Taniwha reach Shield final
The Northland Taniwha eventually finished runners-up in the Shield final of the TECT National Sevens in Tauranga on Sunday.
The side began its nationals campaign day one with two losses against the top qualifiers in their pool, eventual champions Tasman (40-7) and Wellington (28-0).
Northland then enjoyed a good 19-0 win against South Canterbury on Saturday which put them in the bowl quarter-final on Sunday against Bay of Plenty.
A 39-0 loss here left Northland chasing the fourth-tier Shield title — order of prestige at the nationals is cup, plate, bowl then shield — with a 28-12 win in the semi-final against Wairarapa Bush to progress into the final, where they lost to Manawatu 14-17.
Coach Denny Windelborn noted the side grew in confidence throughout the two-day event, and noted it was still a respectable performance in finishing one place lower than the previous year with a new team and coach
Elsewhere, Tasman and Manawatu claimed the respective men’s and women’s TECT National Sevens titles. Led by James Lash, who was awarded the Joe Tauiwi Memorial Player of the Tournament, Tasman held out Counties Manukau to win the title 21-17. It was a maiden crown for Tasman, who were beaten finalists in the previous nationals in January.
In the women’s final, Manawatu once again lifted the trophy, claiming their fifth national sevens crown after an intense contest against Waikato 17-15. Black Ferns Sevens captain and Manawatu stalwart Sarah Goss was awarded the Anna Richards Cup for Player of the Tournament.
Other results were, Men, plate final: Bay of Plenty 31 Auckland 12, bowl: Counties Manukau 26 Canterbury 5; Women, plate: Bay of Plenty 36 Wellington 7, bowl: Southland 25 North Harbour 0.