Katikati came alive on Saturday, May 3, as the Stags took on Eastern Districts in a thrilling home game filled with passion, community spirit, and outstanding rugby.

After weeks of wet weather, the sun finally shone, setting the stage for a perfect day of footy.

It was a special occasion for Katikati Rugby & Sports Club, as we celebrated our annual Sponsors Day. The sponsors’ area was buzzing with our valued business supporters, while the grandstand was packed with loyal local fans who came out in force to support their team.

The Stags set the tone early, singing their waiata (song) proudly before the whistle blew and the game kicked off.

Both teams came out firing, but it was the Stags who struck first, finishing off a series of impressive attacking phases with a well-earned try. Joel Madsen nailed the conversion, putting Katikati up 7–0. Eastern Districts quickly showed their class, however, fighting back with determination and matching the Stags point for point. By half-time, ED had edged ahead 17-15, despite a second try from Katikati.

In the second half, the Stags came back refreshed and refocused, showing real heart and digging deep. They dominated with four more tries, tightening their defence and lifting the energy on the paddock. The final whistle blew with the scoreboard reading 38-17 to the Katikati Stags – a well-deserved and hard-fought win!

Eastern Districts was fierce and full of grit, backed by a large group of travelling supporters, but the Stags were simply stronger on the day.

Fundraiser

Adding to the great atmosphere, Katikati Rugby & Sports Club was proud to host a fundraiser for the Katikati Volunteer Fire Brigade. The community turned out in force to support this vital service, taking part in two meat raffles run by the club while the brigade served up a crowd-favourite sausage sizzle.

Also showing strong community spirit, the Katikati Netball Club was on-site fundraising for the Katikati College Premier 1 netball team, helping to raise funds towards their upcoming winter tournament costs. It was fantastic to see our wider sporting community come together and support one another.

The good vibes didn’t stop at full-time. An epic after-match gathering followed, with fantastic food, cold drinks, and plenty of banter flowing between players, sponsors, and supporters alike.

A huge thank you to all our incredible sponsors, supporters, and community groups – your backing means everything and makes days like this truly special. Up the Stags!

-Quinton Landman coaches for the Katikati Stags and wrote this report from the game.