Wellington Sevens miss out in final of Australia tournament

Sevens Rugby | 26 October 2014 | Steven White

The Wellington men’s team has missed out 19-31 in the final of the Central Coast Sevens tournament to Fijian favourites Daveta.?

After winning all their five games up to the final, Wellington ran out of gas at the last hurdle against the recent World Club Sevens champions, who broke a 14-14 halftime deadlock to score to quick-fire tries immediately after halftime to seal the match.

Both these tries could have been called back for obstruction and offside plays respectively, but Daveta nevertheless capitalised on Wellington being a man down with the hardworking Hayden Schrijvers in the sin-bin.

Daveta had also rocketed to a 7-0 lead in the very first play of the game, scoring straight from the kick-off.

Heading into the final, Wellington had won their quarter-final and semi-final matches well, against local Australian club side, Warringah, and another Fijian team, Yamacia.

This followed wins on day one over Redrock (Fiji), Te Whanau (Australia) and Stars Rugby (USA).

Wellington scored 21 tries throughout the tournament. Ambrose Curtis scored six tournament tries, Belgium Tuatagaloa four, and Murphy Taramai and Hayden Schrijvers three each.

The Wellington squad that featured in the Central Coast Sevens tournament was: Greg Foe (captain), Isaac O’Connor, Hayden Schrijvers, Sheridan Rangihuna, Ryan Setefano, Tomasi Alosio, Ambrose Curtis, Matt Peni, Tamati Samuels, Belgium Tuatagaloa, Taniela Manu, Murphy Taramai

Fitness permitting, the next assignment for Wellington’s Sevens players is to appear for their clubs in this coming weekend’s American Ambassador’s tournament at Evans Bay Park.?

Round-ups from Wellington’s three games on day two of the Central Coast Sevens tournament are below.?

Wellington 33 (Murphy Taramai, Hayden Schrijvers , Sheridan Rangihuna, Tamati Samuels, Belgium Tuatagaloa tries; Sheridan Rangihuna 4 con)

Wellington booked their place in the Cup semi-finals with a five tries to two win over Sydney club side the Warrringah Rats.?

Wellington motored out of the blocks on the second day of the tournament, Hayden Schrijvers, Greg Foe and Murphy Taramai combining for an early 60-metre try.

The local side then launched a furious assault, which was repelled in front of Wellington’s posts, before they broke through to score a runaway try to level the scores up to 7-7.

Schrijvers raced up and intercepted a pass and sprinted 50 metres to score the next try, Sheridan Rangihuna kicked his second conversion and Wellington led 14-7.

A third try before halftime was well-constructed, Wellington using width to put Rangihuna through a gap to put Wellington ahead 21-7 at halftime.

Wellington went close to scoring from the second half re-start, before Warringah broke through to score a counterattacking try, closing the gap to 21-14.

Tamati Samuels was a key player in scoring the match winner that followed, breaking through and linking up with Ambrose Curtis, who popped a pass off the deck back up to Samuels to score to put Wellington ahead 28-14.

Winning the kick-off, Wellington surged back up into Warringah’s 22 and Belgium Tuatagaloa crashed over for their fifth try.?

Wellington 17 (Greg Foe, Ambrose Curtis, Tamati Samuels tries; Sheridan Rangihuna conversion)

Committed defence and better discipline paved the way for Wellington’s semi-final win over Fijian side Yamacia, who had beaten College Rifles 21-5 in their quarter-final.?

In a tight and willing semi-final, the opening six minutes was all about missed chances for both teams. Early Wellington attack almost paid off but Sheridan Rangihuna was bundled into touch in the corner. Yamacia went desperately close to scoring after a breakout and kick and chase, but the would-be try-scorer put his arm into touch in the corner.

More time in possession and a series of penalties finally saw Wellington cross, Greg Foe going over to put Wellington ahead 7-0 at halftime.

Yamacia scored a runaway try up the far touchline early in the second spell, cutting the gap to 7-5.

Wellington hit back with their second try, from 60 metres out. A lovely skip pass put Greg Foe in the clear up the near touch-line; Foe reached Yamacia’s 22, passed inside to Hayden Schrijvers in support, who picked up a dusty ball off the ground and handed off to Ambrose Curtis to cross to make it 12-7.

The Fijians continued to infringe at the breakdowns and they were reduced to six players after being handed a yellow card for a deliberate knockdown.

Wellington went close to scoring from the next play, but a knock-on gave Yamacia a relieving scrum. However Wellington won the tighthead and Tamati Samuels skipped across to score the winning try with time almost up.?

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Wellington 19 (Hayden Schrijvers, Greg Foe, Belgium Tuatagaloa tries; Sheridan Rangihuna 2 con)

Daveta, who last month knocked the Auckland Blues Sevens team out of the World Club Sevens Championship tournament in Ireland en route to winning it, had beaten Red rock 24-12 in their semi-final earlier in the day.

Wellington entered the final needing to get in the Fijians’ faces and upset their rhythm, as they had in their wins over Redrock on day one and Yamacia in the semi-final.

Instead it was Daveta that opened the scoring – winning the first kick-off of the game and cutting through to score the fastest ever try in tournament history.

Wellington regrouped and mounted pressure inside Daveta’s 22, but Daveta quickly proved that their defence was easily the best of the teams they had met in the tournament to date.

A Daveta player sprinted away from a turnover, but a tackle into touch near halfway by Murphy Taramai saved a second try.?

Wellington remained patient, slowing play down and maintaining possession. After a strong build-up, captain Greg Foe put Hayden Schrijvers in for their first try of the final, locking the game up at 7-7.

Foe and Schrijvers combined to almost score a second try for Wellington, before another period of continuity lead to Tamati Samuels putting Foe away to score their second try to put Wellington ahead 14-7.

Daveta attacked before halftime and had Wellington stretched. Schrijvers was sin-binned for being offside at a ruck and Daveta scored on the stroke of halftime to make it 14-14.

Wellington had the wind in the second spell, but Daveta made a clean break and sprinted away to score their third try to put them ahead 19-14. In scoring this try they appeared to knock-on at the start of the movement and then got away with a nice piece of obstruction closer to the line.

A blatant offside play rushing up in defence led to Daveta turning the ball over and scoring again to extend their lead to 26-14.

There was still five minutes to play and Wellington pressed again, Belgium Tuatagaloa crossing to close the margin to 26-19.

Wellington put the next kick-off out on the full, Daveta launched a raid from halfway and they scored the match clincher at the end.