New Zealand Development and Wellington through to Cup quarters in Australia

UPDATED: The New Zealand Development and Wellington sides are both through to the Men’s Cup quarterfinals of the UON Central Coast 7s tournament after finishing first and second respectively in their pools today.

The New Zealand Development side topped their pool with wins over Fijian side Yamacia (17-0), the Australian Development team (10-7) and Brisbane club team Sunnybank (31-5).

Wellington finished second in their pool, after beating the Canadian Maple Leafs (29-14) and Sydney club side Manly (33-12), before missing out to Fijian team Tabadamu (14-28) in their final match of the day.

The New Zealand Development team will play Bay of Plenty club team Rangataua at 1.00pm (NZT) in their Cup quarterfinal.

Wellington will be up against tournament favourites and defending champions Daveta in their Cup quarterfinal at 12.40pm (NZT). 

Two other New Zealand teams were competing in this tournament, the New Zealand Women’s Development team and the NZ Wasps in the Women’s division. These two teams will meet in the Women's Cup quarterfinals at 12.20pm (NZT). 

A round-up of the Wellington and New Zealand Development teams’ games:

Wellington

Wellington v Canadian Maple Leafs

Wellington 29 (Hayden Schrijvers, Max Pearson, Sheridan Rangihuna, Roy Kinikinilau, Jordan Simpson-Hefft tries; Rangihuna 2 con) beat Canada Maple Leafs 14. Ht: 19-7

Wellington started with a solid five tries to two victory over the Canadian national team.Wellington preyed on Canada’s mistakes and were patient in shutting down any chances the Canadians could create.

Hayden Schrijvers set up and scored the opening try, with a one-on-one strip in the tackle and a subsequent runaway score.

Canada made a mistake from the kick-off, Wellington launched on to attack and Max Pearson scored in the corner. Sheridan Rangihuna converted from the sideline to put Wellington ahead 14-0.

Canada broke through to score a long-range try, cutting the gap to 14-7, but Canada’s next re-start failed to go the 10 metres and Wellington established field position and scored a try in the corner to Rangihuna that put them ahead 19-7 at halftime.

Roy Kinikinilau busted through to score an explosive 80 metre try, but Canada struck right back and it was 24-14 with plenty of time left.

The Maple Leafs pressed up, but Wellington absorbed pressure, broke out and Jordan Simpson-Heft scored in the corner to close out the win.

Wellington v Manly

Wellington 33 (Max Pearson 2, Jordan Simpson-Hefft, Josh Robertson-Weepu, Telea Seumanutafa tries; Simpson-Hefft 3 con; Sheridan Rangihuna con) beat Manly 12. HT: 19-0.

Upper Hutt Rams outside backs Max Pearson and Jordan Simpson-Hefft scored three of five tries between them and Simpson-Hefft slotted three conversions in a win that was set up in the first half. Wellington scored three tries and went out to a 19-0 lead by halftime.

Halfback Josh Robertson-Weepu snaked over to score the opening try in the 3rd minute, quickly followed by Simpson-Hefft creating space from the back of a scrum and shooting through to score. Lester Maulolo handed the final pass to Max Pearson who finished off in the corner.

Wellington went ahead to 26-0 early in the second half, courtesy of a short intercept by Joseph Scheres and a second try to Pearson.

Manly struck back with a pair of tries, closing the gap to 26-12 with some time still to play. But Wellington put pressure on them behind the advantage line, forced a loose pass and Telea Seumanutafa waltzed through to score at the end.

Wellington v Tabadamu

Wellington 14 (Jordan Simpson-Hefft, Hayden Schrijvers tries; Sheridan Rangihuna 2 con) lost to Tabadamu 28. HT:14-14

This was always going to be Wellington’s toughest match of the opening day. Tabadamu had beaten Canada 43-7 and Manly 39-0 earlier in the day.

Wellington were given a reminder that if you give these Fijian teams even half an opening they’ll take it and turn a pressure situation into a try with the blink of an eye.

Wellington were right in this contest right up to the final two minutes, when Tamadamu broke the 14-14 halftime deadlock and crossed for the match winning try. Wellington launched a furious assault at the death but the ball was turned over and the Fijians broke clear to score a fourth try with the last play of the game.

A key play had come earlier in the second half when Wellington were penalised for at an attacking ruck 5 metres from the tryline and the Fijians won a relieving penalty.

Wellington regrouped but then gave away an intercept pass which led to the winning try.

Tabadamu had scored first after lethal break, but Wellington hounded them with their more structured game and Simpson-Hefft soon crossed for an equaliser.

Schrijvers won a turnover at a ruck and soon pounced himself to score Wellington’s second try to put them ahead 14-7.

Once more, Fiji swooped like lightning in broken play and scored their second try on halftime to make it 14-14 at the turnaround.

New Zealand Development

New Zealand Development v Yamacia

New Zealand Development 17 (Regan Ware, Scott Curry, Lewis Ormond tries; Issac Te Tamaki con) beat Yamacia 0. HT: 12-0

The New Zealand Development side eased their way into the tournament with a cautious opening match win. Their patience and organisation won the day as they scored three calculating tries and snuffed out anything the Fijians could string together.

New Zealand Development v Australian Development

New Zealand Development 10 (Mason Walker, Issac Te Aute tries) beat Australian Development 7. HT: Australia 7-5.

Big defence prevailed in a low scoring thriller in their second match. Rotorua Boys’ High School fullback Issac Te Aute was a star of this match; scoring a try and making two try saving tackles, both of which saved the game. DJ Forbes was also prominent on defence.

There was a big finish. With New Zealand ahead 10-7 in the dying seconds, Australia came within a whisker of scoring the match winner but were kept out in a scramble on New Zealand’s tryline.

New Zealand Development v Sunnybank

New Zealand Development 31 (Regan Ware 2, Mason Walker, Issac Te Tamaki, Tim Mikkelson tries; Te Tamaki 3 con) beat Sunnybank 5. HT: 19-0

The New Zealand Development side eased to their third straight win of the opening day against Brisbane club side Sunnybank.

The sharp pace of Tim Mikkelson and two tries to Regan Ware were highlights of the win. Mikkelson made a couple of electric breaks whilst Ware showed power to bust through to score his tries. His second was scored after a 90-metre counterattack which was the highlight play of the match.