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American Ambassador?s Sevens tournament tomorrow at Evans Bay Park

Sevens Rugby | 31 October 2014 | Steven White

One of the biggest trophies has been saved for last.

It’s not quite the Bledisloe Cup, but as far as club trophies go the American Ambassador’s one is a fairly impressive piece of silverware, and one of 12 teams representing 11 clubs in the Men’s division will raise it high late on Saturday as winners of the WRFU club Sevens title.

The one-day tournament, played this year at Evans Bay Park and on the adjacent St Pat’s College Artificial, includes Men’s, Colts and Women’s divisions and is the last official club competitions act in what has been a hugely exciting season.

All up there are 32 teams taking part, with Tawa, Poneke, Ories, Old Boys University and Avalon entering teams in all three divisions and Hutt Old Boys Marist fielding two teams in both the Men’s and Colts competitions and Ories entering two Colts sides. Beaten Wellington secondary schools champions from Monday, Scots College, will also be taking part in the Colts grade in a bid to defend the title that they won last year. St Pat’s Town are the other school side taking part.?

Defending Men’s champions the Upper Hutt Rams (playing as Upper Hutt last year) are sure to be strong contenders again, despite missing key duo Hayden Schrijvers and Murphy Taramai, who, along with Ambrose Curtis (Ories), will be attending the All Blacks Sevens training camp early next week.?

All other Wellington 7s players that travelled to Australia last weekend, except for Tomasi Alosio (Hutt Old Boys Marist) and Belgium Tuatagaloa (Petone) have been cleared to play tomorrow.

Should they play, other Wellington representative players from last weekend that could prove pivotal for their sides in the Men’s draw include Greg Foe (Poneke), Issac O’Connor, Ryan Setefano and Matt Peni (all Marist St Pat’s), Sheridan Rangihuna (Hutt Old Boys Marist), Taniela Manu (Upper Hutt Rams) and Tamati Samuels (playing for a HOBM side). Others such as Vaea Fifita (Wellington) and Uale Mai (Wainuiomata) could prove key operators.?

Of last year’s Swindale Shield clubs, Tuatagaloa’s Petone and Northern United are the two sides not entering men’s teams, but both are fielding Colts sides. Of the 2014 women’s clubs, just Stokes Valley won’t be represented. ?Norths are the defending Women’s champions.?

As well as the established players, tomorrows American Ambassador’s tournament is a chance for school leavers to don Senior club colours for the first time. As per last year, some of the Colts teams will likely feature players who played for their secondary school sides in Monday’s Condor tournament.?

Both the Men’s and Colts draws comprise four Pools of three teams and the Women’s section is made up of two Pools of four teams.

Pool play runs from 9.00 am until approximately 2.00 pm when the crossover matches begin. The Colts, Women’s and Men’s Cup semi-finals kick-off at 4.22 pm and the three finals are set down for 4.56 pm, 5.15 pm and 5.35 pm respectively.

Pools and teams:

Men’s

Pool A: Avalon, Hutt Old Boys Marist 1, Old Boys University

Pool B: Wainuiomata, Poneke, Wellington

Pool C: Upper Hutt Rams, Johnsonville, Oriental-Rongotai

Pool D: Marist St Pat’s, Tawa, Hutt Old Boys Marist 2?

Colts

Pool E: Scots College, Old Boys University, Hutt Old Boys Marist 1

Pool F: St Pat’s Town, Tawa, Oriental-Rongotai 2

Pool G: Northern United, Petone, Oriental-Rongotai

Pool H: Upper Hutt Rams, Poneke, Avalon

Women’s