Ories and HOBM Eagles unbeaten after first leg of American Ambassador’s series

General crowd scene as seen from tournament headquarters at Mary Crowther Park on Saturday.

Oriental-Rongotai and Hutt Old Boys Marist are the two unbeaten teams in the men’s division at the conclusion of the first of two Wellington club rugby sevens tournaments, played at Wainuiomata’s Mary Crowther Park on Saturday.

But the Upper Hutt Rams could hold the key to series victory for either of these sides, or others such as Marist St Pat’s and two-time defending champions Paremata-Plimmerton who are just behind after losing to Ories.

The Rams weren’t at this week’s first tournament so can’t win the series, but they host leg two at Trentham Memorial Park next Saturday and have the firepower to upset the apple cart next weekend should they enter.

Jubilee Cup 15s champions HOBM won all their games on their side of the draw.

But the Eagles also didn’t play either the Magpies or Paremata-Plimmerton on the opening day.

HOBM’s wins were over Petone (35-12), Wainuiomata (31-7), Tawa (22-12) and the Wellington Axemen (24-5),

The Eagles are unbeaten after leg one, but don’t play Ories and Paremata-Plimmerton until next week.

In the last round before lunch, Ories beat Paremata-Plimmerton 20-14 in one of the day’s big results.

Ories’ other wins were over Old Boys University (27-17), Northern United (38-7) and Wellington Axemen (36-7).

The points on offer from this tournament were as follows: 20 (first), 18 (second), 16 (third), 14 (fourth), 12 (fifth), 10 (sixth), 8 (seventh), 6 (eighth), 4 (ninth), 3 (10^th), 2 (11^th), 1 (12^th).

Paremata-Plimmerton won all their other matches, including beating Marist St Pat’s 26-20, but MSP are sitting in third ahead of them based on bonus points.

Based on the above, the tournament series points after the first week were:

Ories 20
HOBM 18
MSP 16
Pare-Plim 14
Tawa 12
Wellington 10
Petone 8
Avalon 6
Wainuiomata 4
Norths 3
OBU 2
Stokes Valley 1

Jake Lawson made a number of telling breaks, but OBU are out of contention next week.

The Avalon men’s team in their halftime huddle.

Tawa’s Cliff Hunt in clean air against MSP.

In the women’s section six teams lined up, including visiting Manawatu team 7up who were there for a bit of fun by their own admission, but fielded some Hurricanes Poua players and they won all five games. Their wins were over Petone in their first game of the morning (21-17), Old Boys University (24-5), Norths (33-10), the Wellington Axewomen (48-0) and Wainuiomata (32-10). They confirmed they are not returning next week, and are not eligible to win the title anyway.

A number of both men’s and women’s teams fielded guest players in their ranks, including the Northern United women’s side that had some Ories players including Black Fern Ayesha Leti-L’iga.

On the final play of the day she was involved in a play that could have ramifications for the Eleanor Roosevelt Trophy next week, choosing to pass inside to a player who knocked on two metres in front of the posts. If the proven attacking weapon had reached out and scored the try herself this match would have likely finished 21-21 instead of 21-14 to Petone.

The home side’s women’s team scored a number of entertaining tries.

Northern United’s Arene Landon-Lane set things alight for her side.

The Women’s points table is:

7UP 20
Petone 18
Norths 16
OBU 14
Wainuiomata 12
Wellington 10

The tournament ran smoothly with no issues, barring a few injuries and the waiting ambulance staff being involved at least once and too many players not wearing mouthguards, which could be policed on a different day.

Full results: https://xplorer.rugby/american-ambassador-7s

Confirmed teams and draw and tournament details for the second weekend to be confirmed by the WRFU during the week.