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 ended
host 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.
