GET WIDE: Collegiate's Stephen Perofeta sends his pass on, backed by team mates Te Atuarere Albert, Nick Cave and Callum Joblin. PHOTOS/STUART MUNRO 051114WCSMSEVENS4
GET WIDE: Collegiate's Stephen Perofeta sends his pass on, backed by team mates Te Atuarere Albert, Nick Cave and Callum Joblin. PHOTOS/STUART MUNRO 051114WCSMSEVENS4
COLLEGIATE earned the right to go to the premier schoolboys rugby sevens tournament as Wanganui's first regional qualifier after a clean sweep at the local Condor Sevens tournament at Cooks Gardens on Wednesday night.
Collegiate were eyeing up fellow contender Wanganui High School, as both teams were scheduled to meetin the last round robin match, which made that game a virtual final as they each breezed past City College, Ruapehu College and Taihape Area School.
It was Collegiate, fielding talented players like playmaker Stephen Perofeta and Manawatu development contract prospect Te Atuarere Albert, who emerged with a 22-10 win in the last match under lights, despite losing a player to the sinbin for two minutes.
They earned the right to represent Wanganui at the 28th BNZ Condor Sevens on November 29-30, at Kelston Boys High School.
Wanganui High School were not able to repeat the heroics of their 2013 sevens team, who came runner-up at the Taranaki Condor Sevens behind heavyweights Francis Douglas Memorial College, then were given wild card entry to the national event when Southland Boys High School pulled out.
Francis Douglas won the Taranaki qualifying tournament again this year, but the Wanganui schools received their own qualifying tournament for the first time after Condor organisers were impressed with WHS's competitiveness at last year's tournament at Kelston.
In the other results on Wednesday night, Ruapehu College had a tough ask in meeting both WHS and Collegiate in their first two games, but recovered well to win their remaining matchups against Taihape Area and City College.
Next will be the Wanganui club rugby senior sevens, to be held at the Marton Rugby Club on November 15. From this, the first Wanganui sevens team for a number of years will be selected to compete in the North Island regional tournaments.
