Wellington teams do the double at Central 7s tournament

Wellington teams swept the 2024 Central Region 7s tournament at Massey University this afternoon.

Wellington won both the men’s and women’s tournament, with the men’s team beating the Whanganui Butcher Boys 26-12 in their final and the women’s side defeating the Manawatu Cyclones 28-24.

The men’s win was Wellington’s first win in this tournament since 2019 when it was last held at Levin’s Playford Park, while the women’s was significant as being the first time that a side other than Manawatu has won this. Manawatu were gunning for a 10-peat of women’s Central 7s titles.

This year’s tournament was also notable as being just a three-team one, with Wellington, Manawatu and Whanganui the three teams entered in both divisions.

As such, there was a round-robin and then a straight knockout semi-final between the two sides who dropped games. Wellington (men’s) and Manawatu (women’s) went straight through to the final.

It was disapointing that no other unions could join this tournament this year, in particular NPC unions Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki who are both part of the Central zone sevens region.

Men’s

Wellington beat both Manawatu and Whanganui in pool play, before progressing to the final to play Whanganui who had beaten Manawatu 15-7 in their semi-final.

Whanganui scored two first half tries to lead 10-0 at halftime, before scoring their third and going up 15-0. Needing to score three times, Manawatu could only finish with one consolation try.

Wellington raced to a match-winning 19-0 lead at halftime in the final, but Whanganui came back with two consecutive tries to trail 19-12. They had a scrum on Wellington’s 22, but a penalty and breakout try sealed victory for Wellington.

Highlights of those two games below: 

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Women’s

Wellington turned around a 4 tries 1 loss to Manawatu in the first match of the day to beat Manawatu 28-24 in their final and see the home team relinquish their grip on the cup.

Wellington scored first in the final, but Manawatu hit back with two consecutive tries, both scored by Layla Sae.

Right on halftime, Wellington struck a blow for the home side by running in a long-range try and they went to halftime leading 14-12.

Manawatu struck first in the second spell and they were now ahead 17-14, before Wellington regained the lead with another breakout try. This was followed by another and at 28-17 up they were tasting success. Manawatu scored a consolation try at the end.

Previously, Wellington had run away in the second half to defeat Whanganui in their semi-final.

Highlights of the final below: