Wellington, Manawatu win Central 7s

The Wellington Men's and Manawatu Women's teams won today's Central 7s tournament in wet conditions at Playford Park in Levin, to qualify top from the Central Zone for the National 7s in January.

Wellington beat Taranaki 33-7 in the Men's final and Manawatu defeated Wellington 26-7 in the Women's final.

The five men's teams to qualify for the Nationals were (seedings in brackets): Wellington (1), Taranaki (2), Hawke's Bay (3), Manawatu (4) and Horowhenua Kapiti (5).

The four women's teams to qualify for the Nationals were (seedings in brackets): Manawatu (1), Wellington (2), Taranaki (3) and Hawke's Bay (4).

Men's

Wellington thrashed Taranaki in the final, 33-5. Taranaki were off their game, three times dropping the ball inside their own 22 at the start of the second-half. Wellington's defence and support play was excellent and every player touched the ball in Daniel Schrijvers' first try. Te Wehi Wright, Sheridan Rangihuna, Brandyn Laursen and Levi Harmon added tries in a resounding victory.

In the semi-finals Wellington overcame a fumbling start to muscle past Hawke's Bay, 21-5. Shai Wiperi struck first for the Magpies, but a break by Esi Komaisavai created a try for Brandyn Laursen to make it 7-5 to Wellington at halftime.

The introduction of Max Pearson, replacing an injured Salesi Rayasi, changed the course of the game. A quick tap by Pearson caught Manawatu napping and then the former New Zealand representative capitalised on a Manawatu yellow card to grab a double and seal victory for Wellington.

Wellington grew stronger as the tournament wore on, after being held to a 19-19 draw with Wanganui in their first match of the day.

Taranaki overpowered defending champions Hawke's Bay 34-0 in their semi-final. Jackson Ormond scored three of his side's six tries.

Host union Horowhenua Kapiti grabbed the all-important fifth men's berth from the Central group of teams for the National in Rotorua on 14-15 January with a battling 12-7 win over Wairarapa-Bush in the playoff for fifth and sixth.

Women's

In the final Wellington applied all the early pressure, but Manawatu defended stoutly and scored against the run of play when Black Ferns winger Janna Vaughan stepped off the left foot and dashed away from the cover defence. St Mary's College Condor 7s winning captain Monica Tagoai offloaded on her knees with one-arm to Mena Tuma'ai to pull one back for Wellington, but before halftime Vaughan struck again. She galloped away from the Wellington defence only to be dragged down by Tagoai inches short of the line. Vaughan placed the ball and drove over in the next ruck. Lauren Balsillie and Samantha Tipene added two second half tries in a commanding performance. The final score was 26-7 to Manawatu.

Earlier Wellington hammered Hawke's Bay 39-7 in the semi-final. The victory was built on brutal defence, except for one lapse which allowed Julie Ferguson-Ngawaka to fend off multiple players and register Hawke's Bay's solitary try. Wellington scored three tries in the first-half and four in the second. Georgia Daals celebrated a hat-trick. Her first try a 60-meter dash and her third try a dribbling showcase were the highlights. Wellington's other scorers were: Monica Tagoai, Ana Puleiatua, Jackie Patea and Kat Whata-Simpkins

Manawatu whitewashed Taranaki 31-0. Selica Winiata (2), Rhiaarna Ferris, Vaine Greig and Lauren Balsillie scored tries for the Cyclones.

Taranaki and Hawke's Bay qualified third and fourth from the women's group for the Nationals. Taranaki beat Hawke's Bay in the playoff for third and fourth.