Western Bay reclaim Ellis Shield

Western Bay of Plenty have reclaimed the Ellis Shield after a clean sweep both the under-11, under-12 and under-13 titles at this year's tournament at Rugby Park in Whakatane.

The Ellis Shield Rugby Tournament is an annual Junior Rugby tournament run by the three Bay of Plenty Rugby Junior Rugby Committees in conjunction with the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.


Western Bay line up against Eastern Bay.

The tournament sees Eastern, Western and Central Bay Under-11, Under-12 and Under-13 representative teams compete for age grade trophies and the Ellis Shield.

The Western Bay Under-11's won the Rob Shaw Trophy beating Eastern Bay 35-12, then went on to thrash Central Bay 61-0.

In the Under-12 division the Tanerau Latimer Trophy had to be decided on calculating the points for and against, with each team winning a match each. Western Bay beat Central 19-12, Central Bay conquered Eastern Bay 7-0 and Eastern Bay triumphed over Western Bay 17-12.

In the Under-13 division, it was a dominating display by Western Bay with the side wining 42-12 against Eastern Bay and 41-0 over Central Bay to claim the Liam Messam Trophy. Eastern Bay came second in the division with the side beating Central Bay 43-0.

Claiming all three titles means the Western Bay win the overall title and claim the Ellis Shield. They will be able to defend their title on home soil next year with Western Bay set the host the next tournament.

It's been two years since Western Bay last took home the Ellis Shield, with Eastern Bay wining last year for the first time in the shield's 23-year history.

Eastern Bay of Plenty regional rugby manager Mark Seymour says there was some excellent rugby by all the teams taking part in the tournament.

2015 Ellis Shield Bay of Plenty U11s Tournament Team:

Brooke Mitchell (Central), Ariariterangi Tuhaka (Central), Tyler Cox (Central), Cameron Glasgow (Central), Toby Roche (Central), Matthew Veitch (Central), Dylan Cooper (Western), Grady Forbes (Western), Xavi Taele (Western), Piripi Tapsell (Western), Kase Meyer (Western), James Allen (Western), Tehamana Te Aute (Western), Reef Newdick (Western), Ruebin Irwin (Western), Maddox Peyroux (Western), Kody Betham (Western), Brimsy Marshall (Eastern), Jiro Linstead (Eastern), Tane Howe (Eastern), Tanemoehi Patuwai (Eastern), Tamati Te Pou (Eastern), Zion Wipaki (Eastern), Jai Tamati (Eastern), Keegan Williams (Eastern).

2015 Ellis Shield Bay of Plenty U12s Tournament Team:

Rickie Harte (Eastern), Ngakohu Walker (Eastern), Walter Ngamere (Eastern), Allan Chisholm (Eastern), Davis Paul (Eastern), Paris Paniora (Eastern), Bless Elliott (Eastern), Simon Prout (Eastern), Issac Tai (Eastern), Te Aukura Hape (Eastern), Josiah Lewis (Western), Tamamutu Moana (Western), Dante Gardiner (Western), Ngawaka Ririnui (Western), Tai Soloman (Western), Trevel Gardiner-Hano (Western), Kobie Borrell (Western), Toby Taylor (Western), Brayden Wood (Central), Broc Walker (Central), Seth Bennett (Central), Sharquel Soloman (Central), Sitani Tupou (Central), Jacob Tuhakaraina (Central), Dawson Smith (Central).

2015 Ellis Shield Bay of Plenty U13s Tournament Team:

Nirai Ririnui (Western), Eli Hunia-Mataio (Eastern), Logan Broughton (Western), Darcy Hoskin (Western), Nephi Sanerive (Eastern), Tiaki Keogh (Western), Kaia Cole (Eastern), Haritoa Chelsey (Western), Chey Kahika (Eastern), Rihari Jobe (Eastern), Kaelib Paruru (Eastern), Mitchell Irwin (Western), Noah Walker (Western), Denton Kuka (Western), Paki Tuhoro (Eastern), Joe Keogh (Western), Rua Moanaroa (Western), Poutu-Te Rangi Herewini (Central), Manaia Church (Central), Luke Moncur (Eastern), Tewi Heta (Western), Te Ao Billing (Western), Flynn Henderson (Western).

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