First blood for Rams in sevens
A first-up win in Wellington Rugby’s American Ambassador’s Cup sevens series has the Upper Hutt Rams in the box seat to defend their Wellington title.
The Rams disposed of Tawa in Saturday’s final, running away to a 38-5 win at Lyndhurst Park in the first tournament of the threeround series.
Wellington sevens supremacy has sat with the Rams for the last two seasons and coach Nathan Williams is set on again taking the side to the national club tournament in Auckland in February.
The next leg at Wainuiomata on October 28 will be crucial.
‘‘With the Wellington development games finishing, a few of the other teams will be that much stronger at Wainui. But if we can follow up with another win there we will be guaranteed entry to the nationals and have one hand on the Ambassador’s Cup,’’ Williams said.
The Rams were untroubled in their pool play, beating Ories 22-5, Petone 43-5 and Old Boys University B 27-0.
A tight semi-final against Marist St Pats followed. The Rams were behind 7-5 at the turnaround and had to work hard, especially in defence.
Owen Karati, a former Manawatu sevens representative, scored both Rams’ tries, with his second proving enough to claim the win.
The final against a Tawa team on their home ground was a different affair with the Rams running away with the game after leading 12-5 at half-time.
Wellington representatives Daniel and Hayden Schrijvers were in irrepressible form. The brothers scored four second-half tries including a hat-trick to Daniel, a specialist loose forward in the 15s game.
The Rams’ first-up effort was especially impressive with only four players returning from a year ago, Williams said.
‘‘The Schrijvers boys were outstanding of course, and Tafa Tafa was impressive all tournament too – but he was lost to us for the final because of an injury so we really had to work for it.’’
With Richard Wasley and Tim Kareko assisting, Williams said the preparation had been solid.
The squad’s fitness levels were a strength with the side having been in training for six weeks.
‘‘While we were a wee bit under strength player wise, we very much had the goal to win this and so we were pretty happy,’’ Williams said.
Following the second round at Mary Crowther Park, the third and final Ambassador’s Cup leg will be at Paremata Plimmerton on November 4.