WELLINGTON TO REPRESENT NZRL AT ST MARY'S SEVENS
The Scottwood Trust National Rugby League Sevens Tournament held at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of February 2006 was a huge success.
With 47 games played over the 2 days the tournament was full of fast, open and action packed Rugby League and there could not be enough said about the calibre of athlete on display.
The 20 teams who took part in the sevens gathered together from all over New Zealand coming from as far as Southland at the bottom of the country right through to the top of the North Island.
Being such a short and sharp game all the matches were fantastic battles of speed, skill and defensive ability but the best was to come on Finals Day when all teams had the opportunity to play off in the Bowl, Plate and Cup sections. All the finals were very competitive and were only won by a margin of 2 – 4 points proving just how tough the tournament was.
Wellington Provincial and Central Falcons met each other in the bowl final. With a try just on full time it was the Wellington Provincial team that walked away with the winning title. Final score 22 – 18.
Both the Counties Manukau Jetz and the Manurewa Marlins took the hard road to earning their final play off positions and played an extra game to get there. Again, another fantastic final which could have gone either way but the size of the Counties Manukau Jetz took its toll on their smaller counterparts and just nudged Manurewa out by 18 – 16, giving them the plate winners title.
Canterbury Bulls had to beat a very tough Mt Albert Lions team in their semi final match and Wellington had to take on the Northern Storm in their semi final but It was no surprise that these two teams would come face to face in the final of the cup section as both squads had been particularly strong through the rounds. Both teams were neck and neck for the entire match making for a nail biting finish for both teams but in the end it would be Wellington who would take the win 24 – 22.
The Wellington team, coached by Paul Bergman, who also runs the Wellington Rugby League Academy will go on to represent the NZRL at the very prestigious St Mary’s Sevens tournament in Australia on 11th and 12th February 2006. They will play against a number of the NRL teams in the tournament.
The NZRL also had a Scottwood Trust National Rugby League team of the tournament sponsored by Team Tours Ltd and this went to the Northern Storm who played and presented themselves outstandingly throughout the weekend.
Canterbury Bulls Johnny Limmer who has returned to New Zealand after being in England where he played for Workington was named Player Of The Tournament.
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