photos from the junior clinic, Golden Oldies game and the women's match between Katherine Barbarians and a combined team of locals and Darwin's University Pirates. Pictures: Tom Robinson.
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The final match of the night was an all-Darwin affair between University Pirates and Swampdogs in the Darwin B Grade competition.
It was a tight game with the scores level on 7-7 at halftime, before Uni Pirates pulled away for a 17-13 win.
Ms Jennings said it was "great to see" the two Darwin sides bring their game to Katherine for the event.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday at 6am from the Katherine Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.
