Gutsy effort lands team last minute contest slot

Wanganui High School's gutsy effort at the Taranaki Secondary Schools Sevens tournament has impressed the powers-that-be enough to offer them a vacated spot in the Condor Sevens in Auckland.

WHS came runnerup in the Taranaki tournament in Hawera on November 3, beating heavyweights such as New Plymouth Boys High School along the way, before a head injury to playmaker Sam Malcolm in the final put them on the back foot against Francis Douglas Memorial College, losing 25-10.

Only the regional winners are invited to the Condor Sevens, however WHS coach Darryl Malcolm said their school was approached this week to enter after Southland Boys High School pulled out.

Malcolm said as luck had it, Condor Sevens tournament director Phil Gaze had visited the Taranaki tournament and before the final game approached the team to offer them praise.

"He was just wandering around and talking to people. He thought we were going to win it. We're so thankful he was there."

After Southland's withdrawal, the impressed Gaze felt WHS was the next best team to fill the spot in the national tournament.

"The school, the boys and parents are over the moon," said Malcolm.

"We've played and beaten some top schools this year but this is another level schools like St Kentigern, Hamilton Boys etc so a big ask.

"It's a pinnacle of their season and it just highlights all the work they've put in. You don't see schools like Wanganui High School at these things."

New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens uses the Condor Sevens to discover future stars, and will select six players to attend a training session with his New Zealand team after the tournament.

It will be an excellent end to the year for the Wanganui players who were members of the school's First XV.

Six of them will be heading to Massey University next year and Malcolm is currently hunting for any local employers who can take them on for summer jobs.

The Condor Sevens will be December 2 at Kelston Boys High School.