Hawke's Bay Sevens
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3rd Round results:
Hawke's Bay Women 17 - 15 Poverty Bay Women (Bay tries: Ruci Malanicagi 2x, Hope Hakopa?)
Hawke's Bay Men 26 - 0 Wanganui Men (Bay tries: Mitch Drew 2x, Samuela Kokosigasiga, Ricky Hayes)I missed a few scores, but I think the men have finished 2nd in their pool, and will now play the team finishing first in the other pool in the Cup Semi. I think that's Wellington, so expect our team to lose that. Wellington are clear favourites to win the tournament.
Edit: the Cup Semi against Wellington is at 4.00pm.
The women still have a pool game to play against Taranaki; they are still in it for the 3rd-4th place play-off.
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At least making it this far means the mens team qualify for the Nationals this year
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Our women's team is also through to the Nationals:
Hawke's Bay Women 36 - 14 Taranaki Women (Bay tries: Ruci Malanicagi 2x, Teilah Ferguson, Niamh Jefferson 2x, Julie Ferguson-Ngawaka)3rd place play-off at 5.20pm: Hawke's Bay men v Taranaki men
3rd place play-off at 6.10pm: Hawke's Bay women v Poverty Bay women (on field 2, so not streamed) -
Horror day at the BOP Provincial Sevens in Mount Maunganui today:
The women's team was listed in the original draw, but must have pulled out because they didn't play today. They always seem to struggle to find sufficient players, so maybe that's the reason.
And these are the men's results. I don't know who were playing, because the HBRU didn't publish a squad list (what's new?), but if they are the same players who will play at the Nationals next weekend, I have little hope.
Hawke's Bay men:
10 - 19 loss to Counties Manukau
14 - 24 loss to Ta$man
17 - 20 loss to Manawatu (Mauao Semi Final)
12 - 19 loss to Northland (Mauao play-off) -
Found the men's line-up; stupid not to check the HBT.
Lots of puppies:Ricky Hayes, Ash Robinson-Bartlett, Damien Scott, Lincoln McClutchie, Jesse King, Mitch Drew, Johnny Lauano, Sonny Lilo, Al Momoisea, Chris Johnston, Tyrone Dodd-Edwards, Timo Vaiusu, Teihana Brown, Danny Toala.
According to the same article, Danny Toala
... missed last month's Central Regional tournament in Levin because he was at a week-long New Zealand under-20s team development camp in Palmerston North. During the camp Toala, 18, who played at centre and fullback for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team, ran at second five-eighth. "I'm not sure where they see me at. I just have to make sure I am prepared for whatever role they want.""I prefer 15s more than sevens. I see sevens as a good opportunity to get a hit-out before the 15s season begins. It's a good way to have a run around and keep the fitness levels up. At the same time it will be good to see where sevens can take me and one of my goals is to make the New Zealand wider training squad."Although Hawke's Bay born and bred Toala has Samoan heritage and was approached by the Samoan under-20s coaching staff before the New Zealand under-20s last year. He knows once he plays for the New Zealand under-20s he is no longer eligible for Samoa. "I've got a pretty good chance with New Zealand so we will aim for that goal. I'm just focusing on my rugby career and joining the police force is my back-up plan," he added.They're wrong about being locked in by NZ by playing U20s for NZ, obviously.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11970241&ref=rss
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Even though they were all losses, nothing was hidings. I have some hope
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As a Hawkes Bay supporter all we have had to live on these last few seasons is hope. I'm hoping with Mr. Philpott no longer on the scene the hope that we no longer have to live on hope is more than a fanciful hope! At least I hope with Jason Long still on the scene we can get some respite from relying on hope come February 3 and 4 at the Palm Nth Showgrounds. Three in a row has a nice sound to it............
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Hawke's Bay Women's Sevens:
Felicity Powdrell, Niamh Jefferson, Teilah Ferguson, Julie Ferguson-Ngawaka, Kalyn Takitimu-Cook, Hope Hakopa, Marlane Harmer, Laurae Blake, Jessie Fowell, Shaylee Tipiwai, Sincerely Horne, Tash GrevilleHawke's Bay Men's Sevens:
Ricky Hayes, Teihana Brown (captain), Damien Scott, Al Momoisea, Ausage Fomai, Tyrone Dodd-Edwards, Ioane Lauano, Samuela Korosigasiga, Mitchell Drew, Christopher Johnston, Danny Toala, Timoteo VaiusuAgain no Emerson. Haven't read anything about him being injured, but I guess he is. Haven't heard anything about Fakatava for months either. McClutchie not picked. Also no Neria Fomai (HBT reported earlier in the week that he was eligible).
I really hope the Bay men are not going to get steamrolled this weekend and get some decent results and a reasonable final placing. Don't give the women much chance with them playing in the same pool as Counties and Auckland. Maybe they can beat Southland.
Men's pool games:
12.25pm v North Harbour*
3.15pm v Manawatu
5.15pm v Otago*Women's pool games:
10.25pm v Counties Manukau
12.45pm v Auckland*
4.15pm v Southland*Televised on Sky Sport 2.
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First results:
Men:
12 - 19 loss to North HarbourWomen:
7 - 50 loss to 2017 champions Counties Manukau
0 - 39 loss to AucklandFrom HBT:
He was hoping to have the services of Samoa World Series player Neria Fomai. However, he wasn't released by the Samoan coaching staff who see Fomai as a key player for their January 26-28 round of the World Series in Sydney following an injury to another pivotal member of their squad. Fomai's brother Ausage Fomai, who missed the Mount Maunganui trip last weekend, returns to the team. Three players who travelled last weekend, Tamatea speedster and New Zealand open men's touch rep Ash Robinson-Bartlett, former Hastings Boys' High School pivot and two-season New Zealand Secondary Schools 15s player Lincoln McClutchie and Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports forward Jesse King, missed the cut for nationals. "We've opted for a bigger squad and a bit more physicality," Wilson added. Nine of Wilson's squad will be playing for Hawke's Bay at nationals level for the first time. Among them are Napier Old Boys Marist captain Chris Johnston who has represented Bay of Plenty and Waikato previously.I don't know what happened since the team was named and who dropped out, but both King and McClutchie played against North Harbour.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11974061
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Is it just me but do some of our guys appear to be not wearing the regulation black and white sock. It is a bit hard to be sure with a few players wearing those compression things that come up to the high calf area but some players look like they might just be wearing some sort of ankle sock, or a completely black sock, if any at all.
Anyway 31 - 00 over Southland is a nice way to start the day.
