Sevens: Pirate add Baker trophy to loot pile

Napier Pirate taste Ian Baker Cup glory for the first time in Waipukurau. Photo / Warren Buckland

When will the Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports roll stop?

Spectators at the Hawke's Bay Sevens tournament in Waipukurau on Saturday were asking the question after Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports A won the Ian Baker Cup for the first time with a 40-0 thrashing of 14-time winners Havelock North in the men's A grade final.

Hawke's Bay Sevens rep Jonathan Ruru, who took over the captaincy of the Pirate side when David Neilson got injured in the quarterfinals, reckoned he had the answer.

"Hopefully not until after the Nash Cup at least. We haven't won the Nash and it will go good with the Maddison Trophy, the Hawke's Bay Rugby League premier title and the Ian Baker Cup."

Magpie Ruru pointed out this is the first summer the Pirate club has placed a huge emphasis on Sevens - and it paid off.

"We took a leaf out of Havelock North's book and travelled away to two tournaments earlier in the summer in Matamata and Wainuiomata and finished second in both. We see Sevens as a way of attracting new players to the club too."

Ruru's team finished the day with 177 points and conceded just four tries.

He said the 22-12 semifinal win against Pacific Warriors was particularly pleasing as the Warriors had beaten Pirates in the final of the Wainuiomata tournament.

In Saturday's semifinal the Warriors led 12-5 at halftime before the impressive Tione Hubbard scored two quick tries and Ruru added another as the Tamatea Park-based club booked their berth in the final.

As the score indicates, Ruru and co were dominant in all facets against the villagers, who fielded an inexperienced side.

However there was an ideal form of consolation for the runners-up when promising inside back Tiaan Falcon was named men's player of the tournament.

Captain and forward Liam Murphy was a tireless worker for Havelock North throughout the day.

MAC did well to repeat last year's semifinal finish and took Havelock North to extra time in their semifinal, which Falcon won with a long-range penalty.

Hawke's Bay's Krysten Duffill scored 12 of Feilding Old Boys Oroua's points as the defending champions pipped fellow Manawatu team Kia Toa 19-12 in a thrilling women's final to capture the Jiangsu Jersey trophy.

Duffill scored two tries and kicked a conversion.

Kia Toa's Selica Winiata, who has played for the Black Ferns and New Zealand Women's Sevens team, took home the women's player of the tournament prize.

Meanwhile, Petone won a third consecutive Colts A grade Angus Cup championship title with a 22-12 win against Palmerston North Boys' High School A in their final.

Superior size and pace were the keys to Petone's success.

However the Palmerston North Boys' squad included two players with huge futures.

Bustling forward Brayden Iose received the Colts' player of the tournament award and the other, Taradale JAB product Stewart Cruden - a brother of former All Black Aaron Cruden - was impressive in the pivot role.

The 33rd edition of the tournament attracted 40 teams.