Home side Wainuiomata win Weepu 7s tournament

Locals Wainuiomata have won the sixth annual Piri Weepu Sevens at a wind-swept William Jones Park this afternoon.

In the Cup final Wainuiomata defeated Petone 26-12. Piri's nephew Josh Robertson-Weepu was the hero scoring three tires, despite being yellow carded in the first half. 

The scores were locked up 7-7 at halftime. Both sides were swift and strong over the ball, each winning several turnovers. Wainuiomata gradually attained a stranglehold on possession and the experience of Tau Mamea and Greg Lealofi in particular began to tell. Wainuiomata leapt ahead 21-12, Petone pulled a try back, but Wainuiomata finished strongest to prevail. Petone's tries were scored by Nash Fiso Vaelei and Reuben Va'a.

In the Cup semi-finals Petone upset the Wolf Pack (essentially a Wellington Sevens development selection) 17-7. A desperate tackle by Kaide McCashin on Wellington representative Daniel Schrijvers turned the game in the Villagers favour. Schrijvers had weaved out of multiple tackles to break clear. He made a beeline for the corner but as he stretched out to place the ball over the line he was bundled into touch by his Upper Hutt teammate. Aghast at being caught by a typically slower player, Schrijvers threw the ball away in disgust and was yellow carded. Petone scored the first try and edged a tough contest 17-7. Qualified lawyer Te Wehi Wright scored two tries for Petone while Paddy Hughes scored a belter for the Wolf Pack.

In the other semi-final Wainuiomata always led in foiling the challenge of Ngati Toa 24-19. Robertson-Weepu, Lealofi, Matt Jacobs and Derek Lealiifano (cousin of Wallaby Christian Lealiifano) were all try scorers for the green and blacks. Charlie Hubert (2) and Campbell Woodmass scored tries for Ngati Toa.

The women's competition was won by Old Boys University, defeating Marist St. Pats 27-14 in the final. Both sides traded two tries each, before OBU finished with a wet sail. Georgia Daals (2) and Amy Dolden (2) crossed the chalk for OBU, but the try of the match was scored by Jane Bryce who burst 90-metres at full speed to avoid the frantic cover defence.

Wainuiomata scored 27 tries in five games and were worthy winners of the tourney. They looked impressive from the outset in pool play and will be a worthy representative of Wellington at the Middlesex Club Nationals in Hamilton in February. 
 
Despite the weather, which threatened to turn bad mid-morning with a particularly nasty rain-shower, the tournament was genuinely entertaining and played in a relaxed, but competitive spirit.
 
The Bowl final between Old Boys University and Brothers in Arms was an engaging affair won 26-21 by the Billy Goats. OBU with the assistance of the breeze changed their tactics in the second-half. Englishman Jack Green used his prodigious boot to play territory and the Brothers in Arms were in Dire Straits. Two turnovers resulted in two quick tries for Teegan Minkley as OBU won an unconventional victory. 

The Wellington Axeman won the Plate, just reward for competing in every sevens tourney this year unlike the Jubilee Cup winners Tawa.

Visiting Hawke’s Bay club side and last year’s runners-up Napier Pirate were worthy visitors, proving tough to beat in every game and causing amusement with their length of the field undie run, while Billy Weepu made a couple of appearances for his own invitation side and showed the benefits of his new low-carb diet with some exciting bursts of speed.  

Thus concludes rugby in Wellington for 2016.

Piri Weepu Invitational 7s 2016 Results:

Wellington Axemen v Brothers In Arms 22 - 12
Wainuiomata v Pare-Plim 48 - 0
OBU v Napier Pirates 10 - 24
Petone v Horowhenua Babas 59 - 0
WOMEN'S Wainuiomata Invitational v MSP 12 - 14
WOMEN'S OBU v Wainuiomata 34 - 5
Wellington Axemen v Ngati Toa 19 - 29
Wainuiomata v Billy Weepu 7s 40 - 5
OBU v Wolf Pack 7s 0 - 37
Petone v MSP 29 - 21
WOMEN'S Wainuiomata Invitational v Wainuiomata 29 - 12
WOMEN'S OBU v MSP 22 - 22
Brothers In Arms v Ngati Toa 19 - 27
Pare-Plim v Billy Weepu 7s 7 - 31
Napier Pirates v Wolf Pack 7s 21 - 24
Horowhenua Babas v MSP 14 - 24
WOMEN'S Wainuiomata Invitational v OBU 19 - 22
WOMEN'S MSP v Wainuiomata 28 - 15

Crossover matches: 
Men's bowl semi: Paremata-Plimmerton beat Brothers in Arms
Men's bowl semi: OBU beat Horowhenua Babas
Men's plate semi: MSP 19 – Napier Pirates 17
Men's plate semi: Wellington Axemen 33 – Billy Weepu 7s 10
Men's Cup semi: Wainuiomata 24 – Ngati Toa 19
Men's Cup semi: Petone 19 – Wolf Pack 7s 5
Women's Final: OBU 27 – MSP 14
Men's bowl final: OBU 26 – Brothers in Arms 21
Men's plate final: Wellington 22 – MSP 10
Men's Cup final: Wainuiomata 26 – Petone 12