Sevens
Pub Charity Sevens 2010
Pub Charity Sevens tournament favourite’s Counties Manukau lost to tournament winners Waikato in the semi-finals 14-0.
The Counties Manukau side sponsored by PIC Insurance and Summit Building had some impressive performances in their pool play and quarter finals. In cold conditions on the first day they beat South Canterbury 41-7, Horowhenua Kapiti 34-12 and then lost to finalists Bay of Plenty 12-7, after the Counties Manukau Captain was sinned binned for an alleged high tackle. Sherwin Stowers showed why he was picked for the New Zealand Sevens team tour at the end of 2009 with repeated displays of his speed, skills and try scoring ability.
On day two in the quarter-finals Counties Manukau dominated Otago in a complete performance to win 22-5. However in the semi-finals against Waikato the top seeded team played their most frustrating game of the tournament going down 14-0. Counties Manukau didn’t get enough ball which allowed Waikato to control the game and left Counties Manukau defending for the majority of the match with little attacking opportunities.
Captain Siosi Tuatau, who has played for the Counties Manukau B’s and is a Tongan international said “It was a disappointing end to the tournament, we put in the hard yard over summer and we gave it everything we had. As long as we learn from this we will be better next year”.
Long serving Counties Manukau physiotherapist Kevin McQuoid now goes from Queenstown to Wellington to take up his new role with the Hurricanes for the 2010 season.
The Counties Manukau Sevens team: Siosi Tuatau, Fritz Lee, Manoa Naevo, Siali Piatua, Tekori Luteru, David Raikuna, Anzac Luteru, Bundellu Aki, Risiate Tadulala, Kaino Kaino, Sherwin Stowers and Tony Pulu
Coach: Joeli Vidiri
Technical Advisor: Reon Graham
Physiotherapist: Kevin McQuoid
Manager: George Cunningham
Counties Manukau Sevens Squad for Queenstown 2010
SIOSI TUATAU (Captain)
FRITZ LEE
MANOA NAEVO
SIALI PIATAU
TEKORI LUTERU
DAVID RAIKUNA
ANZAC LUTERU
BUNDELLU AKI
RISIATE TADULALA
KAINO KAINO
SHERWIN STOWERS
TONY PULU
COACH :JOELI VIDIRI
TRAINER: KEVIN McQUOID
TECHNICAL ADVISOR :REON GRAHAM
MANAGER : GEORGE CUNNINGHAM
2010 Mt Maunganui Sevens
Counties Manukau lost in an exhilarating final against the host side Bay of Plenty 33-25 in this years Mt Maunganui Sevens Tournament. In true sevens form the lead changed four times during the game and the crowd were treated to a high standard of fast flowing sevens rugby.
It was the first time Bay Of Plenty have won their own tournament but Counties Manukau will get their chance to even the score next week when they play each other in their pool play at the Pub Charity National Sevens held in Queenstown next weekend.
In a tournament that saw all the top Unions represented except North Harbour it was a clean road to the finals for Counties Manukau. On their journey to the final, Counties Manukau beat Niue and Hawkes Bay in their pool play and then in the quarter-finals, the young side beat Auckland 35-12. Hawkes Bay beat Waikato which meant that Counties Manukau played them again but this time in the semi-finals. The South Auckland side repeated their win against the East Coast team 40-12 and then they stumbled at the last hurdle in a finals match against Bay of Plenty in a game that could have gone either way.
The management of the Counties Manukau Sevens team used the tournament as an opportunity to give their whole squad a run in a bid to help them pick a final team of twelve for the National Pub charity competition next weekend which will be televised live. Counties Manukau is in Pool B are joined by Bay of Plenty, Horowhenua Kapiti, and South Canterbury.
The final Counties Manukau Sevens team will be named this Tuesday.
For information on the National Sevens click here http://www.nz7.co.nz/
Old Sevens News:
4 January 2009
Counties Manukau win Mt Maunganui Sevens
Counties Manukau became the first team to defend their title when they beat Taranaki in the finals 32-10 to win the Mt Maunganui sevens at the weekend. Taranaki had beaten last year's runners up, Auckland to make the finals.
