Oragnisers are hoping for another good turnout this year
Organisers of the Mount Maunganui club sevens tournament are hoping for more good weather this summer to put on another great spectacle of sevens rugby.
Current champions, Grammar Carlton will be returning to defend their title on the Sunday of Auckland Anniversary weekend (31st of Jan).
Last year’s tournament involved 32 teams from all over the North Island from Wellington to North Harbour.
Local teams featured prominently last year with Te Puke Sports going down to Grammar Carlton from Auckland in the Final.
Home side Mount Maunganui came third, Rangataua were second in the Plate and Arataki were second in the Bowl.
Bay of Plenty Steamers hooker John Pareanga is confronted by a hair bear from Rotoiti.
Warren ‘Lippy’ Smith (obscured) is in support while Mount veteran Jason ‘Bully’ Langdon is in the background.
Horowhenua Kapiti fully deserved their upset victory over Auckland in the Bowl Final at the Pub Charity National Sevens tournament in Queenstown.
Auckland were disappointing last week in Mount Maunganui, failing to make the championship finals and their woes continued this week.
The only real star of the Auckand team was ex-international Edwin Cocker but he sustained an injury earlier in the tournament and so was not able to have the impact he would have liked in the final.
Captain Tutu Tairea was full of running and effort. He scored several tries over the weekend and showed considerable pace and strength but it wasn’t enough in a team that was lacking organisation and attacking prowess.
In previous years they would have had the likes of Mana Ashford and Mikaele Pesamino to provide chances up the middle.
It looked like Auckland were going to turn their fortunes around on day 2 as they waltzed through opponents on the way to the Bowl final.
Their form continued into the final where they led 15-0 at half time against the amateurs from Horowhenua Kapiti.
Auckland had the momentum and the body language to salvage some pride but Horowhenua Kapiti bounced back in the second half, winning more possession and taking their opportunities.
The game was sealed on the back of the winning try from their inspirational captain Ashley Drake.
Playmaker Warwick Lahmert had worked hard all tournament, earning the man-love accolades of Sky commentator, Scotty ‘Sumo’ Stevenson.
There was a time in the match where he lost his shirt but continued to retain possession. Lahmert pictured here last week without his short in Miunt Maunganui last week.
Horowhenua-Kapiti playmaker, Warwick Lahmert
Lahmert was able supported by speedy outsides, Michael Tambour and Adam Vardy. Also prominent were Thomas Ati-loa and the hard-wording Anthony Fox (pictured).
Horowhenua-Kapiti were full of running and commitment
The Wellington team had more big names than their Consolation Final opponents
NZ Sevens international Buxton Popalii
Newly added NZ squad member Leka Tupuola
NPC first five eighth Faatonu Fili
NPC midfield back Sean Treeby
Waikato’s only current international, Save Tokula was not playing in the tournament and ex-international and team captain, Glen Mikkleson received a knock earlier in the day and so was not playing either.
Waikato drew with the Bay of Plenty Invitational team in their first match of the day and were beaten in the Championship Quarter final by a very promising Hawkes Bay team.
Wellington had moments of brilliance in their preceding matches. Fili’s timing and vision were a feature and Treeby broke the line several times to create tries, brushing off tackles with good upper body strength.
But they seemed to lack the forwards and the tactics to get past a highly effective smothering defence from a very well-drilled Waikato outfit.
Coach Waisake Masirewa was a regular member of the NZ Sevens team from 1996-98 and with assistant Roger Randell he prepared the team extremely well. Their set piece and defensive strength in the tackle area was too much for Wellington.
This was a team effort from Waikato with several standouts in the final
NPC halfback David Bason who showed good pace and defensive oragnisation;
Frank Halai broke the line several times in the final to create tries for teammates.
Halai was a Wesley College prodigy, touted in a 2007 TV article as ‘the next Jonah Lomu’.
