Eleven teams in tournament

MATT RALEIGH

SEVENS RUGBY

Nine men’s and two women’s teams will compete in the regional club rugby sevens tournament in the season’s last hurrah at Rugby Park tomorrow.

One Hawke’s Bay club, Gisborne Boys’ High School and all local rugby clubs except HSOB will be represented in the competition.

In the women’s grade, Lytton u19s and GMC will play each other twice.

For both college sides, the tournament is another chance to refine their game before the Condor Sevens tournament early next month.

It will be an intriguing test for GBHS, who will likely look to use their fitness and pace to overcome the competition. They will need to move the ball around the park and avoid making it a physical contest if they hope to be successful.

Last year the annual tournament had six teams. Organisers say it is exciting to have more teams — including one from out of town — playing this year.

MAC is a Hawke’s Bay rugby club that will be playing in the tournament as part of their preparation for their club sevens event the following weekend.

The fast men of Poverty Bay rugby will be out in full force. Look for YMP’s Andrew Tauatevalu and Ngatapa’s Matt Raleigh to light up the field with some scintillating runs.

Each team will play at least four games over the day, with the final to be played in the early evening.

Games start at 9.30am, and the final is expected to begin at 5pm. All games will be played at Rugby Park.