The Napier Old Boys' Marist team, and family, after Saturday's Sevens tournament win in Napier. Photo/Duncan Brown
The Napier Old Boys' Marist team, and family, after Saturday's Sevens tournament win in Napier. Photo/Duncan Brown
Napier Old Boys' Marist wrapped up the rugby year in style on Saturday by adding their own invitational sevens tournament crown to the Madison Trophy and other honours won during the winter.
With brothers Johnny, Migao and Sami Lauano providing a potent core, NOBM beat Upper Hutt Rams 24-19 inthe final of the 13-team senior tournament at home-ground Tremain Field, Park Island. The side completed a successful defence of the honour achieved when winning the inaugural tournament 12 months last December with a big win over Taranaki side the Sharks.
It was a much closer call this time with OBM being taken to extra-time to beat Hastings Rugby and Sports in the semifinals. In the other semifinal Upper Hutt eliminated Havelock North.
The colts grade attracted seven teams, with favourites Hastings Boys' High School beating Napier Boys' High School in a confident prelude before the Condor Sevens in which HBHS will next month be out to complete a national secondary schools' double after winning the XVs title in September.
More than 50 games were played on Saturday, with Hawke's Bay Sevens coach Ellery Wilson and new Magpies coach Mark Ozich getting the chance to see more potential future prospects, for upcoming sevens tournaments and ahead of the Magpies NPC campaign next year.
Others in the winning NOBM team included Sonny Lilo, who was with the Lauano brothers in The Brothers' Bali 10s tournament win in Fiji last month.
Apart from the support of several clubs from outside Hawke's Bay, the tournament also had seven Wellington referees who Wilson said had offered their services because of their extended experience with sevens.
