Fishing for supporters [Marlborough Express]
Go Makos: The Tasman Makos players visit schools yesterday during their stay in Blenheim leading up to the ITM Cup semi-final against Southland tomorrow. From left, Makos mascot the shark high-fives children at Fairhall School; Tasman Makos player Hayden Cripps holds Tevita Tomanu, 6, at Renwick School; Makos player Kaide Whiting signs the ball that 10-year-old George Glover just won at Springlands School
The Tasman Makos rugby team mascot and some players have been visiting Marlborough schools.
All three schools they visited yesterday - Fairhall School, then Springlands and Renwick - were buzzing as the pupils ran around getting shirts, pieces of paper and their arms autographed.
Renwick pupil Sam Young, 10, vowed never to wash his autographed hand again.
Players Hayden Cripps and Kaide Whiting played a game with pupils. They kicked a rugby ball which pupils tried to catch and got to keep if they did. George Glover, 10, caught a ball and said it was exciting but he felt "pressurised with everyone watching me".
The team has been in Blenheim leading up to the ITM Cup semi-final against Southland at Lansdowne Park tomorrow afternoon.
Makos player Kaide Whiting was surprised by the support from the children yesterday.
"It's pretty full on and great to see them all so excited," he said.
Renwick School principal Simon Heath said it was a great day for the pupils. They had Makos captain Joe Wheeler at the school to talk about a career in rugby and all pupils got to wear red and blue for the day in support of the team.
Player Hayden Cripps was blown away by the excitement.
"It's not at all what I expected. You want to become a player when you are young, but don't expect the fans once you get there," he said.
They encouraged the children to go to the game tomorrow afternoon at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim.
Children under the age of 12 get free entry. Parents must present their adult ticket at the ticket booth and can then get up to 10 free child tickets for the game.
MAKOS TRAINING - noon Friday, Lansdowne Park. Free entry, all welcome to watch the captains run
