The HH Rugby Club, School and team management organised and coordinated a team building trip full of fun events and activities in the recent school holidays, aimed at building of team spirit in the 1st XV.

The target was maximum team fun with little time or funds available. The result was a 3 day outing to Auckland region. Staying in backpacker accommodation in the central city and visiting iconic fun attractions including Go Carting and Snow Planet on the north Shore, Wairewa Hot Pools and The Warriors league team home game.

Of course the natural competitive spirit came out first up, including egging on the minivan drivers to be first to venue, but the rubber really met the road when the 18 boys and 4 supporting adults had to split into pairs, grab their helmets and hit the go cart race track. Donning the little blue hair nets was a great taster to the banter that was to come through the weekend.

The 100 lap race was split into 3 driver legs per team member, which between the many snarl-ups and the mathematically challenged, created chaos for one and all – particularly the officials! It didn’t take long for two teams to set the front running, the high performance coach and his understudy (Mr Kennedy and Liam Griffin) vs. the more weight challenged but worldly “Master” team (Mr’s Griffin & Farr). While this battle raged on the pressure and stress was showing in other more challenged teams, with frequent orange lights flashing and increasing numbers of black flags as those behind tried to take their frustrations out.

While the Kennedy/Griffin combination cemented their lead to win the event, the Masters team followed by Bryce and Joseph held off a determined charge by the ferocious Ryan Leach to take 2nd & 3rd respectively. Great fun had by all in the noise and fumes of the North shore race circuit – the latter hazard saw the “big man”, head Coach Mr Fleetwood, dashing from his last driver change for fresh air, lucky to retain his lunch!

After dining in the streets of Orewa it was off to Snow Planet where Mr Kennedy was last seen with own snow board heading for the advanced section, not to be seen again for nearly 4 hours – obviously spends too much time on school trips!. Meanwhile the majority donned snow boards (many for the first time) and those new to the experience and the Coaching staff stuck to skis. The four hours was exhilarating fun for all, as confidence grew so did the degree of slope and the scale of the impact. Some reflections include:
- Most impressive dismount – Captain Mike using his head to stop, blood nose and all!
- Most improved – Sheridan on Snowboard, Josh on Ski’s
- Most difficult to stop – the “big man’ in full flight – a proven way to scatter those in ski tow queues!
- Try-hards – The two Ryan F’s chatting up the local talent!
- Most destructive combination – Oh-Peel and Sunny taking a ‘one off the ruck’ approach down the slopes!

A terrific evening had by all and well worth the scrapes, aches and pains that resulted – particularly evident in the coaching support.

We retired to the Queen Street Backpackers in great spirits but tired enough not to go chasing the “spirits” in the heart of metropolis.

Day two started with hearty breakfast and a long walk with swimming gear in hand to get to Mr Griffin’s “special budget car parking.” We retraced our steps north to Wairewa Hot Pools, which for those of us with aches proved to be an inspired choice of venue where we could spend most of the day in the hottest of pools.

Naturally the competition took hold on the slides with the front row bulk of Oh-Peel, Ben & Ryan L up against the lengthy second rowers of Ryan Fl and Stephen and the relative lightees of Mike, Arno and Bryce. Results were too close to call on the day!

Of course rugby prevailed in the end with what seemed all of Auckland making way for our boys as a game developed in the large pool, including Coach and Manager. The battle lines drawn and teams even, the lead seesawed as the water level decreased, watched by a worried set of pool staff.

Heading back to base all hands (ovens and microwaves) were engaged to heat up some of “Deb’s Famous Lasagne” for lunch, before heading for the Warriors vs. Cowboys league game at Mt Smart. On arrival we were treated to a tour of the outside perimeter of the stadium that doubled as a warm-up - thanks to Mr Griffin for this unplanned adventure of the local fauna! Once inside we were guided through the Warriors head office and a view of the gym and training equipment – as expected top class layout and facilities for these professionals.

Seats were found at ground level where we could take in the last of the reserve grade game – and see the highest paid “water-boy” around (sir Stacey Jones!). Although the weather threatened it largely held off through the main event which, apart from the excitement of a hard fought win by the home team, included some highlights such as:
- The hard time given to the quartet of what must have been struggling students with Cadbury ice cream billboards strapped to their backs.
- The ever so brave team members hooting and hollering at the cheer leaders – until they were challenged to do so close-up!
- And the teams’ “Thurston, Thurston” chant that they were of the firm belief put this opposition kicker off!

Back late to Queen Street, the fast food establishments were visited and some serious pool competition undertaken before retirement to the rooms for the “light show”. Apparently much amusement was had with Aucklander’s out on the town trying to make sense of the boy’s laser light show shining around them.

The final day arrived and as expected it took a lot for bodies to rise, particularly when exercise was on the agenda. After another hearty breakfast – thanks to one of Mr Fleetwood’s prize stock, it was off to Bastion Point to run it off! Mr Kennedy set up a relay course and with what was believed to be a balanced split of speed 6 teams of three set off to leave their mark on the wet and slippery Bastion grass in battle for the chocolate.

What on paper looked an even competition soon proved to be not so, the teaming up of the ‘hares” of Arno and Ryan Farr proved too good for the rest in the 1st few laps, although Mike, Dayne, and Liam G. all gained ground for their respective teams. So Ryan Leach (with the ‘hares”) had the win he was working hard for from day one, but hat’s off goes to Liam E, who’s “never give up” attitude saw him fighting to the end to pull back the deficit his team faced after one of the “fatties” struggled through his laps.

It was then down to the beach. While astonished and nervous Sunday strollers looked on, most of the team braved the winter seas to clean off – a couple by design, the rest were “persuaded”. The wimpiest of the group stood their ground and kept their clothes on.
The exercise was completed with a game of touch, before regenerating with fast food and hitting the roads for home.

All in all a terrific time was had, with a great feedback on the mix of events and locations and good value for money and little stress in travel. Thanks must go to Mr Griffin for assisting me with organising of the events and contacts and for Mr Fleetwood and Mr Kennedy for taking their valuable time out to help lead the trip.

However the real praise must go to the boys who were a pleasure to coordinate and lived up to their promise to have fun, enjoy and grow as a team, but in doing so represent HHS and the Rugby Club in a way that sets the scene for future similar opportunities. I close with feedback received from Queen St Backpackers that reads:

Hillcrest High School’s 1st XV rugby team and support staff stayed with us the nights of the 11th and 12th of July and I am happy to report that they were all perfectly well behaved and we would have no hesitation in having them back again or recommending them to anyone else.

On behalf of the players, thanks to the Club for coordinating this event and the School for supporting the opportunity. It has been great to see the team grow as a unit and team mgmt believe this is reflected in the way in which they reversed the early season loss to Fairfield with a dominant and classy “wet weather rugby” display resulting in a 17-3 win in their first game back this term.

Danny Farr
Mgr 1st XV.
29th July 2008