Tasman, Christchurch share sevens spoils
Schools from Christchurch and the Tasman region have dominated the South Island Secondary Schools Rugby Sevens Championships in Timaru.
Finals in the under-18 girls and under-15 boys both featured clashes between a school from Tasman and one from Christchurch and honours were shared.
Motueka High School won the under-18 girls grade convincingly beating Christchurch Girls’ High 26-15, while Christchurch Boys’ High then beat Nelson College 15-12 in a closely contested boys final.
Organiser Caro Rhodes said this was the third year Timaru had hosted the tournament. It was previously organised by Sport Canterbury in conjunction with the South Canterbury Rugby Football Union (SCRFU), but this year the SCRFU hosted and organised the tournament with support from Sport Canterbury.
‘‘The standard of rugby was outstanding. The camaraderie and sportsman was a credit to all schools involved. It’s great to see a sport where boys and girls support each other.’’
Roncalli College was the only South Canterbury school that competed at the championships.
In the girls’ grade, Roncalli were up against Kaiapoi High School, Christchurch Girls’ High Schoo, and Riccarton High School in Pool A while Pool B featured winners Motueka High School, Mt Hutt College, Villa Maria College, and St Margaret’s College.
Roncalli was in Pool B for the boys’ grade along with Nelson College White, St Thomas’ of Canterbury College, and Ashburton College while Christchurch Boys’ High School, Nelson College Blue, St Kevin’s College and St Andrew’s College made up Pool A.
Rhodes said the tournament will be held in Timaru again next year.