St. Mary's College Win Condor Sevens

Tuga Mativa was approached by a friend in 2015 offering him a chance to mentor the St. Mary's College First XV and Sevens teams. The Ories Premier winger was initially reluctant, but after some serious arm twisting accepted the job. Just over 12 months later St. Mary's College are the National Condor Sevens Champions defeating Hamilton Girls' High School 19-17 in the final at Sacred Heart College in Auckland today.

Hamilton controlled the ball initially shifting it from side to side and breaking through when tournament MVP Jazmin Hotham scampered away.

St. Mary's were nervy, overthrowing a lineout and spilling the ball close to the line twice. Dhys Faleafaga and Cheyne Copeland were the guilty party after bustling runs.

Captain Monica Tagoai eventually settled the apprehension when she powered over. Copeland converted and it was 7-5.

Lyric Faleafaga beat an opposing defender with a left-foot step to make it 12-5. St. Mary's hassled Hamilton into errors with some punishing defence and when Ivana Samani scored from a Copeland break St. Marys looked home and hosed.

Hamilton showed their mettle and rallied, but their last try to Te Mai Ora Olsen-Baker was on the siren and two wobbly conversions to St. Mary's was the difference.

Mativa was naturally delighted with his girls achievement.

"We started in Division II in Wellington and won the Condors down their last year. We came up to Auckland for a bit of fun and learned a lot. We put some structures in place, built numbers and we are blessed with some great talent. I am really proud coach," Mativa enthused.

Earlier St. Mary's revenged their Top Four final defeat to Southland Girls' High School winning a blockbuster semi-final 19-5. Lyric Faleafaga scored an early try to put St. Mary's ahead and then shudders were felt around Glen Innes. Ainsleyana Puleiata absolutely smashed a would-be attacker who was left prone on the ground for several minutes. The tackle jolted the beers the Brothers were gently sipping in their house on the hill.

The action got even hotter when Copeland ran down speedster Emma Hopcroft to prevent a try for Southland and then the opposite happened with Hopcroft yellow carded for a high tackle as Copeland galloped away. Puleiata inflicted further pain scoring St. Mary's second try and then Copeland scooted away for the clincher.

Yesterday Tauranga and St. Marys shared a draw in Pool Play, but despite defending for long periods today, St. Mary's played with greater passion and polish to romp home 41-0. St. Mary's scored three tries in the first-half and four in the second. The try scorers were: Puleiata (2) Dhys Faleafaga, Samani, Tagoia, Lomia Fa'amausili and Copeland.

St. Pats Town came unstuck in the Cup quarter finals. Eventual runners up Feilding High School rallied from two tries down to win 24-12. Billy Procter and Sia Paese struck in the first period for Town, but Feilding stayed in the hunt and took the lead when tournament MVP Vili Koroi dashed 85-meters, changing speed several times to outgun the Town defence. Feilding's other tries were scored by Hunter Aiken, Mosese Dawai, and Jack Kinder.

Town then lost 22-0 to Sacred Heart College in the Consolation Cup semi-finals.

St. Pats Silverstream finished on a bright note with three wins on the trot to capture the Shield. A woeful Wesley College side was thumped 37-5 with Albert Polu celebrating a hat-trick.

Rangitoto College was tamed 26-17, despite Silverstream being farcically reduced to four players.

The final against Otago Boys' High School saw three lead changes with Silverstream eventually winning by a conversion 22-20. Year 11 Scott Svenson scored three tries and Nick Apikotoa added the other. For Otago, New Zealand Barbarians hooker Ricky Jackson (2) and lock Sam Dickson were among their four try scorers.

The diminutive Cullen Dexter collected the Shield for Silverstream which was just about taller than him. Today St. Mary's captured the tallest trophy to cap a stellar 2016.