Seven lucky again for North Harbour

Press, 9 March 1987, Page 38

Seven lucky again for North Harbour

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

North Harbour might be only a second division side in the national rugby championship, but it has no peers when it comes to the seven-a-side game.

Yesterday at Rugby Park in Christchurch North Harbour retained the national sevens title when it beat Auckland, 33-16, in the Cup final of the Fresh-up sponsored tournament. It was obvious after the pool games on Saturday that North Harbour and Auckland were a class above the other 22 teams, and both progressed through to the final with little bother yesterday. However, the close final that was expected did not eventuate. North Harbour scored three tries in the first five minutes and by half-time was safely clear at 24-6. North Harbour has developed its sevens game to a fine art, and although it might not have had the speed of Auckland it was better at retaining possession, and most impressive of all was the sure hands that were always in support.

Hard, quick tackling also took the rhythm out of Auckland’s game and its only try in the first half was a penalty one, Terry Wright being held as he chased the rolling ball over the line.

In the second spell John Kirwan was used more and he scored two tries

for Auckland. But North Harbour also added two more and was never in any danger of being caught. It did North Harbour’s cause no harm, either, that Frano Botica was able to convert all five of his side’s tries.

Wellington, which had looked very sharp in beating Otago in the quarterfinals, was expected to give North Harbour a close game in the semifinals, but here again North Harbour never gave it a chance.

North Harbour retained possession for long periods, and when the gaps opened up its players were quick to take them. Wellington remained scoreless as North Harbour ran up 21 points. Nevertheless, Auckland was no less impressive in beating Manawatu, 30-6, in the other semi-final. Terry Wright contributed 22 of Auckland’s points, from three tries and five conversions, and there were some who felt that the speed of Wright and Kirwan might well tip the final Auckland’s way. But against a stronger, and better organised opponent, Auckland was nowhere near as effective.

The crowd was clearly

behind North Harbour in the final, and if this game was more one-sided than expected, the plate and bowl finals certainly kept spectators on the edge of their seats.

Canterbury, which was eliminated from the main championship on Saturday when it lost to Manawatu, won the plate, holding out Waikato, 16-14, after being up 10-0 at halftime.

The try of the game, and the winning one, was scored by Victor Simpson after an incredible movement, one which went on and on and could have ended with a try at either end of the field. The bowl final produced a dramatic finish, Horowhenua, with the crowd right behind it, scoring a last-gasp try to beat Wanganui, 22-19.

Wanganui led 10-6 at half-time, and it was 18-10 to Horowhenua before Wanganui regained the lead, 19-18. The siren to signal the end of the game had gone when Horowhenua’s Mark Wilson scored the winning try, being first in a race to the ball over the line.

The new format this year of playing all games

at the one venue, as opposed to regional eliminations and then progression to one final, proved a great success, and is sure to be retained.

Fine weather, along with big crowds, helped make the tournament the festive occasion for which the organisers hoped. Results: —

Pool A.— North Harbour 18, Waikato 12; Waikato 42, South Canterbury 10; North Harbour 32, South Canterbury 6.

Pool B.— Manawatu 12, Canterbury 10; Manawatu 46, Mid-Canterbury 0; Canterbury 22, Mid-Canterbury 10.

Pool C.— Wellington 22, Hawke’s Bay 12; Hawke’s Bay 38, Buller 0; Wellington 30, Buller 3.

Pool D — North Auckland 16, Southland 6; Southland 20, West Coast 12; North Auckland 18, West Coast 4.

Pool E.— Auckland 26, Wairarapa-Bush 6; Wairarapa-Bush 26, East Coast 0; Auckland 32, East Coast 3.

Pool F.— Otago 24, Bay of Plenty 6; Bay of Plenty 40, Horowhenua 0; Otago 24, Horowhenua 0. Pool G.— Counties 20, Wanganui 12; Nelson Bays 16, Wanganui 6; Counties 26, Nelson Bays 6. Pool H.— Taranaki 42, Marlborough 0; North Otago

16, Marlborough 12; Taranaki 28, North Otago 4. Post pool rounds: —

Cup championship Quarter-finals.— North Harbour 26, Taranaki 4; Wellington 30, Otago 10; Manawatu 26, Counties 0; Auckland 32, North Auckland 4. Semi-finals.— North Harbour 26, Wellington 4; Auckland 30, Manawatu 6. Final.— North Harbour 33, Auckland 16. Plate championship Quarter-finals. — Waikato 32, North Otago 6; Hawke’s Bay 24, Bay of Plenty 4; Canterbury 22, Nelson Bays 6; Wairarapa-Bush 18, Southland 14. Semi-finals.— Waikato 33, Hawke’s Bay 6; Canterbury 31, Wairarapa-Bush 0. Final.— Canterbury 16, Waikato 14. Bowl championship Quarter-finals.— South Canterbury 20, Marlborough 16 (Marlborough carried on to the next round because the South Canterbury team had to leave for a trip to Australia); Horowhenua 20, Buller 4; Wanganui 30, Mid-Canterbury 6; East Coast 22, West Coast 6.

Semi-finals.— Horowhenua 22, Marlborough 14; Wanganui 18, East Coast 0.

Final.— Horowhenua 22, Wanganui 19.