Small Bay school aiming for big things | Bay of Plenty Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Bay of Plenty

They're dwarfed by some of New Zealand's biggest middle schools but no one could accuse Pongakawa School of going into next week's AIMS Games half-hearted.

The 300-pupil school east of Te Puke has only about 70 eligible Year 7 and 8 athletes for the seventh running of the intermediate-aged sporting festival, but nearly half of them have entered and they've managed to cover nine sports.

It's Pongokawa's heavyweight approach to their sevens team that should get them noticed, however.

Sevens has become the 14th sport added to the week-long programme starting on Sunday and the Pongakawa coach is former Steamers halfback Rameka Poihipi.

His son Rameka jnr is one of three players with fathers who have played for Bay of Plenty, alongside Elijah Cracknell - son of former Rangiuru colossus Anthony - and Kereama Whareaorere, son of former Bay wing Simon.

To top it off, Te Aranga Hohaia is also in the side, the nephew of Warriors and Kiwis league star Lance.

With Cracknell snr helping Poihipi with the coaching duties, the team has spent the last few months preparing for next week.

"They've been helping us out quite a lot," 13-year-old Denym Clarke enthused. "I've improved hugely from the start and it's helped with my 15s rugby as well. My passing is heaps better."

Poihipi jnr is in the Bay of Plenty Roller Mills team, though the second-five is still only 11.

In fact, seven of the 12-strong squad will be able to play next year as well.

Pongakawasports leader David James said the approach to sevens was indicative of their whole AIMS Games ambitions.

"A big part of it is that we are a little school but everyone's out there supporting each other across the codes," James said.

"The hockey players train alongside the rugby players, egging them along, so it's proved really successful."

For the last three years, the school has been running an AIMS academy group, which meets early on a Monday morning, with guest speakers and field trips.

Their first tour was to a Steamers training session, while notable speakers included former British Olympic rower Richard Hamilton.

It's not just the sevens players with serious ambition, however. The girls' hockey team finished a classy fifth last year, while the boys' golf team won, led by talented sportsman Charlie Hillier, who trialled with English Premier League football club West Ham United.

Tai Mitchell rugby player Sam Nichols is returning from the title-winning golf team last year, while Sapphire Tapsell is a nationally ranked age-group swimming prospect.

They'll be in amongst a record 3870 competitors from 107 schools around the country as the tournament continues to explode in popularity.

"For some kids, this could be the highest level they ever compete, but for others it could be a springboard to the next level," James said.

Sevens, meanwhile, will kick off on Tuesday at the Tauranga Domain, with 22 boys' teams entered and three girls' sides.

All players will be given tickets to Bay of Plenty's match with Manawatu at Baypark next Thursday, while New Zealand sevens maestro Gordon Tietjens will speak at the opening ceremony.

Former Steamers player Troy Jennings is coaching the Mount Maunganui Intermediate team, while current squad member Cory Aporo is managing Otumoetai.

The basketball competition will also coincide with a visit from the New Zealand Breakers to Tauranga next week, while former All Black Kevin Schuler is coaching the Aquinas College entry.

James suspects that many of the Pongakawacountry kids will be slightly overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the event, although Rameka Poihipi jnr has seen his dad perform in front of some hefty crowds in his time.

He's confident that one of the smaller schools in the Bay will provide decent highlights.

"We haven't seen any other teams but Tauranga Intermediate and the Auckland schools will be tough," Poihipi jnr said. "We've got one of the hardest pools but we'll be trying as hard as we can."

GAMES

Badminton: Mon-Thurs, Mount Sports Centre
Basketball: Mon-Thurs, Mount Action Centre

Crosscountry: Sunday, Waipuna Park
Football: Mon-Fri, Blake Park

Golf: Mon-Thurs, Omanu, Te Puke, Tauranga, Mount golf clubs
Gymsport: Tues-Thurs, Argos Gym Club

Hockey: Mon-Fri, Tauranga Hockey Centre, Bethlehem College
Multisport: Wed, McLaren Falls

Netball: Mon-Fri, Harbourside Courts
Rugby sevens: Tues-Wed, Tauranga Domain

Squash: Mon-Thurs, Mount Squash Club
Swimming: Mon-Tues, Baywave

Tennis: Mon-Thurs, Mount
Waterpolo: Mon-Thurs, Baywave

BY THE NUMBERS

107 schools
3871 competitors
880 coaches and officials

Biggest teams:
19: Tauranga Intermediate
15: Otumoetai Intermediate
13: Bethlehem College
12: Aquinas College

Smallest teams:
1 athlete: Bream Bay College (squash), Hastings Christian School (tennis), Middleton Grange (crosscountry), Kamai School (crosscountry, multisport), Pukehou School (badminton), St Joseph's Opotiki (golf), Whakamarama School (crosscountry), Carmel College (swimming).