WHAT WENT ON August 15

Junior Rugby
It was a chilly and damp final round for the 2026 Wairoa JAB Rugby season. So much so that we didn't worry about the scores and just went out to have fun. The Wairoa JAB certificates were handed out (in plastic covers!) afterwards, which was a great way to celebrate and finish the season.

Our Athletic Junior Rugby Prizegiving will be held this Thursday at 4pm, see you there!

Senior Football
Saturday's match up saw QRS Athletic Football host defending 2025 Division Two champions Shockers Marist. Marist were struck by mechanical issues on the way to Bayleys Athletic Park, meaning they only had 8 players available by the time we had to kickoff. QRS Athletic Football wanting to have a fair game kindly loaned two players to make up the opposing team. Athletic still searching for their first win wanted to start strong, and so Andy Langdon took it upon himself to open up the scoreboard after just 6 minutes of play, earning his first ever goal for Athletic after many standout performances this season. Athletic's loan player Ayresh Goundar then set up Marist's only goal not long after, making it 1-1. Athletic built up strong passages of play, finding the lead once again through the boot of Andrew Langdon, score 2-1 to Athletic. After halftime Athletic continued with great momentum, fighting for that first win and finding the third goal through the boot of top goal scorer Jared Olsen, taking it to a 3-1 lead. It was all Athletic trying to find a 4th goal and surely securing the first win. With the help of promising young player Raihania Edwards-Hammond, who scored a screamer, Athletic got the score to 4-1. There were many standout performances on the field, for instance from the backline of Mike Hardie and Jason Smith, but Athletic found a 5th goal up front which cemented the victory. Through a shot from Tom Rowley-Westwood that, unfortunately for him, hit the crossbar, Jared Olsen was at the ready and followed through by heading in Athletic's final goal of the day. A hungry player wanting to add to his already impressive tally made the full time score 5-1 to QRS Athletic Football. We finally earned 3 points after a hard fought match. Player of the Day vote went Raihania Edwards-Hammond's way.
Goals: Andrew Langdon (2), Jared Olsen (2), Raihania Edwards-Hammond (1)

Next weekend Athletic Football play Gisborne United 1st Reserves team, venue tbc. This will be our last match of the season, so we look forward to seeing you there!