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Home / Whanganui Chronicle / Sport

Whanganui claim Taranaki sevens scalp

By Jared Smith
Whanganui Chronicle·
27 Nov, 2016 09:33 AM3 mins to read

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Timocli Seruwalu had a big Saturday against the Taranaki teams at Yarrow Stadium

Timocli Seruwalu had a big Saturday against the Taranaki teams at Yarrow Stadium

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The Whanganui sevens team has picked up another victory over a professional union after a promising afternoon at Yarrows Stadium in New Plymouth on Saturday.

Playing their bigger provincial neighbour in a tournament to warmup for the Central Regions qualifiers on December 10, Whanganui met a New Plymouth Boys High School team and then the wider Taranaki sevens squad, who split their roster into two teams.

After comfortably beating the schoolboys 25-7, Whanganui narrowly lost their next two games, being beaten by the Taranaki 'A' team 19-14, and then the 'B' side 26-21.

However, they gained revenge and confidence at the end of the day as Taranaki combined their best players into one team, but were beaten by Whanganui 27-25.

"It probably wasn't the quality we usually see for Taranaki," said Whanganui coach Tom Wells.

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"A lot of their squad get picked up for Super Rugby and wider Super Rugby squads.

"It was a younger team. There wasn't a big gap between us."

While ideally wanting 14 or more players, Wells took a small team of around 12 to New Plymouth, with Patrick Hiscox opting out late due to fulfilling his touch rugby commitments.

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Taihape's Luke Whale joined his brothers Dane and Ben for this weekend, while Kaierau's seasoned campaigner Ace Malo confirmed his interest at the last minute.

"Reliable Ace was keen for a run, he was certainly welcomed," said Wells.

Marton export and Palmerston North loan player Tyler Rogers-Holden was again the star for Whanganui, scoring four tries during the day.

Taihape's Sefo Bourke got a double, while the rest of the tries were spread around the team, most of which were converted by Dane Whale.

Wells also pointed out big Ngamatapouri player Timoci Seruwalu had a sizeable impact.

"He was very hard to handle, one of the standout performers of the day.

"No one put a foot wrong."

Since sevens was reintroduced to Whanganui in 2014, the victory in Saturday's final game was the second time the representative team has beaten a squad from a professional union, after they upset Otago during last season's Bayleys National Sevens in Rotorua.

After only having around seven players at training last week, Wells is expecting a much stronger turnout in preparation for the Central qualifiers on December 10.

Kaierau's Kameli Kuruyabaki and Collegiate's Cody Hemi will be back, while NZ Heartland Under 19 representative Ethan Robinson will also train with them.

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Wells is vehemently hoping that Te Rangatira Waitokia's knee injury has suitably recovered for him to fit into the equation.

"We should have 16-17 at training, fighting for 12 spots."

Another star in Ngamatapouri's Samu Kubunavanua was given permission to join the Manawatu team just for the sevens campaign, as he looks to give himself the best chance of earning selection for the New Zealand Sevens team.

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