He may not have reached that standard just yet having not yet gained a regular place in the Waikato NPC team but he is a very effective sevens player;
George Speight the NPC back, was a key playmaker and a real handful in one on one situations with defenders who could keep up with him but lacked the strength to bring him down; and
Glen Robertson (pictured below with NZ sevens coach, Gordon Teitjens) scored 2 tries in the final with pace and insightful backing up
This is a close-knit outfit who grew in confidence as the day wore on. If NZ Sevens star, Save Tokula is fit and plays in Queenstown, Waikato are in with a good chance at the Nationals next week.
The Bay of Plenty showed they have both depth and experience in the sevens game by fielding 2 teams in their provincial sevens tournament at the weekend.
The invitational side, coached by ex-International Charles Baxter, won the Plate with a hard-fought victory over Taranaki in the final.
The team’s experience came in the form of ex-New Zealand Sevens captain, Matua Parkinson and ex-international playmaker Nathaniel Walker.
Ex-internationals Nathanial Walker and Matua Parkinson from the Bay Invitational team
Both men would have benefitted from just a little more fitness (and a few less pies) but both were highly effective when mixed with the youth and pace of their teammates.
Parkinson made all of his tackles and hit rucks with his usual aggression while Walker sniped and created opportunities around the middle of the park.
The side was well led by captain, Timoti Gardner who showed good pace scoring several tries through the day.
Bay Invitational team captain, Timoti Gardner
Taranaki had a strong and youthful team that included 3 sons of Taranaki legend Kevin ‘Smiley’ Barrett’s, one of whom – Beauden – would be added to the NZ Sevens training squad the following week, after a strong performance at the National 7s in Queenstown.
Taranaki's Beauden Barrettin full flight in an earlier match
All Black Legend, Sir Colin Meads hands the 'Plate' trophy to Bay of Plenty Invitational team captain, Timoti Gardner
The victorious Bay of Plenty Invitational Team, winners of the Plate
The North Island provincial sevens tournament was played at Blake Park in Mount Maunganui on Sunday the 3rd of Jan.
12 teams contested a prize pool consisting of Championship, Consolation and Plate trophies.
Perhaps more importantly it was an opportunity for players to impress national coach, Gordon Teitjens who is naming his 16 strong squad next week to compete at the NZ and USA legs of the IRB Sevens Series.
NZ Sevens supercoach, Gordon Teitjens
Among the players were four of the current NZ Sevens squad who won the first 2 tournaments in the IRB Sevens Series in Dubai and South Africa:
Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty)
Zar Lawrence (Bay of Plenty)
Sherwin Stowers (Counties)
Buxton Poloalii (Wellington)
Bay of Plenty's internationals, Zar Lawrence and Toby Arnold
NZ Sevens newest star, Sherwin Stowers
NZ Sevens playmaker, Buxton Popa'alii
Also playing were recent internationals Tim Mikkleson (Waikato) and Edwin Cocker (Auckland).
Veteran Internationals Matua Parkinson and Nathanial Walker were playing for the Bay Invitational side.
Wellington had talented first five Fa’atonu Fili as their key playmaker and Sean Treeby from the successful NZ Colts world cup side.
The Coaching roster was equally impressive with several names that are familiar in 7s and 15s circles
Roger Randall (Waikato)
Waisake Maserewa (Waikato)
Tomasi Cama (Manawatu)
Joeli Vidiri (Counties)
Peter Woods (Bay of Plenty)
Charles Baxter (Bay Invitational)
Super 14 and Sevens speedster, Joeli Vidiri now coaching Counties
Notable attendees included
Sir Colin Meads
Karl Tenana and ex-Bay boy Brad Fleming (Crusaders, Hurricanes)
All Black legend, Sir Colin Meads
Ex-Sevens internationals, Brad Fleming and Karl Tenana
#StephenBetham 'promoted' into a shit-storm. I'd far rather have seen him continue working with the USA 7s champions ... # GoodLuck2Himabout 2 days ago
Kiwis dominate Carlton Super 7s. IRB World champions New Zealand will be spread across 4 teams in the Sri Lankan series http://t.co/pyIZG06uabout 2 days ago
Bay of Plenty Steamers hooker John Pareanga is confronted by a hair bear from Rotoiti.
