A very tired Wanganui Sevens team after winning the Plate final at the Central Regions tournament in Levin on Saturday
They did it the hard way, but the Wanganui sevens team has qualified for the Bayleys Sevens National Tournament in Rotorua after winning the Plate final at the Central Regions tournament on Saturday.
Wanganui saw off Wairarapa Bush in their second meeting of the day in Levin, having previously drawn with them 5-5 in pool play while being hammered by Taranaki 31-0 and Hawke's Bay 26-0.
They recovered to defeat home team Horowhenua Kapiti 34-19 in the Plate semifinals, then squeezed past Wairarapa Bush 10-7 in an exhausted final game to earn the fifth and last qualification spot.
While matches were live-streamed on the No1 field at Levin, all of Wanganui's successful games were played on the No2 pitch.
"It's another level, I think the guys sort of realised that on the bus home," said team manager Darrell Robinson.
"We got back at 8pm and I think a lot of them went straight to bed."
The ground was hard-baked in Levin due to the weeks of hot weather and many players took eye-winching landings in tackles, leaving plenty of grass burns.
John Kilisi hurt his shoulder in the early exchanges of the Hawke's Bay game, but was strapped up and played off the bench for their remaining matches, as Wanganui was already a man short when Shandon Scott injured his hamstring.
First up, Wanganui met a young but talented Taranaki side which included former New Zealand Sevens representative Lewis Ormond, former Chiefs wing Latu Vaeno and the Naholo brothers – Hastings school boy sensation Kini and Meli – who are the younger siblings of All Black and former Wanganui representative Waisake Naholo.
After two minutes they scored twice, breaking through to dot down and then getting a good bounce from the kickoff to cross again.
Wanganui's Hamish Bennett had a rare chance at the corner flag, but even from their own end Taranaki were dangerous as they kicked ahead and a flying Liam Blyde won the foot race to the ball.
A Kini Naholo bust led to Taranaki's first try of the second half, and while Wanganui's Samu Kubunavanua, Osea Tairogi and Timoci Seruwalu tried to open things up with offloads, Wanganui couldn't get any go-forward momentum, with Brayton Northcott-Hill scoring the No2 seed's final try in the corner.
Wanganui had a late chance to score through Elijah Ah Chong, a last-minute callup for Cody Hemi, but the ball was lost over the line.
They then moved over to the No2 field for a desperate match with Wairarapa Bush, who scored their try in the first half before Wanganui replied in the second.
"It was non-stop," said Robinson.
"Up and down the field, guys coming off limping."
The draw meant Wanganui could still qualify for the Top 4 semifinals when they met Hawke's Bay, who had beaten Wairarapa Bush 21-17 but lost to Taranaki 28-19, while Taranaki also accounted for Wairarapa Bush 24-17.
However, ill-discipline would cost them.
Hawke's Bay looked to score early but lost possession, and then Ethan Robinson led a breakout from the line with Karl Pascoe and Kubunavanua, before Wanganui spilled the ball 30m from the tryline.
Hawke's Bay's Mitch Drew then showed a great turn of pace to get away and score under the posts, and when Wanganui was pinged for hands in the ruck, Drew managed to get over again despite a series of Kubunavanua cover tackles.
Wanganui thought they'd hit back after halftime when Seruwalu made a barnstorming run from his own half and threw the ball wide to Pascoe, who was held by the arm as he managed to get the ball down at the corner flag.
However, the ruling was Pascoe's knee had hit the ground beforehand and was therefore a completed tackle, so Hawke's Bay got a penalty tap and swept right down the other end to grab what amounted to a 10-point try.
From 19-0, Wanganui were out of it and a string of ruck penalties did not help, with captain Tremaine Gilbert being sinbinned and Hawke's Bay's Ricky Hayes scoring right on fulltime.
Now in the Plate competition and needing to win it to qualify for Rotorua, Wanganui rebounded with the 15-point victory over Horowhenua Kapiti, as Ethan Robinson scored a hat trick of tries, while Bennett and Tairogi also scored tries and Tairogi added four kicks.
That set up the rematch with Wairarapa Bush, who had beaten Poverty Bay 24-7 in the other semifinal.
"We were leading 10-0 with tries by big Jim - Timoci - and Karl," said Darrell Robinson.
"Then Wairarapa Bush scored off the last play.
"Everyone on both teams was absolutely spent."
No1 seeds and defending champions Wellington won the championship final, beating Manawatu 17-7.
All of Wanganui's injuries will be recovered by the nationals in Rotorua on January 13-14.
The squad will meet on Wednesday and set up a training programme for the New Year period.
Robinson said the only pre-nationals tournament is being held in Mt Maunganui, so discussions are underway with Taranaki to play a practice game in Patea on January 7, as they will not be making the trip north either.
The team could also hold a training camp at the Kaierau Country Club on that same weekend.
Wanganui results
Pool B: Wanganui lost to Taranaki 31-0; Wanganui drew with Wairarapa Bush 5-5; Wanganui lost to Hawke's Bay 26-0.
Plate semifinal: Wanganui bt Horowhenua-Kapiti 34-19.
Plate final: Wanganui bt Wairarapa Bush 10-7.