American Ambassador’s series decider tomorrow

The third and final American Ambassador’s club rugby sevens series tournament is being staged at Ngati Toa Domain tomorrow, and for several teams there’s much to play for.

Like last week’s second leg in Wainuiomata, the tournament starts at 9.00am with pool play on two fields simultaneously running through to approximately 3.30pm when the playoff rounds begin. The women’s Cup final is at 4.39pm and the men’s Cup final is slated to get underway at 5.13pm.

Like last week, there will be cross pools in the men’s competition to ensure that all teams play four matches each in the pool rounds.

There are 18 men’s entered tomorrow and just five women’s teams in the mix to win the Eleanor Roosevelt Cup. In total there are 59 matches tomorrow.

Heading into tomorrow’s series decider, there are some nine teams still in the mix that can win the men’s Ambassador’s Cup, although series leader the Upper Hutt Rams just need to make the Cup semi-finals to at least guarantee a share of the spoils for the third year in a row.

Series leaders the Rams won the first tournament and were beaten Cup finalists last Saturday and they are on 35 points. Tawa are five points back on 30 and can still win, while the Wellington Axemen on 29 and MSP A on 27 are the other teams that can still realistically take the spoils should the Rams stumble and Tawa stutter.

Northern United won last week’s tournament, to go with their Plate win at Tawa, to slide into contention on 33 points. But their points last week were docked and they now on 13 and too far back to secure the honours.

Individually, it is understood that several Wellington Lions players will be taking the field tomorrow for their respective teams, while competition for Wellington sevens representative places will also ensure a high standard of competition. The weather isn't forecast to be as nice as last weekend, but the rugby should still be sizzling. 

The men’s winner will represent Wellington in Auckland in early February at the New Zealand Club Sevens Championships for the Middlesex Trophy.

The women’s series appears to be a three-horse race between last week’s winners Marist St Pat’s (20 points) and runner-up Petone (17) and Norths (12). Oriental-Rongotai (13) are not represented tomorrow, with several players away. HOBM (8) are returning from last week and home side Paremata-Plimmerton is taking the place of Avalon.

American Ambassador’s Sevens tournament key information

What: WRFU American Ambassador’s Sevens tournament Leg 3 of 3
Where: Ngati Toa Domain, Paremata-Plimmerton
When: Saturday 4 November, all day
Grades: Men’s and Women’s
Kick-off: 9.00am (Women’s Cup final at 4.39pm and Men’s Cup Final at 5.13pm)

Pools and teams (cross pool draw operating in men’s draw)

Men’s
Pool A: Northern United, Petone, Poneke, Paremata-Plimmerton, Upper Hutt Rams B
Pool B: Wellington Black, Tawa White, Oriental-Rongotai Black, Marist St Pat’s B, Old Boys University B
Pool C: Upper Hutt Rams A, MSP A, Johnsonville, Wellington Gold
Pool D: Oriental-Rongotai White, Old Boys University A, Tawa Blue, Wainuiomata

Women’s
Pool A: Petone, Marist St Pat’s, Northern United, Hutt Old Boys Marist, Paremata-Plimmerton