Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby winger Mason Emerson reckons a decision to take an eight-week spell from all versions of the code has paid off big time.
"I've come back fizzing," Emerson said and none of the spectators at the Paladin Hawke's Bay Sevens in Waipukurau on Saturday will dispute that statement after watching Emerson's player-of-the-tournament displays as Hastings Rugby and Sports captured the Ian Baker Memorial Cup for the first time since their 2013-'14 double.
Emerson was back to his best with powerful bursts, ferocious defence and tries at key times including one in the second half, which with Danny Toala's conversion, secured Hastings' 12-0 win against Havelock North in the A grade final of the 15-team open men's division at Central Park.
After last year's Mitre 10 Cup 21-year-old Emerson went to a United States Sevens tournament with the New Zealand Development team and when he returned had a chat with Magpies head coach Mark Ozich and the pair agreed it would be a good time to take two months off.
"Hopefully it will lead to a good club season and then a good Mitre 10 Cup season with the Magpies," Emerson said.
"It's my first player-of-the-tournament award in four outings down here in the open men's grade. We had a pretty good team which helped."
Emerson pointed out the Hastings side had not played in a sevens tournament since the Napier Old Boys Marist Invitation in November.
"We've been focusing on our 15s and making a good start to the season next month. We haven't done as well as we should have in 15s during the last couple of seasons," Emerson said and his Hastings Rugby and Sports co-coach Tivaini Fomai backed his player up.
"Napier Old Boys Marist have set the bar in 15s during the last couple of seasons and it's important we try and match them," Fomai said.
Fomai praised the tightness of his sevens squad on Saturday as a key factor in their success which included a 22-5 win against 2016 and '17 champions Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports in their semifinal.
"We placed a big emphasis on the spiritual side of the game and there was good team spirit there."
He agreed Hawke's Bay Sevens rep Timo Vaiusu, the other try scorer in the final, pushed Emerson close in the battle for the player-of-the-tournament.
"Timo might only be able to reach 10 in the beep test but he plays with a big heart and does some damage when given the opportunity."
Jesse Paewai was the best of the Havelock North players at the business end of the tournament. His team paid the price in the final when they took the ball into the confrontation area and lost it to their more physical opponents.
The villagers also struggled to get their wide game going and this was a tribute to the ruthless defensive play from Hastings.
Superb defensive work propelled Taradale to a thrilling 15-14 win against Manawatu's Manukura in the women's A grade final. Taradale played with six players for most of the final after a player was red-carded for a dangerous tackle.
Krysten Cottrell was outstanding for Taradale and been in the winning women's team for the last four tournaments as she played for Manawatu's Feilding Old Boys Oroua at the last three. The experienced Gemma Woods and the promising Laura Balsillie also impressed for Taradale.
Promising Manukura player Carys Dallinger deserved her women's player-of-the-tournament award. MAC beat Clive 21-12 in the women's playoff for third.
Napier Old Boys Marist scored a convincing 31-5 win against Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports in the colts A grade final. The NOBM side included four players, Ricky Hayes, Mitch Drew, Sonny Lilo and Paul Bickle, from their premier men's team which finished second at the national club sevens in Auckland the previous weekend.
Hayes, Drew and Lilo were also members of the Hawke's Bay Sevens team at last month's nationals in Rotorua. Chris Hemi from Wairarapa's Martinborough club won the colts player-of-the-tournament award.
His team beat Whanganui 26-19 in their B grade colts final.