Marist St Pat’s win Ulalei Sevens

Above: Isaia Petelo breaking out in the Cup final against Apia Auckland Maroons.

Wellington club Marist St Pat’s won today’s one-day Ulalei Sevens tournament played at Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua Park.

Watch try scoring video highlights of the afternoon knockout games here (Cup final footage starts at 4.20).

MSP beat defending champions Apia Auckland Maroons in the Ulalei Cup final, coming from behind to prevail 17-14.

Isaia Petelo scored two tries and Tutasi Masoe scored one as MSP came back from a 5-14 halftime deficit.

MSP scored two quickfire tries early in the second spell to take the lead. Both sides had chances to score again, but the bounce of the ball in the in-goal saved the Maroons and desperate scrambling cover defence saved MSP.

For MSP, Petelo was outstanding, whilst playmaker Ryan Setefano and forward Nemani Waaka were two other players to stand out.

MSP had beaten an understrength Wellington club sevens champions the Upper Hutt Rams 19-10 in their Cup semi-final , while the Apia Auckland Maroons, with a couple of lightning quick players out wide, had defeated Moata’a in the other Cup semi-final.

Former Samoan Sevens World Rugby circuit regular Ulae Mai wound back the years for Wainuiomata as they beat Ngati Toa 24-5 to win the Plate final, after leading 10-5 at the turnaround. Ngati Toa featured several players from other Wellington clubs, predominately Tawa.

The Hawke’s Bay Samoans raced to a 17-0 halftime lead en route to overcoming the Barbarians 27-14 to claim the Bowl final.

A healthy crowd was on hand at the JCS to witness the action and the tournament was efficiently run. Samoan Sevens Head Coach Damien McGrath was a keen spectator in the stand.

Whilst the attention turns to World Rugby international tournament at Westpac Stadium next weekend, there are two more local tournaments coming up. The New Zealand Marist Sevens is next weekend and the National Club Sevens are on Waitangi weekend.

Meanwhile, the bulk of the Wellington Sevens squad played training matches today at Rugby League Park against the All Blacks Sevens squad.