OBM take sevens title - Northland squad named

Kamo player Jayden Leaupepe moves the ball across the field during the Northland Club Sevens. Photo/Tania Whyte

Kamo player Jayden Leaupepe moves the ball across the field during the Northland Club Sevens. Photo/Tania Whyte

By Peter Thorley

Northland sevens coach Peter Nock was upbeat about his representative squad after naming it after the third and final Northland Club Sevens tournament on Saturday.

The team will train in Kerikeri on Tuesday and Thursday ahead of their first outing next weekend at the Auckland Sevens Tournament.

"I've been doing this for about five years now and I can tell you that this is probably the best looking team we've had in that time," Nock said.

He said the team is well balanced with plenty of experience.

"I'm really excited, it's an impressive looking line-up made up of the best athletes in the region, who have made themselves available."

He said while injuries have kept the likes of Dan Hawkins, Swayne Rakere and Cory Evers sidelined this season, the return of some familiar names has more than made up for unavailable players.

Adam Simpson returns from playing in the Otago under-19s, while Whiria Meltzer returns from North Harbour for a season with the Taniwha. Another North Harbour signing has a very familiar sevens name.

"Renata Te Nana, that's Karl's (former New Zealand Sevens legend) boy, has also come up to Northland so we're looking at giving him a go and see how he goes in the Northland jumper," Nock said.

The final Northland tournament was hosted by Waipu Rugby Club at Centennial Park on Saturday.

Old Boys-Marist upset series frontrunners Awanui in the championship semifinal and backed up well in the final with a win over Mid Northern to take the overall win.

Kelston Boys High School won the Cup Final over Hikurangi, while Kerikeri won the Plate Final over Kamo, and Waitakere won the Bowl Final against Kaitaia.

The Northland Women's team also played three training games on Saturday against the Bay of Islands College team, who are preparing for the National Secondary Schools Condors Sevens Tournament.

The 2016 Northland Men's Club title however went to Awanui after they won the first two tournaments and their dominance in the series was reflected with seven players named in the Taniwha squad.

The Northland Sevens Squad is: Denny Windelborn, Dane Subritzky, Epineri Uluiviti, Wisea Lawabuka, Isimeli Taqea, Matt Tuatagaloa, Aporosa Qata (Awanui), Warren Dunn, Doug Te Puni (Horahora), Tom Robinson, Adam Simpson, Joe Wadman (Kerikeri), Tamati Tua (Eastern United), Whiria Meltzer (Wellsford), Matt Matich (Sharks), Renata Te Nana (Old Boys Marist), Noah Cooper, Andrew Kaiveinga (Moerewa), Dan Wells, Iwi Hauraki (Hikurangi).