Pacific Warriors win Piri Weepu 7s

Above: The Pacific Warriors just prior to kick-off in their Men's Cup semi-final win over the Wellington Men's representative side.

The Pacific Warriors side, comprising mostly Tawa Premier players, won today’s Piri Weepu Invitational 7s tournament hosted by the Wainuiomata Rugby Club at William Jones and Mary Crowther Parks.

After a testing morning for rugby weather-wise, the angry skies and gusty winds cleared in the afternoon well in time for the Pacific Warriors to beat the Wests Roosters 45-36 in the Men’s Cup final. The Pacific Warriors got a jump on Wests and kept their noses in front. Both sides had put in big efforts to win their respective Cup semi-finals.

The Pacific Warriors beat the WRFU Men’s representative side 17-14 in the first semi-final, upstaging the Wellington team 3 tries to 2. In a physical match, Wellington’s Upper Hut trio Kayne Hammington, Murphy Taramai and Hayden Schrijvers combined to put Wellington ahead 7-0. After losing a player to the sin-bin, the Pacific Warriors replied with two quickfire tries and held on in the second spell.

In the other Cup semi-final, Wests had held on to beat home side Wainuiomata 21-19, surviving a late comeback and a try at the end by Wainuiomata’s Shahn Eru.

The Wellington Women’s representative side defeated club champions Northern United Women 34-10 in the Women’s final.

The Wellington Men’s and Women’s teams play in the Central region National Sevens qualifying tournament at Palmerston North next weekend, along with Horowhenua-Kapiti who also contested this tournament.

The Horowhenua-Kapiti side defaulted in the Bowl final to visiting club side Hastings Rugby and Sports, citing injuries and looking ahead to next weekend.

The Northern United men’s team had a well-deserved 31-14 victory over recent American Ambassador champions Upper Hutt in the Plate final. Upper Hutt were missing four of their players to the Wellington team, Hammington, Taramai, Schrijvers and Colin Leilua-Toilolo.

Piri Weepu himself was in attendance at the tournament for most of the day. His involvement extended to co-managing the Ulalei 7s team, along with his brother Billy and Ken Laban. The Ulalei team failed to progress past the Pool stage.

There were several close matches in the Pool stages, such as OBU’s 17-15 win over Wainuiomata where the winning conversion was on target but blew back into the field of play and was only awarded after some consultation.

The day was well organised by the Wainuiomata RFC, with the clubrooms open and well attended all day and a barbecue running throughout the afternoon. The $3 Mexican kebab was particularly tasty.

The two squads that met in the Men’s Cup final were:

Pacific Warriors: Maka Ioane, Alfred Pelenise, Jeff Makapelu, Kali Petela, Piri Paromu, Tim Serawalu, James So’oialo, Mesa Coka, Tui Waluwalu, Taniela Korori, Thomas Coka, Dennis Veisaku

Wests Roosters: Tupeni Kamakorewa, Alipate Natora, Vonijisal Denicaucau, Francis Vakadranu, Nemani Waka, Esava Vakaceresoso,Vilikesa Raboiliku, Isireli Baleitavaki, Ofia Ueseli, Waisesa Yabakivou, Benny, Ponty Penicaucau.

Tournament results (unofficial)

Pool play (William Jones Park):

WRFU Men’s 42 - Upper Hutt 7
Johnsonville 15 - Ulalei 10
OBU 17 - Wainuiomata 15
WRFU Academy 36 - Avalon 0
WRFU Women’s 29 - Avalon Women’s 0
WRFU Men’s 41 - Johnsonville 0
Upper Hutt 21- Ualei 10
Wainuiomata 21 - Avalon 10
WRFU Academy 12 - OBU 5
WRFU Women’s 28 - Norths Women’s 12
WRFU Men 37 - Ulalei 0
Upper Hutt 22 - Johnsonville 5
Wainuiomata 29 - WRFU Academy 0
OBU 17 - Avalon 7
WRFU Women’s 36 - Wainuiomata Women’s 5

Pool play (Mary Crowther Park):

MSP 29 - Horowhenua-Kapiti 7
Pacific Warriors 38 - HOBM 7
Norths beat Wellington Tonga by default (late arrival)
Wests 21 - Hastings 19
Norths Women’s 32 - Wainuiomata Women’s 12
Pacific Warriors 29 - Horowhenua Kapiti 5
MSP 14 - HOBM 7
Wests 33? -Wellington Tonga 0
Norths 27 - Hastings 7
Wainuiomata Women’s 32 - Avalon Women’s 0
Horowhenua Kapiti 17 - HOBM 5
Pacific Warriors 20 - MSP 10
Hastings 10 - Wellington Tonga 7

Wests 17 - Norths 12
Norths Women’s 36 - Avalon 5

Pool winners:
Pool A: WRFU Men
Pool B: Pacific Warrirors
Pool C: Western Suburbs
Pool D: Wainuiomata
Pool E (Women’s): WRFU Women

Knockout rounds:

Men’s Bowl semi-final 1:Horowhenua-Kapiti 24 - Johnsonville 7

Men’s Bowl semi-final 2: Hastings 31 - OBU 10

Men’s Plate semi-final 1: Upper Hutt 21 - MSP 17

Men’s Plate semi-final 2: Norths 19 - Wellington Academy 19 (Norths progress after scoring the first try)

Women’s final: WRFU Women's 34 - Northern United 10

Men’s Cup semi-final 1: Pacific Warriors 17 - WRFU Men’s 14

Men’s Cup semi-final 2: Wests Roosters 21 - Wainuiomata 19

Men’s Bowl Final: Hastings beat Horowhenua-Kapiti by default

Men’s Plate Final: Norths 31 - Upper Hutt 12

Men’s Cup Final: Pacific Warriors 45 - Wests Roosters 36

?