On their road to winning the tournament Counties Manukau had a slow start but built momentum as the day progressed. In pool play the team beat Horowhenua Kapiti by more than 50 points and lost to Wellington 12-7. They then played Nuai in the quarter finals and won 53-7 and hit form in the Semi-finals to beat Bay of Plenty 28-7.
The squad of fourteen will now be reduced to twelve who will represent the union at the National Sevens this weekend in Queenstown. The team will be announced this Thursday. All Games are live on sky over the weekend.
5 January 2008
Counties Manukau win BOP 7's
Counties Manukau won the Bay of Plenty 7’s tournament held at Mt Maunganui on January 4.
They won their first game against Hawkes Bay 56-5, then beat Bay of Plenty 45-12 and went on to play Auckland in quarter finals, which they won 14-5. They also beat North Harbour in the semi-finals 48-14. In an exciting final, Counties Manukau played an invitational BOP team coached by Gordon Tietjens and won the tournament 42-28. Counties Manukau were leading 22-0 in the first half and at half time went to the break with a 22-14 lead. Mid way during the second half the score became close with Counties Manukau holding onto a slim lead 29-28. Then Counties Manukau scored three quick tries to win the final. There were some great performances byJames Maher, Fritz Lee and new comers Arron Smith and Hayden Steed. "It was great to see the team show some mental fortitute andhang ontothe lead to win the final" said James Maher.
The team has been training together for two months under 7’s guru Kevin McQuoid and Joeli Vidiri who both offer the team their extensive 7’s experience. Counties Manukau have won the Pacifica Cup Competition and Club Competition. Manager George Cunningham said “This is one of the better preparations we have had for quite a few years heading into the National Tournament and we are looking forward to playing”.
17 December 2008
Counties Manukau Win Pacifica 7's
It was a fantastic weekend for Counties Manukau Rugby when they won both sections at the Pacifica 7’s tournament played at Waitemata Park last weekend.
Counties Manukau won the Elite section of the 7’s competition when they beat Auckland 26-0 in the final.
In the Club Section the other Counties Manukau team beat Waitakere City in an exhilarating final. The score was 19 all at full time then Counties Manukau scored a try to win by golden point.
The tournament was considered a trial for the National Sevens to be held in Queenstown in January. Twenty four players are fighting for 12 positions in the Counties Manukau provincial team.
Coach Joeli Vidiri is very please with young players and talent coming through. “It will make the selection process very tough but this is a great position to be in, which is exciting for Counties Manukau rugby"Vidiri said.
2007
NZ Hothouse Counties Manukau 7's team were runners up in the National 7’s tournament held in Queenstown this weekend.
The tournament was played in extremely hot conditions, with the level of talent and quality of games exceeding previous years. Counties Manukau lost to Auckland 25-15 in the finals. Counties Manukau had beaten the favourites Auckland, twice this season to win the BOP 7’s and the Pacifica Cup, however Auckland capitalised on any mistakes and won their fourth consecutive national title. Coached by sevens star Joeli Vidiri, with sevens expert Kevin McQuoid on board Counties Manukau showed throughout the tournament they had explosive attacking abilities and held their own in their pool, comfortable beating Northland 26-7 and Southland 33-0 only narrowly losing to Manawatu 19-17.
There were two highlights for the Counties Manukau. Team member David Raikura from Pukekohe was named “Player of the Tournament” (Raikura also won “Player of the Year” for Counties Manukau U 20’s in 2007) and Chad Tuoro was named in the New Zealand Sevens trial squad of 27 players to attend a four-day trial camp at Mt Maunganui held by Gordon Tietjens starting on 17 January.
Auckland 24: Mana Ashford, Patrick Flavell, Samu Etuati, Mikaele Pesamino tries: Ashford 2 con.
Counties Manukau 15: Kaino Kaino 2, Sherwin Stowers tries.
HT: 12-5.
Counties Manukau Sevens National Team:
1. Fritz Lee
2. Chad Tuoro
3. James Mayer
4. Tekori Luteru
5. Siaosi Tuatao
6. Kaino Kaino (Captain)
7. Koiatu Koiatu
8. Hayden Steed
9. Sherwin Stowers
10. Kane Hancy
11. David Raikuna
12. Aaron Smith
Manager: George Cunningham
Coach: Joeli Vidiri
Trainer : Kevin Mc Quoid
Physio: Andrew Newmarch
