Sevens: Focus fixes on Mason

SPEEDSTER: Mason Walker, one of the speedsters in the Bay men's sevens team is pictured (with ball) playing for Rotorua Boys' High School in 2013. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

If last weekend's performance against Wellington is anything to go by, Mason Walker should turn plenty of heads at the Bayleys National Sevens in Rotorua today.

The Bay of Plenty sevens rep was in electric form at the Bay Engineers Provincial Sevens tournament in Mt Maunganui last weekend - albeit on a bad knee.

The fact the former Rotorua Boys' High School star was even on the paddock, in the playoff for third against Wellington, was noteworthy enough.

Minutes before the match, dressed to play but with a heavily bandaged knee, the young man they call Mase had seemed less than sure he was good to go. But go he did.

He played the second half on a bad wheel and burned the men from the capital with two 50m tries in as many minutes - the second of which featured his trademark swerve and hammer down to the outside.

Bay of Plenty men's sevens coach Peter Woods said he had not given his young flyer, who now plays club rugby for Mt Maunganui, much of an option.

"He sprained his knee in the first game and I said to him that if he didn't play the last seven minutes he wouldn't play at the nationals," Woods said.

"Then he went out against Wellington and scored those two 50m tries. He was on one leg that day."

Walker underwent fitness tests during the week and was given the nod to play at the nationals on Thursday.

If his teammates' reactions to his recent feats are any indication there will be plenty of interested onlookers at the Bayleys National Sevens this weekend.

Walker's inclusion in the 12-man Bay side will give the team added wheels to go alongside the likes of Josh Honey, who played his way into the side with an impressive showing at Blake Park last weekend.

The pair will work alongside the play-making abilities of Trinity Neera-Spooner and Te Aihe Toma and the size of players like Matt Clutterbuck, Brynn Uriarau and Ralulu Bavou.

"We haven't got a big team in the forwards but we've got speed and fitness and players capable of not taking the ball into contact too much," Woods said.

Pool play is being played today at the Rotorua International Stadium with playoffs tomorrow.

Bay matches
- Bay of Plenty sevens teams at the nationals today (day one):
- Men: v Canterbury (12.25pm), v Counties Manukau (4pm), v South Canterbury (6.40pm).
- Women: v Taranaki (10.25am), v Wellington (12.45pm), v Canterbury (3.20pm), v Manawatu (5.20pm).