Tuesday 15 September, 2026

AIMS is a national event, and it proved to be a tough introduction, with 69 teams entered in the competition. Randwick Park finished 64th overall, but the week gave our players valuable experience against schools with strong and established football programmes. One of the highlights was a 2–0 win over Taumata School. More importantly, the team continued to compete, learn and grow throughout the tournament. 

For these players, the week was about much more than the final placing. It was about understanding the level required at AIMS, adapting from Futsal to Football, learning how to respond when things are difficult, and laying the foundations for future Randwick Park teams.

A huge thank you to Coaches Mr McNaught and Logan Waterworth, and Manager Ms McCall, for their time, commitment and support throughout the week. A special thank you also to Rebecca Rhodes, who transported the team and supported our management team at the house. These players can proudly say they were the first Randwick Park School football team to compete at the AIMS Games. First year. First experience. National stage. Flying the flag for Manurewa. Foundations laid.

Randwick opened strongly with wins over Te Kamo Intermediate (29–14) and Tarawera High School (55–5), and also defeated St Peter’s College (36–12). Their pool losses included a close 12–15 result against Papamoa College and another heartbreaking one-try thriller, 14–21 against Rotorua Intermediate, who went on to finish 2nd overall. Once into the Top 16, the level stepped up again. Randwick faced eventual champions Henderson Intermediate, going down 26–12. At the time of that meeting, Randwick were the only team to have scored tries against Henderson, showing just how well the boys competed against the eventual champions.

They also faced Chisnallwood Intermediate from Christchurch, losing 26–15 to a team that went on to finish 3rd overall, and then had another heartbreaking 20–21 loss to Kaitaia Intermediate. The boys responded strongly, this time beating Kaitaia 39–5 and then Francis Douglas Memorial College 19–17 to secure 13th place overall.

What made Randwick Park’s achievement even more special was that we were the only full primary school in the field, competing against predominantly intermediate and secondary school programmes.

A huge thank you to Coach Jordan and Manager Ms Doran for the time, commitment and care they gave the boys throughout the week. Special thanks also to Sina and Anthya for keeping the boys fed and looked after, and to Mr Dawson for providing the live feeds so our families and whānau back home in Manurewa could follow the journey. A thank you to all our whānau that supported our team throughout the week.

The tournament began with pool play against teams from different parts of New Zealand. Randwick opened with a convincing 31–7 win over Villa Maria College from Christchurch, then followed that with wins over Onewhero Area School 28–9 and Brooklyn School from Wellington 35–8. The next stage brought another challenge, a highly fancied Papamoa College side playing on their home turf in Tauranga. Randwick came through a tight contest 24–19, keeping their unbeaten run alive.

Then came the knockout stage, and the odds seemed stacked against them. Randwick had to get through three local Bay of Plenty teams, all with plenty of hometown support behind them. The talent across the Bay of Plenty schools was unbelievable, so we knew we had to be at our very best in every game. First came Mt Maunganui Intermediate in the Top 16, with Randwick winning 26–21. Next was Whakatane Intermediate in the quarterfinal, where Randwick won 29–16.

A semifinal matchup against Tauranga Intermediate, the local favourites and 2025 AIMS Games runners-up. This one was a true battle. Randwick fell behind by four goals in the final quarter, and Tauranga were never going to hand us a place in the final. The game could have gone either way. But fortune favours the brave. In difficult conditions, our girls stayed composed, took their chances when they came, and found a way back into the contest. They held their nerve to win a thriller 22–19, booking Randwick Park a place in the AIMS Games final for the first time in school history.

The final was a true South Auckland showdown against our cross-town rivals, Clendon Park School. Like Randwick, Clendon Park is also a full primary school with similar numbers. Over the past seven years they have built an impressive AIMS legacy, winning the title three times. In 2026 they were dominant not only in our local competition, but across Auckland as well before carrying that form into AIMS. Randwick pushed all the way to the final, but Clendon proved too strong on the day, winning 35–11. There was still enormous pride in what Randwick achieved.

We are also incredibly grateful to our sponsors and supporters. Fa’afetai lava to the Ted Manson Foundation for providing the vans that helped transport our teams throughout the week. Deefort Sports NZ for supporting all our teams with our sporting apparel and helping our girls represent Randwick Park with pride. Huskies Coaching Academy, led by Christina Oscar, for providing our netball girls with extra coaching workshops and for supplying their training tops. Your support added another layer to their preparation and helped get them ready for the demands of competing on the national stage. Mr McNaught and Chonaire Huriwai (while heavily pregnant!) for coaching the girls during the development stage summer league 2025.

A special thank you to Craig for strapping up our girls each day and helping them stay ready to take the court. Ange and the Nicholls whānau, thank you for turning part of the AIMS house into a make shift hair salon and making sure the girls looked and felt the part. Erica and whānau, thank you for bringing that unmistakable island-style cheering (especially your Mother!) and energy to the courts when the girls needed it most. All our families and whānau thank you for backing our team. Whether you were courtside, helping behind the scenes, bringing food and baking, sending messages of support, or cheering from home, you were all part of this journey.

A massive thank you to Coaches Ana Savali and Mr Lologa for the countless hours of planning, preparation, belief and support they gave our girls throughout the season. And to Manager Mrs Savali, thank you for everything you did behind the scenes and throughout the week to keep the team organised, supported and focused. The result on court was built on months of preparation, guidance and belief from the people around them.