DETERMINED:Rangataua's Ross Taurima heads for the tryline.
DETERMINED:Rangataua's Ross Taurima heads for the tryline.
As the sun set over Maungatapu's picturesque Te Ariki Park on Saturday evening the last few rays reflected off the silver Wavell Wakefield Middlesex Cup.
Minutes later the cup was packed up en route to Wellington after Wainuiomata defeated Hutt Old Boys Marist in the cup final 24-7 and endedhost club Rangataua Sports' hopes of defending the prestigious symbol of New Zealand club sevens.
Earlier, Rangataua beat champions Wainuiomata in the day's opening match 26-19 and were confident heading into the cup quarter-final against Upper Hutt. But the crucial knockout game was lost in extra time after the home team controlled most of the game.
"We got away to a good start but we let them back into the game and unfortunately in this game of sevens you can't let a team back in," said Rangataua coach Matua Parkinson.
"We had two opportunities to close the game out with a minute to go but we fluffed them and then we went to extra time and had the ball at a penalty start and we managed to stuff that up as well.
"We turned the ball over and fatigue got hold of us. But it has been an excellent tournament ... there has been a lot of support and we have enjoyed it."
Despite Saturday's disappointment, it has been a sevens-summer to remember for Rangataua with trips to Australia and Fiji to compete at top class tournaments as holders of the Wavell Wakefield Middlesex Cup.
"It has been a long season for us and our most memorable one," said Parkinson.
"We will look to next year now and hope to represent the Bay of Plenty down in Wellington. But first we have to get through the good teams here like Te Puna and Mount Maunganui."
Te Puna fielded one of the youngest teams on Saturday and came close to two major upsets with narrow defeats to Hutt Old Boys Marist and Manukau Rovers, while Mount Maunganui were also highly competitive.
Along with Rangataua they are crucial to the continuing success of the Bay of Plenty team that did so well at last month's nationals held in Rotorua.
