Sevens: Double delight for Waikite after win

The Waikite women's sevens team won the Bay of Plenty Club Sevens Tournament in Paengaroa on Saturday. They are pictured (left) with finalists Opotiki. Photo / Supplied

The Waikite women's rugby team have claimed another title this year, winning the Bay of Plenty Club Sevens Tournament in Paengaroa.

Waikite defeated Opotiki 12-5 in the final of the women's division on Saturday to claim the Exia Edwards Cup.

It is the second major title the Rotorua team has won this year after they went undefeated in the 15-a-side game this season, winning the Baywide premier women's title.

"It puts the icing on the cake," Waikite senior player Eliza Stephens said, after winning the sevens title.

"It was not really expected though, we thought we would just chuck in a team."

Four women's teams entered the competition on Saturday, including Waikite, Opotiki, Tauranga Sports and Arataki.

Waikite lost to Opotiki in round robin play at the weekend but came back well to beat them in the final.

Waikite scored both their tries in the first half to go into the break 12-0 ahead, before holding on in the second half.

"We tried to starve them of the ball and, I think, played a lot smarter in the final."

Stephens and her daughter, Autumn-Rain Stephens, scored the two tries for Waikite in the final.

The Waikite women's team were also recently named as a finalist for Team of the Year at the up-coming Bay of Plenty Sports Awards.

Meanwhile, in the men's division at the tournament, Mount Maunganui Sports reclaimed the Gordon Tietjens Cup after a pulsating 24-21 win over Rangataua Sports.

Mount trailed 14-5 at halftime to a well-drilled Rangataua team coached by former New Zealand rep Nathaniel Walker.

It looked all over for the defending champions when Jason Weatherley crossed for Rangataua's third try but five minutes is an age in sevens.

Mount's key attacking weapon, Mason Walker, slipped a tackle on halfway and outpaced the defence to score under the posts. Jesse Dodunski made a scything run to put Manus Hanley in to close the gap to 21-17 into the final minute, before Walker struck.

He picked up a loose ball 80m out, went through one very costly missed tackle, out-paced the cover and then drew the last defender to put Dodunski in under the bar for the match-winner.

Mount coach Paul Tietjens, son of Gordon, thought they had left it a little late.

"We had to play a lot of rugby in that second half to come back," he said.

"We have some good young players. Masiu Vainikolo from Western Heights High won a lot of ball for us at kickoff and Manus Hanley came off the bench and played pretty well, plus we had the experience of Andy Devoy and Zar Lawrence in the midfield.

"It is really special to win this. We had to beat Te Puke in the quarters and Whakatane Marist in the semis with a lot of Fijians who know the game. I couldn't be more over the moon to win the old man's trophy."

Finals

Bay of Plenty Club Sevens Tournament results:

Men's final: Mount Maunganui Sports 24-21 Rangataua Sports.

Women's final: Waikite 12-5 Opotiki.