League: Wellington juniors upset Bulls

A junior Wellington side won the national sevens tournament at North Harbour yesterday, defeating an experienced Canterbury Bulls team 24-22.

Alehana Mara, 16, and Ben Taraeka, 17, were among those that starred for the capital's Bartercard team and they and 12 others will be rewarded with a trip to Sydney to compete in the St Marys International sevens tournament in Penrith next weekend - subject to having passports.

Hard work in pre-season paid off for Wellington.

Coach Paul Bergman has had 70 players in training for the under-16 and under-18 NJC teams and the Bartercard side since November 1.

"We start at 6am four days a week and the worst turnout we've had was 58 guys on a morning when it was persisting down," he said.

He rewarded the best trainers with the trip to Auckland and said the win would encourage competition for spots in the Bartercard team.

"We want to continue the momentum, the win reinforces the fact we're on the right track," he said.

The final was a torrid affair more reminiscent of the 13-a-side game than the touch alternative, as the Bulls tried to out-muscle their youthful Wellington opponents.

The Bulls had eliminated defending Bartercard champions Mt Albert in the play-offs while Wellington had accounted for an enthusiastic Geoff Morton-coached Northern Storm who are joining the Bartercard competition for the first time.

A Central Falcons player required abdominal surgery after suffering a spleen injury during the tournament's preliminary rounds on Saturday.

Counties-Manukau defeated Manurewa in the Plate competition for the second-ranked teams after round play and the Wellington provincial side defeated the Falcons for the Bowl for the third-ranked teams.