Team culture proves a winner

Team culture proves a winner

So, what’s in the Foxton water?

It’s a question being asked after Foxton took both senior titles at Saturday’s club rugby finals in Levin.

Senior coach Tom Zimmerman says there’s a good team culture and plenty of healthy banter: “If you give it, you’ve got to be able to take it.”

But all jokes aside, the club has a culture big on whānau, involving partners, families and children. At after-match functions, wives, partners and children eat first.

“Rugby is always going to be there and family comes first and we’ve instilled that in our players,” Tom says. “I suppose if things aren’t happy at home we’re going to struggle and the last thing we want is anyone getting a tune-up.

“We purposely make trainings short and sharp – one hour max.”

Foxton took the premier game by the scruff of the neck early by scoring four unanswered tries, scorching to a 24-0 lead before anyone had a chance to grab a hot dog.

Outside backs Arana Murphy, Connor Paki and Shaun Lawton-Sue, and halfback Tema Tihema, all scored tries early. Further tries were scored by man-of-the-match Kale Eriksson, Josh Sanson, Alby Hemopo and Kenny Hill.Foxton become the first team to score more than 50 points since the finals format was introduced.

Rāhui tried to claw their way back into the game, but they were forced to play catch-up. Their tries were scored by Wirangi Parata, Tonohi Raureti, Morehu Connor-Phillips and Alizay Roach.

An understrength Rāhui were plagued with injuries leading into the final, but could offer no excuse. They played well and were brave in defeat, but were simply beaten by a better team on the day.

There were some highlights. Rāhui winger Alizay Roach, in scoring a try and kicking three conversions in the final, became his club’s leading point scorer ever at just 24 years old.Alizay has now scored 656 points in senior rugby for Rahui, surpassing the previous mark of 646 set by Dion Nepia.

In the earlier senior B match, a tight-head scrum at a pivotal moment swung momentum Foxton’s way. Rāhui were on attack at the time, and Foxton managed to score soon after to take a winning break. Otherwise, there was little between the two.