Sevens: NOBM defy odds to finish second at nationals

The Napier Old Boys' Marist premier rugby team who finished runners up at the national club sevens tourney in Auckland at the weekend. Photo/Supplied

Gutsy stuff Napier Old Boys Marist!

"Yes we were on the back foot from the start. So to come second in the country . . . we're all very proud of the team," speedster Mitch Drew said as he reflected on the Green Machine's second placing at the 16-team Wavell Wakefield Middlesex County Cup National Club Sevens in Auckland during the weekend.

He was referring to the late withdrawal of Hannon Brighouse and Saia Pease which meant the side travelled to Auckland with 10 players instead of 12. Playmaker Paul Bickle cracked a rib in the second pool game on Saturday but continued to contribute in the remaining matches as did speedster Sonny Lilo who fractured a wrist.

"It was an awesome effort to reach the final and we just came up short," Drew said minutes after they were beaten 24-14 by defending champions Eden in the cup final at Gribblehirst Park. Drew, 19, Lilo and Sam Weber, who took over the playmaking duties from Bickle for the next four games, were selected in the tournament team.

"With our second placing we're automatic qualifiers for next year's nationals . . . coming back and attempting to go one place better will be a big goal for us," Drew said.

Drew, who scored four tries during the weekend, is thrilled with his form and pointed out he is hoping to make the Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad for the second consecutive year. He didn't get any first class minutes last year as a bout of pneumonia halted his progress at the start of the campaign but he recovered in time to play for Hawke's Bay at the national under-19 tournament.

His form at the weekend and with the Hawke's Bay Sevens team last month suggests he is on track to tick off his Mitre 10 Cup goal. With their displays at the weekend Napier Old Boys Marist secured the favourite's tag for Saturday's Hawke's Bay Sevens in Waipukurau.

However Drew confirmed last year's beaten semifinalists won't be represented in the open grade at Central Park.

"That's it for sevens for us until next summer. We've got our first 15-a-side pre-season game in two weeks so 15s has to be our priority now," Drew said.

That's an indication of how keen his team is to chase a repeat of last year's Spillane Cup-Nash Cup-Maddison Trophy treble. Along with the trio who gained tournament team selection, newcomer Michael Buckley and busy forward Matt Gardner got big ticks from NOBM manager Tim Jones.

"Michael impressed with his attention to detail and sevens nous while Matt controlled the middle of the field," Jones said.

Magpies forward Ricky Hayes scored a clever kick and regather try in the final. On their way to the final yesterday NOBM walloped Canterbury's Marist Albion 40-0 in their quarter-final and pipped Tauranga Sports 19-17 in their semifinal.

On Saturday NOBM finished top of their pool after losing 17-15 to Pakuranga and beating Bay of Plenty's Greerton Marist 31-7 and Northland's Old Boys Marist 14-7.

The other Bay team at the tournament, Unison Havelock North, lost 14-7 to North Harbour's East Coast Bays in the bowl final which means the villagers finished 10th. On their way to the final yesterday Havelock North beat the Auckland Sevens comp's runners-up Pakuranga 19-12 in their quarter-final and Bay of Plenty's Rangataua 24-0 in their semifinal.

In section play on Saturday Havelock North lost 24-5 to Eden after trailing 19-0 at halftime, 17-10 to Waikato's Fraser Tech after conceding the winning try during the final two minutes and 12-10 to Marist Albion of Canterbury after conceding the winning try in the final minute.

The villagers will have to display major improvement if they are to improve on last year's second placing at the Hawke's Bay Sevens in Waipukurau on Saturday. None of the Havelock North players were selected in the tournament team.

Havelock North were granted special entry to the tournament courtesy of the unavailability of Hawke's Bay's 2017 champions Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports.