It was a Counties Manukau bonanza in Rotorua yesterday as Counties Manukau lifted both the men's and women's titles at the national provincial sevens tournament.
The men edged Waikato 14-7 in a pulsating Cup final, but it was no more dramatic than the women's 24-17 Cup final victory over Manawatu, handing the union its first women's provincial sevens title and capping an extraordinary three months for the union. Both champion teams came together for an impromptu celebratory dance after the presentations.
Women's coach Davida White and most of her team achieved a notable double after winning the Farah Palmer Cup for the first time in October, while the union's Under 19s won the Championship section of the Jock Hobbs Memorial U19 tournament, while the senior men reached the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership semifinals.
The Counties Manukau men, well led by playmakers Vuga Tagicakibau, who scored their first try in the decider, and Jonathan Taumateine, utilised their speed and X-factor in Sherwin Stowers and Sione Molia to record their second successive Cup victory and fifth in all. The drizzle called for physicality and tactical nous and they delivered, but only after Waikato, led by former All Black Zac Guildford, had raced to a 7-0 via Sevu Reece, one of several to turn heads over the two days with his speed and skill.
The Joe Tauiwi Memorial trophy for the tournament MVP went to Tasman's Andrew Knewstubb, but others to impress were Hawke's Bay's Mason Emerson and Auckland's Joe Ravouvou.
