Sevens: NOBM NZM'S BEST

ROLL CONTINUES: Napier Old Boys Marist celebrate their New Zealand Marist Sevens title in Wellington yesterday. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Bet against Napier Old Boys Marist winning a first Hawke's Bay Sevens title in Waipukurau next month at your peril.

The club's remarkable run of success continued at the weekend when they won the New Zealand Marist Sevens tournament in Wellington with seven wins from as many outings including a 14-12 victory against Marist St Pat's of Wellington in the Cup final. Back in December the Sam Weber-coached team won their club's inaugural Invitation Sevens tournament with an unbeaten run and last year the club's Craig Gowler-coached 15-a-side premier team won the Nash Cup and Maddison Trophy competitions.

"Sam [Weber], Matt Wyatt and Ellery Wilson are running a fantastic sevens programme at our club. This will continue to be a priority for us until the Waipukurau tournament," Gowler said.

Former Magpie and the hero of the club's Maddison Trophy victory last year, Sam Giddens, 31, playing at hooker was an inspirational workhorse for NOBM during the weekend.

"Sam collected a calf injury at our December tournament. He had a break and he has come back rejuvenated and ready for another 15s season," Gowler said.

Fellow forward Ricky Hayes, who was an impressive rookie for Hawke's Bay at the national Sevens in Rotorua earlier this month, again shone.

"Ricky has returned from the nationals with some fine skills and techniques some of which were way beyond me," the always humble Gowler explained.

Magpie Wilson and his deputy Zac Donaldson were both classy in the halfback role. Gowler said Donaldson was a game changer at times and speedster Liam Edwards made the most of his opportunities.

In their pool games on Saturday NOBM beat Marist St Pat's 20-17, Hastings Rugby and Sports 15-7, Hutt Old Boys Marist B 31-14 and Palmerston North HSOB 33-0. In their Cup quarterfinal they beat Marist St Pat's B 20-14.

Whangarei Marist held NOBM to a 19-all draw in their Cup semifinal but NOBM snuck into the final because they scored the first try against the Northlanders. NOBM's guest player, Wellington Sevens player Salesi Rayasi, was among their tryscorers in the final.

The club's colts team, which is coached by Wyatt, also made the Cup quarterfinals where they were pipped 15-12 by eventual runners-up Marist St Pat's. Mitch Drew, Luke Russell and Patrick Teddy were all prominent for the colts.

"Patrick [Teddy] was the Sam Giddens of the colts team," Gowler said.

Hastings Rugby and Sports lost 16-7 to Whangarei Marist in the Cup quarterfinals but went on to win the Shield final 26-7 against the Napier Old Boys Marist colts. Hastings were playing without their experienced Hawke's Bay Sevens rep Neria Fomai who was playing for Samoa in the Wellington leg of the World Series circuit.

Samoa lost their first four games and won their last two to finish 13th. The Sir Gordon Tietjens-coached Samoas were beaten by New Zealand, the United States and France in pool play, and Australia in their Challenge Trophy quarterfinal before they finished with wins against Papua New Guinea and Russia.

A Hastings Rugby and Sports women's team recorded two wins and two losses.
Hastings Rugby and Sports and Napier Old Boys Marist will both be represented at the New Zealand Marist 15s Spillane Cup tournament in Palmerston North on March 4 and 5. With sevens NOBM's main focus for the next three weeks they could arrive in Palmy a little under done for 15s.