Touch: Battle for highly prized title

Christian Cullen in action on Saturday. Photo / Stephen Parker

All Blacks legends Tana Umaga and Christian Cullen have rolled back the years to demonstrate some of their skills at the Whakatane Open Touch Tournament.

Umaga and Cullen played for the popular Baa Baaz touch team on Saturday at the huge tournament in Whakatane.

The Baa Baaz - who feature famous rugby and league players each year - just failed to qualify for the Cup semifinals in the men's restricted grade but were a hit with the supporters.

The open titles were hotly contested again this year at the tournament, with Wairere from Hamilton and Bulletz from Counties Manukau taking the major titles.

Wairere defeated Freezin Hot (Counties Manukau) 7-3 in the men's open final, while Bulletz just defeated Playin Up (Auckland) 4-3 in the women's open final.

Meanwhile, it was a tough tournament for Rotorua sides who failed to win any of the six divisions.

Rotorua's top men's team, Lock-N, only lost one match in pool play but that was enough to kill off their semifinal aspirations. They went on to win the Plate competition in the men's open grade.

"Pretty much that one game tripped us up," senior player Maurice Stone Jnr said.

"But we showed our character to carry on and win that Plate final, so to finish fifth after missing the semifinals was a good effort from the boys. And we will be back here again next year."

The Whakatane Open Touch Tournament celebrated its 30th anniversary at the weekend and Stone said it was the best touch tournament in the country. "It is better than nationals."

Seventy-two teams took part in the event which was held across 18 fields at Rugby Park.

Tournament director and event founder George Rogers said it was a good milestone following humble beginnings.

"The standard especially in the open grades is always pretty competitive, with scores settled and bragging rights obtained."

Results:

Men's open grade: Winners: Wairere (Hamilton); Runners-up: Freezin Hot (Counties Manukau).

Women's open grade: Winners: Bulletz (Counties Manukau); Runners-up: Playin Up (Auckland).

Mixed grade: Winners: Outkast (Hawke's Bay); Runners-up: Pearl Jam Touch (Auckland).

Men's restricted grade: Winners: Saiyanz (Hamilton); Runners-up: Twisted (Hamilton).

Women's restricted grade: Winners: Twisted Ladies (Waikato); Runners-up: Blitz (Rotorua).

Old Boys (over-35) grade: Galaxy (Auckland); Runners-up: Whakatane High School Old Boys.