Sevens: Bowl win consolation for Mount side

Ainsley Skudder, left, on attack for Rangataua with Jason Heatherley in support against Poneke at the National Club Sevens finals. Photo / Steven White

It was not the prize they were after but Mount Maunganui Sports were happy enough in the end to win the Bowl final at the National Club Sevens in Wainuiomata over the weekend.

Mount Maunganui defeated Hamilton Marist 31-10 on day two yesterday after earlier beating local rivals Tauranga Sport 19-17 in a semifinal thriller.

Mount beat Wellington's Old Boys University 19-12 in the Bowl quarter-final to set up the local derby semi.

Mount Maunganui sent a strong team full of Bay of Plenty and All Blacks Sevens reps coached by Paul Tietjens, but day one did not go their way as they lost 19-17 to Awanui from Northland and 14-7 to the Upper Hutt Rams.

It could have been so different if they had held Awanui out in stoppage time but the Northlanders scored a converted try after the hooter to steal the game.

The Mounties had a bye in their final pool round.

On day one Tauranga Sports lost to Nelson Wanderers 24-10 and Auckland's Suburbs 31-17 before beating Old Boys University 21-10 to make the Bowl quarters, where they had a bye through to the showdown with Mount Maunganui.

Rangataua, the 2014 national champions and Middlesex Cup winners, were the best of the Tauranga teams in making the Cup quarter-finals.

They began with a 17-12 opening win against Wellington's Poneke and then shocked the home crowd by defeating defending champions Wainuiomata 15-12.

Rangataua trailed 12-5 at halftime and defended courageously to hold the rampant home side scoreless in the second spell.

After Rangataua closed the gap to 12-10, Wainuiomata bombed two try opportunities, knocking on over the line and then being penalised for a double movement in the final seconds.

Rangataua took full advantage to take a quick tap and run the length of the fieldfor the matchwinner.

Eventual champions Melville from Hamilton then beat Rangataua 22-0 but the Maungatapu-based club still made the Cup quarters where they lost to Counties Manukau side Karaka 15-12 in a close-run thing yesterday morning.