NZ MARIST RUGBY FEDERATION -
North Island Marist Sevens 2001

HURRICANE REGIONS DERBY'S DETERMINE TOURNAMENT
Saturday 22nd September 2001

In a keenly contested early season North Island Marist Sevens tournament at Tremain Field, Park Island on Saturday defending champions Auckland Marist failed to make it past the Cup semi finals, losing to Wellington's Jubilee Cup winners Marist St Pats 26-10, while in the other semi Hutt Old Boys Marist convincingly beat Tauranga's Greerton Marist 29-7 to make it a local derby in the final of the 2001 DB Draught Cup.

The finals 29-12 result in favour of the Hutt Valley club didn't really reflect the tightness of the game with Marist St Pats throwing everything into it in an attempt to add to their seasons silverware but this wasn't to be and the valley boys deservedly took out the day with both sides displaying some scintillating and highly entertaining rugby in the best traditions of Marist tournament competition play.

For their efforts the tournament winners Hutt Old Boys Marist received the DB Draught Cup, a set of sevens jerseys valued at $1000 plus $400, while the runners-up Marist St Pats were awarded with a $400 consolation prize.

In the Plate semi-finals, the Jeff 'turbo' Karika Hastings Rugby & Sports coached combination accounted for Hutt Old Boys Marist B 24-14. While on the adjoining ground an in-house semi between tournament hosts Napier Old Boys Marist's Green and Blue lineups, both coached by another former Magpie Neil Weber played off, the 'blues' 29-0 win over their clubmate opponents made for the second local final of the day. The 14-12 Napier Plate finals win over Hastings was a fair reflection of the tightly contested encounter which could have gone either way. For their efforts the finalists picked $400 and $200 respectively.

For the first time womens rugby was introduced to a Marist tournament with a newly formed side from Greerton Marist keen to bring a team. Two local sides Havelock North women and a selection from the Hawke's Bay womens NPC squad were invited to make up a pool to provide competition for the visitors. The result of these games were Hawke's Bay 54 Havelock North 0, Greerton 20 Havelock North 5, Hawke's Bay 49 Greerton 0. In sporting gesture the Hawke's Bay women withdrew from being eligible for the prizemoney allowing the Greerton and Havelock North to collect the spoils.

Other awards were - Top try scorers - Todd Williams (Hutt OB Marist) and Esava Teko (Marist St Pats) ( 8 each). Best Sporting team - Greerton Women. Furthest travelled team - Auckland Marist.

The Tournament team which was selected by Napier's Phil Beck (convenor), Des Allen (Auckland) and Jeff Karika (Hastings) were: Forwards - Adam Campbell, Adrian Maney (Hutt OB Marist), Joe Matamata (Hastings Rugby & Sports). Backs -Todd Williams, Danny Pauihi (Hutt OB Marist), Sam Rasch (Capt.), Esava Teko (Marist St Pats). Reserves - Cory Vainu (Marist St Pats), Jonathan Manu, Danny Laumatia (Hutt OB Marist). The selected team were presented with special edition tournament shirts.