Gisborne, cheered on by whānau, friends, schoolmates and other teams, stunned Tauranga 24-12 – the only loss the Bay of Plenty side suffered over the competition.
Cranston said it was more about Gisborne playing to their abilities rather than a shock, along with Tauranga “probably taking us a little bit lightly”.
The win put the home team into a crossover game against Hastings on Sunday – the Hawke’s Bay boys winning 22-10.
That dropped Gisborne into the seventh-eighth playoff game against New Plymouth.
They came out firing on the hard, dry Rectory surface, which produced plenty of grazes and bruises over the tournament.
Gisborne powered to a 20-7 halftime lead and were always in control.
Cranston said Kahurangi Leach-Waihi, who scored a double in the match, and Quaydon Chaffey-Waihi were their standouts.
Tauranga bounced back from their loss to Gisborne to beat Palmerston North 24-10 in their semifinal, then defeated reigning champions Hamilton 19-10 in the final.
They added the sevens crown to their Super 8 15s title for which they also beat Hamilton (37-0) in the final.
Gisborne placed fifth in the years 9 and 10 grade at the Super 8 sevens.
They ended the tournament positively after losing their three pool games.
Gisborne beat New Plymouth 12-10 in their crossover game, then Palmerston North 21-19 in the playoff for fifth and sixth.
Rotorua defeated Tauranga 17-12 in the final.
Super 8 Sevens results
Under-18 grade
Pool play – Pool A: Hamilton Boys’ High 35 New Plymouth BHS 12, Palmerston North BHS 20 Hastings BHS 17, Hamilton 17 Palmerston North 14, New Plymouth 28 Hastings 7, Palmerston North 50 New Plymouth 0, Hamilton 24 Hastings 12.
Pool B: Rotorua BHS 28 Gisborne BHS 21, Tauranga Boys’ College 31 Napier BHS 19, Tauranga 41 Rotorua 15, Napier 29 Gisborne 12, Gisborne 24 Tauranga 12, Rotorua 34 Napier 12.
Crossover games: Hastings 22 Gisborne 10, Napier 54 New Plymouth 0, Hamilton 14 Rotorua 5, Tauranga 24 Palmerston North 10.
Positional playoffs – 7th/8th: Gisborne 37 New Plymouth 12.
5th/6th: Napier 48 Hastings 12.
3rd/4th: Rotorua 28 Palmerston North14.
1st/2nd: Tauranga 19 Hamilton 10.
Final placings: Tauranga 1, Hamilton 2, Rotorua 3, Palmerston North 4, Napier 5, Hastings 6, Gisborne 7, New Plymouth 8,
Years 9 and 10 grade
Pool play – Pool A: Hamilton 33 Tauranga 0, Palmerston North 19 Gisborne 17, Hamilton 34 Palmerston North 22, Tauranga 36 Gisborne 21, Tauranga 29 Palmerston North 0, Hamilton 57 Gisborne 5.
Pool B (three teams in pool): Hastings 24 Rotorua 22, Hastings 38 New Plymouth 14, Rotorua 35 New Plymouth 0.
Crossover games: Palmerston North bye, Gisborne 12 New Plymouth 10, Rotorua 24 Hamilton 12, Tauranga 21 Hastings 10.
Positional playoffs – 7th/8th: New Plymouth bye.
5th/6th: Gisborne 21 Palmerston North 19.
3rd/4th: Hastings 19 Hamilton 17.
1st/2nd: Rotorua 17 Tauranga 12.
Final placings: Rotorua 1, Tauranga 2, Hamilton 3, Hastings 4, Gisborne 5, Palmerston North 6, New Plymouth 7.
