Coaches encouraged by performances

PLENTY OF POSITIVES: The Poverty Bay women’s rugby sevens squad put in some encouraging performances at the central region tournament in Levin. They are, back (from left): Rita Halley, Ariana Clarke, Kahurangi Delamere, Selica Winiata (New Zealand 15s and sevens player, who presented the Bay players with their jerseys), Azalleyah Maaka, Amoe Tarsau, Lizzie Hall and Trish Hina. Kneeling: Te Uarangi Olsen-Baker, Monique Carmichael, Tamia Matthews, Ihipera Mackey, Maia Rickard, Awhina Rickard. Lying down in front: Sulieti Halafihi. Picture supplied

THE Poverty Bay men’s and women’s teams may not have qualified for the national rugby sevens tournament in January but team officials were happy with the performances at the central region tournament in Levin.

“There were a lot of positives from this tournament,” said women’s player-coach Trish Hina, whose side had three losses and one victory. “For the majority of the girls it was their first regional tournament playing sevens and playing for Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union.

“The highlight was all the players giving rugby a go. The focus this year was on getting our young women on the paddock, and they loved it and can’t wait for the next tournament.”

Hina said the Poverty Bay union had given huge support.

“They looked after us really well and we also received great support from the parents who travelled with us, Margie Rickard and Gabe Olsen. They ended up being our managers on tournament day so that Amoe (Tarsau, player-manager) and I could focus on playing. Margie and Gabe were awesome keeping us up to date with things throughout the day.”

Sulieti Halafihi from Gisborne Girls’ High School was selected for the New Zealand Talent Identification two-day camp for women’s sevens.

“That’s the goal for our youth, getting them exposed and furthering their careers in rugby,” Hina said. “The outlook for women’s sevens and secondary schoolgirls’ sevens looks very bright in our region. Lytton High School start their women’s sevens programme in Term 1 next year. It will be supported by Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou.”

Men’s manager Dwayne Russell said it was a huge day for the team, playing five games in five hours.

“We had a tough pool — Taranaki (lost 42-0), Manawatu (lost 41-5) and eventual winners Hawke’s Bay (lost 36-5), all top ITM Cup provinces. Even though we lost, the boys were excited about playing against professional players.”

After pool play, the Bay met Wairarapa Bush in the knockout round.

“We were down 21-7 with three minutes to go and staged a fantastic comeback to win. We got two tries to tie the game up, then in overtime we spread the ball wide to Treigh Christy on the wing. He beat his man and made a 10-metre sideline dash into the 22.

“Wairarapa were scrambling on defence and the spectators were going wild with excitement at our never-say-die attitude. Treigh got tackled but offloaded a short pass to our speed man, Tom Iosefo (loan player from Hawke’s Bay). The ball hit Tom’s chest and went forward in the air but he regathered it to score the winning try.”

The win put the Bay into a playoff for fifth and sixth, and a possible berth in the national tournament. But defending national champions Taranaki won 28-19.

“The boys went down fighting, taking sixth position. They did themselves and the union proud. They played with intensity and courage, and despite being on the end of some big scores they refused to give in.

“The only thing worse than losing is giving up, and we couldn’t have asked for more than what the boys put out on the field.”

Russell said the team received great support from the union and supporters.