Battle of the Basin

ttle legends: Basin Blue celebrating the end of the junior rugby season despite losing to Basin Black in the final on Saturday

It wasn’t just the adults battling it out to be named rugby champions in the Whakatipu this past weekend.

The junior rugby club season also came to a head at Arrowtown Rugby Club on Saturday with under-13s teams Basin Black and Basin Blue in the open grade final, with Black coming out on top, 24-19.

Wakatipu Junior Rugby Clubadministrator Emma Campbell says it was a ‘‘really close game’’ and a great finish for the season.

At the U13 level, Arrowtown and Whakatipu junior clubs combine to make even ‘Basin’ teams to represent the district against seven other regional teams.

Campbell says the games are a step-up for junior players as it’s the only grade to play a final and record points.

‘‘We were really lucky that local man Steve Ridley came and reffed at the weekend … I think when you start adding points to games, it doesn’t matter how junior they are, there’s always a bit of competitiveness … so he was fantastic.’’

Campbell says the competitionalso gives junior players a ‘‘proper’’ rugby season experience which sets them up to move forward in rugby pathways.

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