PB Sevens team named this week

SPRING RAIN: You could have been forgiven for thinking the seasonal clock had been turned back a couple of months as a cold weekend snap affected sport fixtures in the district. Sunblock gave way to umbrellas and jackets while hydration was not an issue in the more physical events such as the First Light rugby sevens tournament at the Rectory fields. HSOB’s Tyler Henare and Rikki Terekia (next picture) are pictured taking on Napier Tech players. Pictures by Rebecca Grunwell

POVERTY Bay sevens coaches Dwyane Russell, Chris Neill and Brent Mokomoko will to name their team to compete at the Waikato Sevens tournament on November 25.

“We’re close to naming a 14-man squad, which will be reduced to 12 for the regionals on December 9. We’re just looking at a few options regarding loan players,” said Russell after Saturday’s First Light Sevens round-robin tournament held at the Rectory fields and won by Brothers from Hawke’s Bay.

“We’re allowed two loan players and to be competitive at the regionals we need two specialists — either speedsters or a speedster and an organiser.

“We’ve got some good sevens players in the district but all the other teams will have loan players, and speed is a must for sevens.”

Five Hawke’s Bay teams and Gisborne club sides High School Old Boys and YMP competed at the sevens.

Russell said the number of local teams was disappointing.

“The Hawke’s Bay clubs love coming here but we need a bit more support from local clubs.”

The visiting clubs filled the first three spots, with Havelock North second and MAC third.

Brothers team member Sonny Lilo was named player of the tournament.

HSOB placed fourth.

“We also had a some good young boys from Gisborne Boys’ High School take part and even through the weather wasn’t the best, it was a good day,” Russell said.