Sevens: Rangataua break new sevens ground

Rangataua celebrate after winning the Middlesex Sevens on Saturday. Photo/Supplied

Rangataua created history by becoming the first Bay of Plenty club to win the Middlesex Sevens when they defeated hosts and defending champions Pakuranga on Saturday.

They brought home to Maungatapu the Wavell Wakefield Cup, first awarded in 1951, and will host next year's Middlesex Sevens tournament. As an added bonus they gain automatic entry into the Fitness First Central Coast (NSW) Sevens and the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens to be held later this year.

Pakuranga's Linford Hanipale got the hosts on the board in the first minute of the final before Rangataua's David Fraser took advantage of territorial domination to score twice midway through the first half. Curtis van der Hayden then scored to extend the lead to 21-7 at halftime.

When Alex Jessop scored Rangataua's fourth try, the final looked all over, but two tries to Pakuranga within 60 seconds closed the score to 28-21. Fraser then crossed for his third try to seal the win and $3000 prizemoney for his team.

Rangataua coach Matua Parkinson, a former NZ Sevens captain, says they knew Pakuranga would attack through their big forwards.

"It was a tough game all round but the experience of Matthew Clutterbuck, Adam McGarvey and Nathaniel Walker was invaluable, especially Matthew," said Parkinson. "He was an outstanding captain, he didn't put a foot wrong today.

"It was a long season with winning a number of tournaments along the way. We worked hard and have been planning for this for a few years and it paid off now and culminated in this national title. I am over the moon.

"This cup is such a big thing with so much history and I'm not sure that people back home are aware of the significance and what we are in for. We're accepting the invitations to the partner tournaments with open arms and are now looking to organise the trip to Fiji," he said.

Te Puna was the other Bay of Plenty team competing at Pakuranga. Despite good reason for optimism after their form over the summer, Te Puna had a day to forget. They lost to Hamilton Marist and Upper Hutt in a tough pool, then fell to Southern 26-14 in the Bowl semifinal.