Inaugural Tawa Sevens tournament tomorrow

Sevens Rugby | 20 February 2015 | Steven White

There promises to be no shortage of excitement on and off the field at tomorrow’s inaugural Tawa Invitational Sevens tournament.?

Twelve teams will descend on Lyndhurst Park for the day-long tournament that kicks off at 9.00 am, with all teams playing two Pool matches each, leading into the afternoon knockout matches to decide the Bowl, Shield and Cup winners.?

The entrants include a mix of local club and invitational teams plus three sides from the Manawatu and one from Horowhenua-Kapiti hoping to come away with the maiden Tawa Sevens title.

The off-field action includes games and lollie scrambles for the kids, a visit by Hurricanes squad members, the Red Bull girls, a bouncy castle, bands, dance performances and MC Nua Finau from the Small Blacks.

Post-tournament, all supporters can head upstairs to the Tawa clubrooms and enjoy nibbles, drink specials and live entertainment by DJ Milkshake.

Of the teams entered, hosts Tawa will field two teams and could be difficult to defeat on their home track, as their fifteens sides have shown over the past couple of years.

Former New Zealand Sevens player Rodney So’oialo is expected to bring a strong Wellington Axemen team across town. Whilst the make-up of their side is unclear, if it includes Vaea Fifita and Dean Brunsdon in the forwards and a couple of the Axemen’s speedsters then they should progress far.

Northern raiders include two Manawatu Fijian teams, Manawatu club side Toa and Horowhenua-Kapiti side Waikanae, who are preparing for next week’s annual Shannon Sevens tournament.?

Other local teams include two Fijian Invitational teams, the Fijian Flyers and Boomerang (a second Fjjian Flyers side), a Norths invitational side playing under the Bulldogs banner and two more invitational teams called the Wolfpack and Clockwork. All these teams are somewhat of an unknown quality.?

Pool A: Tawa Blue, Waikanae, Fijian Flyers 1

Pool B: Bulldogs, Manawatu Fijians 2, Toa

Pool C: Manawatu Fijians 1, Wolfpack, Clockwork

Pool D: Tawa White, Fijian Flyers 2, Wellington?

09:00 am Game 1 Tawa Blue v Waikanae

09:20 am Game 2 Bulldogs v Manawatu Fijians 2

09:40 am Game 3 Manawatu Fijians 1 v Wolfpack

10:00 am Game 4 Tawa White v Fijian Flyers 2

10:20 am Game 5 Tawa Blue v Fijian Flyers 1

10:40 am Game 6 Bulldogs v TOA

11:00 amGame 7 Manawatu Fijians 1 v Clockwork

11:20 am Game 8 Tawa White v Wellington

11:40 am Game 9 Waikanae v Fijian Flyers 1

12:00 pm Game 10 Manawatu Fijians 2 v TOA

12:20 p.m Game 11 Wolfpack v Clockwork

12:40 p.m Game 12 Fijian Flyers 2 v Wellington

[01:00 pm. Lunch/Entertainment]

02:00 pm Bowl - Game 13 3rd Pool A v 3rd Pool B

02:20 pm. Bowl - Game 14 3rd Pool C v 3rd Pool D

02:40 pm. Plate - Game 15 2nd Pool A v 2nd Pool B

03:00 pm Plate - Game 16 2nd Pool C v 2nd Pool D

03:20 p.m. Cup - Game 17 1st Pool A v 1st Pool B

03:40 pm Cup - Game 18 1st Pool C v 1st Pool D

04:10 pm Bowl (Final) Winner game 13 v Winner game 14

04:30 pm Plate (Final) Winner game 15 v Winner game 16

04:50 pm Cup (Final) Winner game 17 v Winner game 18