Club sevens titles decided
A last-minute try secured the Manawatu¯ club sevens men’s title for Varsity, their first in more than 20 years.
Varsity were down to 10 players in their squad for the final at Massey University last weekend after Thomas Kalin and Cody Hemi were ruled out mid-tournament, but they got out to a 14-0 lead over Feilding Yellows.
Feilding, though, struck back twice, levelling the scores, before Te Rangatira Waitokia had the final say for Varsity, scoring with under a minute left on the clock.
Yellows, featuring many players from Feilding High School, were the champions last year, but the Anzac Trophy this year went to Varsity.
In the women’s competition, Feilding Old Boys-o¯ roua beat Kia Toa in the final. The win goes with their 15-a-side title from earlier in the year.
The men’s competition consisted of 10 open-grade teams, and the women had four teams – enough for the women’s section to go ahead for the first time in years.
The turnaround before the men’s final was a short one after Varsity beat Old Boys-marist in a tight semifinal and Feilding defeated Linton Red.
Linton might have made the final if it were not for a late forward pass that was spotted by the referee when the soldiers had looked certain to score.
The Massey fields were in good nick for the tournament, which meant some freeflowing sevens could be played, despite drizzle and wind.
Varsity had also met Feilding in pool play, where Varsity got away with a 19-17 win.
Manawatu¯ Rugby Union