North Harbour and Auckland shape as likely finalists after an entertaining first day of the National Provincial Sevens rugby tournament in Queenstown yesterday. Both topped their pools with three wins in spectacular conditions at the Wakatipu Rugby Club.
North Harbour looked particularly ominous in thrashing South Canterbury 56-0, Southland 31-12and Hawke's Bay 31-7. The size of Harbour players Todd Clever and Craig Hudson was an obvious factor in their success but the field general was Joel Nasmith - a new name to watch on the sevens scene who scored a hat-trick.
North Harbour play Wellington in one quarter-final today and then seem likely to face Bay of Plenty in the semis.
Bay of Plenty were a hot tip before the tournament and managed to top their pool but were given serious frights by Northland, who they beat 15-14, and Waikato, 17-14.
Auckland entered the tournament without their coach, Eric Rush, who has been recovering from a blood clot, and with several new players. But the defending champions blitzed Taranaki and the Cantabrians before being given a fright by Otago in the last game of the day.
The dark horses are Counties-Manukau, coached by former All Black Joeli Vidiri, who beat Wellington 24-21 to top pool D and set up a likely semifinal spot.
Home sides Otago and Southland were part of two of the most entertaining games of the day. Otago needed to beat Taranaki to be assured of a top-eight place and fought back to lead 19-17 after being 0-17 down. But Otago kicked off straight into touch and Taranaki swept back down the field to score.
Southland were in a similar position against minnows South Canterbury before butchering a lead and giving the third division side an unexpected victory.
New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens was an interested spectator, and players like Lance MacDonald of Bay of Plenty, Fa'atonu Fili of Wellington and Aucklander Mana Ashford should have caught his attention.
