• Howick and Botany Times

SEVENS HEAVEN: Pakuranga’s Dylan Marais has his eyes locked on a gap in Te Rapa’s defensive line. Photo supplied / David Joseph, Graphic Sport Images.

PAKURANGA United repeated its 2011 result at the club’s annual sevens tournament last Saturday, going down to eventual winners Patumahoe in the semi-finals.

The side, coached by Thomas Cole, started with a 44-0 thumping of Waikato’s Te Rapa, who didn’t score a point across their three games.

Pakuranga then fought out a thrilling 19-19 draw with Chinese side Shandong, which Cole says was the surprise team of the day.

“They were pretty physical and very fit,” he says. “They didn’t stop all day.”

A conversion was the difference in ’Ranga’s low-scoring quarter-final against Massey, with the hosts prevailing 7-5.

Patumahoe, who amassed 123 points and conceded 38 in their five games, proved too good in the semi, however, winning 33-0, before defeating Auckland’s University 31-24 in the final.