Scots and St Mary's Colleges win Condor 7s titles

The Wellington region will be represented by three new schools at the 2017 Youthtown Condors Sevens in December. Scots College won the boys Christian Cullen Cup for the first time since 2013, edging Rongotai College 21-19 in the final.

As expected defending National girls champions St Mary's College coasted to victory against Aotea College 41-7 in the Kat Simpkins Cup decider.

The former reaches Condors for the first time as the girls tournament is expanded. The tournament was hosted by Naenae College.

Boys

Scots College required a last minute converted try to Jaylen Tuapola to foil surprise finalists Rongotai College. Scots thumped Rongotai 40-7 in Pool Play, but Rongotai soaring in confidence after upsetting Wellington College 14-12 in the quarter-finals and St Pat’s Town 31-7 in the semi-finals almost caused a third straight boilover.

Jack Gray opened the scoring for Scots when he received the ball from a static start, accelerated and sabered through the defence for a try. Rongotai responded with tries to Daniel Taoipu and Steven Va'a to kick ahead 12-7, but Scots reclaimed the lead when Eparama Sailo pounced on a fumble. Suitulaga Taulogo surged through to make it 19-14 to Rongotai.

Hurricanes Under-18 rep Tuapola was a standout all afternoon for Scots, breaking initially into the Rongotai 22 to win a penalty and then punishing Rongotai when he got on the outside of his immediate marker.

Earlier the Rongotai versus Wellington quarter-final was a close and contentious affair with Rongotai narrowly winning 14-12. Both sides traded a try apiece in the first-half with Andrew Loveard dotting down for Wellington College and Steven Va'a from past halfway for Rongotai. A Matiu Samuel 75-metre runaway pushed Rongotai 14-5 ahead. Wellington rallied hard and big Mellenniumma-Gerrad Leota scored in the corner to make it 14-12. In the dying moments, Wellington attacked inside the Rongotai 22 but were unable to breach the defence.

Defending champions St Pat’s Town crashed out in the semi-finals. Steven Va'a scored three tries as Rongotai eliminated a top eight side from New Zealand last year.

Town was short of a gallop throughout the day. They were upset by Wellington College B 17-12 in their first Pool game. Town made an anxious start conceding the first try, but eventually warmed to their work winning 40-7 with Jeremiah Lokeni scored three tries.

Scots scored well over 100 points in their first three games, but was forced to rally from 12-5 down at halftime in the semi-finals to topple St Pat’s Silverstream.

Albert Polu and Todd Svenson tried to propel Silverstream into the lead, but Scots punished  Stream inaccuracy in the second-spell in a convincing triumph. Gray, Tuapola, Sage Shaw-Tait and Tama Kapene scored tries for Scots. Kapene was an athletic and skilful presence for the whole day.

In pool play the tussle between St Pats Silverstream and Porirua College was a thriller with 10 tries scored. Porirua had Silverstream sweating midway through the second-half, but Todd Svenson finished with four tries in a 36-22 win. Nathan Moafanua and Eli Moataa were very impressive for Porirua. Others to standout in the boys section included Keelan Whitman (St Pats Town), Mofate Siupolu (Mana College), Tom Maiava (Wellington College) and Esera Andrews (Taita College).

Girls

St Mary's College enjoyed Wellington superiority for a third year in a row thrashing Aotea College 41-7 in the final. St Mary's wasn't seriously threatened by anybody accounting for Naenae College (49-0), Taita College (41-7), Wellington East Girls' College (50-0) and Wainuiomata High School (34-0) en route to the final.

In the finale Aotea struck first when Jahnika Chadwick scampered away for a rare try against the Catholics who regrouped swiftly to win in resounding fashion. Ana Puleiata (2), Cheyne Copeland (2), Lomia Fa'aumausilli, Renee Savai'inea and Dhys Faleafaga crossed the chalk in the thumping victory.

Faleafaga scored doubles in three matches. The girls field only featured seven teams. 

Finals Summary

Cup Quarter-finals

Boys: Silverstream: 59 v St Bernard's College: 7
Boys: Scots College: 61 v Taita College: 7
Boys: Rongotai College: 14 v Wellington College: 12 * More than 5 subs
Boys: St Pats Town: 34 v Porirua College: 0

Cup Semi-Finals

Girls: Aotea College: 17 v Poirurua College: 12
Girls: St Mary's College: 34 v Wainuiomata: 0
Boys: Rongotai 31 v St Pats Town: 7
Boys: Scots College: 22 v St Pats Silverstream: 12

Finals

Girls Cup: St Mary's College: 41 v Aotea College: 7
Boys Cup: Scots College: 21 v Rongotai College: 19
Boys Plate: Wellington College (2): 24 v Naenae College: 12
Boys Bowl: Wellington College: 21 v St Bernard's College: 0
Girls Bowl: Wainuiomata High School: 22 v Porirua College: 20