Rugby: Fomai sets stage for Sevens

OutKast Sports players and supporters celebrate back to back Hawke's Bay premier rugby league grand final wins after Saturday's 40-10 victory against Napier Panthers in Hastings. Photo / Paul Taylor

Don't be surprised if Tivaini Fomai takes the field at the national Sevens tournament for a sixth season in January.

The former Manu Samoa 15s representative and Hawke's Bay Magpies rep proved he is on track for another summer of Sevens with a player-of-the-match display on Saturday.

Optimise Physio OutKast Sports retained their Hawke's Bay rugby league premier grand final title with a convincing 40-10 win against Napier Pirate Panthers at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings on Saturday.

Fomai, 28, who was sidelined for the first seven months of this year with an Achilles injury scored three tries and had a huge defensive workrate.

"It was just a case of being in the right place at the right time. The other boys did the hard work and I just snuck up when we were five metres from the tryline," the always humble Fomai said referring to his hat-trick.

"I think I've done all I can at Magpies level. But providing I can stay injury free I would like to have another summer of Sevens and then go hard out for Hastings Rugby and Sports during the club rugby season. I owe Hastings that after missing most of this year for them and it would be good to have a crack at another Maddison Trophy final after playing in three losing finals," Fomai explained.

As the score suggests, hooker Fomai and his teammates outclassed the Panthers on Saturday. Fomai and fellow former Magpies Jamie Muir and Peniasi Tokakece made easy metres up the middle.

Samoa World Cup Sevens player Tom Iosefo at scrumhalf, fullback Johnny Robin and substitute back 17-year-old Ashton Robinson, were all classy in the winning backline. Robinson, who was playing alongside his 35-year-old father and recipient of 10 winners medals at this level, Jason Robinson, displayed his tremendous pace on the way to two tries.

"Considering we've never had a full contingent at trainings this season ... I think we had 10 players at the most at one this week it was a good effort from the boys," Fomai added.

Panthers had enough possession and territory to stage a competitive comeback with the wind behind them in the second half after trailing 20-0 at the interval. However insufficient completions and soft turnovers including a couple in their red zone proved costly.

"Yes, we didn't have enough completions and those turnovers let us down at crucial times," Panthers captain Matt Martin said.

"We've got a good mix of union and league players in our team and we'll be back for another crack next year," he added.

Hooker Matt Hill, secondrower Reon Watts and backrower Jono Culshaw had massive workrates in the Panthers pack.

The reserve grade final saw Omahu Huia recover from a 10-0 deficit to pip Hastings Rugby and Sports 12-10. Tamatea maintained their monopoly on the women's title with a 30-22 win over MAC.

Hawke's Bay Tuis rugby representatives Shaylee Tipiwai and Kate Bradshaw scored two tries each for Tamatea while the promising Tori Lauvao-Araia scored two for MAC.