Sevens: Fleet-footed teenager flies under the radar

Samuela Kokosigasiga goes just fine ... but under a different name these days. Photo/supplied

So you haven't heard of Hawke's Bay Sevens speedster Samuela Kokosigasiga?

Don't worry, you're not alone and you're unlikely to hear the name too often in the future. Kokosigasiga told television commentators at Saturday's Central Zone Sevens tournament in Levin he prefers to be called Sonny Lilo.

"That's the name you could hear more of in years to come ... the bloke has got some wheels and he's worth keeping an eye on," Aerospread Hawke's Bay Sevens manager Tim Jones said.

Hawke's Bay Sevens coach and Magpies halfback Ellery Wilson had no hesitation in giving the 18-year-old an opportunity in Levin despite the fact he had only previously played for the Napier Boys' High School 3rd XV and Napier Old Boys Marist Colts teams this year.

"Sonny and forwards Ausage Fomai and Damien Scott were our best players," Jones said as he reflected on the Chris Johnston-captained Bay outfit's fourth placing in an eight-team competition, where the top five teams qualified for the Rotorua-hosted nationals to be staged on January 13 and 14.

Wilson's troops beat Wairarapa Bush 21-17 and Whanganui 28-0 and lost 28-19 to Taranaki after trailing 28-0 at halftime in pool play.

They lost 35-7 to Wellington in their first playoff outing before losing 24-12 to Taranaki in the playoff for third.

Hawke's Bay's fourth placing was one spot below last year's third. However Wilson only had four players, Scott, Ricky Hayes, Cole Eru and Trent Hape, back from last summer's campaign.

"We've still got plenty to work on and we intend to use the Mount Maunganui tournament on January 6 as our final rehearsal for the nationals. While we were happy with our defence it's important we reduce our turnover count and we will do that if we eliminate our mistakes and loose carries," Jones said.

Hawke's Bay's women also qualified for Rotorua with a third placing in their five-team competition, where the top four qualified. However co-coach Joe Heather admitted there is plenty of work to be done if his side is going to improve on last summer's bottom placing in Rotorua.

Hawke's Bay lost 31-0 to Manawatu and 22-5 to Wellington before beating Poverty Bay 17-15 and Taranaki 34-14 in Levin. Heather agreed their scrum is a major work-on.

"Felicity [halfback Powdrell] was taking a pounding behind the scrum before we got some tips off Ellery [Wilson] and they helped. We have a lot of youngsters who need to be brought up to speed with what is required in sevens but there is a lot more interest than we had last summer and our players are keen to embark on the pathways available to them."

Former Aotearoa Maori Sevens rep Julie Ferguson-Ngawaka, 40, and the promising Niamh Jefferson were able to compete with the best of their opponents. Prop Hope Hakopa proved she had progressed well since last summer.