While the rain came down in the morning it soon cleared to allow for free-flowing sevens from some of the region’s most exciting young players.
Twelve teams took the field in pool play with Ponsonby, Massey and surprise package Nuie Wanderers emerging as favourites for the day.
All three sides featured top sevens and Air New Zealand Cup players.
“We were really impressed with the quality of teams that played. Every team was competitive and there were some great battles, especially in the semis and finals,” says Pakuranga coach Thomas Cole.
The Pakuranga Orange team breezed through pool play, beating Teachers Eastern 19-12 and Papakura 22-12, with winger Liam Kelman showing blistering pass to cross the line four times.
The Pakuranga Green side were not as successful early on, going down to eventual semi-finalist College Rifles, and losing to Manukau Rovers – to find themselves playing off for the bowl.
The quarter-finals for the championship saw Nuie Wanderers put away Teachers Eastern, and Ponsonbly beat Manukau.
Pakuranga Orange struggled against Massey, going down 12-22, while Marist and College Rifles played almost 10 minutes of extra time before College Rifles crossed the line for the win.
“We wanted to play the best, so the boys were amped to be playing Massey. We footed it with them for most of the match, but they just had the playmakers to finish it off.”
Massey playmakers included New Zealand Sevens player Nafi Tuitavake, Harbour star Ken Pisi and Filipo Tuigamala.
Pakuranga Orange went on to play Marist in the plate semi-finals, winning 24-17, with two more tries for Kelman, but unfortunately couldn’t seal the deal in the final.
Up against a rejuvenated Teachers Eastern, Orange was unable to keep up with the pace and went down 17-5.
There were better fortunes for the Green team, playing in the bowl final against old foes Auckland University.
Down 10-14 with just a minute
to go, a miskicked drop goal from Pakuranga player Wimpe van Tonder sailed to the far corner of the field into the hands of Alex Tupou to steal the game, and the bowl, for the Green side.
“The Green team played some fantastic rugby to get into the final, and to play such a good team in Auckland Uni and come away with it was a brilliant result,” says Cole.
The championship final was fought out between early favourites Massey and Ponsonby.
Ponsonby had gone through the tournament undefeated, but couldn’t make it a perfect day, Massey eventual winners 17-14.
Kelman was awarded the top try-scorer award for the competition, running in eight tries in five matches. Massey’s Tuigamala was awarded player of the tournament.
“Overall the day was a great spectacle. It’s a pity that the weather kept a few more supporters away,” says Cole.
Pakuranga now have their season finale this weekend at the Mt Maunganui Sevens.
