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The Mahurangi Rugby Football Club sevens team may have only come together this year, but is blazing a trail across Auckland with four finals appearances.
The side began training in August and played its first three competitions in Counties Manukau and Pakuranga, making the quarter finals twice and final once.
Next, they got the home advantage by playing in the first Harbour Sevens tournament to be held in
Mahurangi in over a decade at the Mahurangi Rugby Football Club on November 3.
They beat Silverdale, North Shore and Massey, before going down to Marist in the semi-final. They then lost to East Coast Bays 29-28 in overtime.
Coach Akuila Matanibukaca says the club’s premier players showed potential for the game over winter and is pleased to see them already performing well in the different code.
“The players clearly had some good skills that they could apply to sevens rugby, and they’ve shown that on the field,” Matanibukaca says.
“It’s still a young and inexperienced team though, so we’re just working on game understanding because it’s very different to the 15-a-side format.”
Matanibukaca has been impressed with the interest in the sport in Mahurangi.
“We called a meeting in August so we could start doing fitness training early and had 27 players show up.
Kade Banks is trying his hand at sevens rugby with the club, after a great rugby union season with Mahurangi College this year.
“Hopefully the positive results will attract more players to the game as we play through until January next year.”
Meanwhile, sevens rugby could return to Mahurangi after North Harbour Rugby staff were impressed with the venue.
North Harbour Rugby head of rugby operations Denis Henderson says the grounds were well prepared with good warm-up space and clubroom facilities.
A total of 10 men’s teams competed in the Harbour Sevens competition with Northcote winning the final 31-12 over Marist.
Four teams played in the women’s competition, with Helensville victorious in the final against East Coast Bays 33-5.
The competition was well supported by volunteers, spectators and North Harbour Rugby referees.
