Media Release - 4 January 2010

Bay of Plenty thrilled the home crowd at the Bay Engineers Supplies/Hose Supplies Rugby Sevens Tournament played at Blake Park Mount Maunganui on Sunday (3 January 2010) with their first tournament victory.

The Bay of Plenty Provincial Sevens, which attracted teams from the length of the North Island, was played out in front of a large crowd at the popular holiday venue.

The deciding game, in what has become the North Island Rugby Sevens championship, was fought out between defending champions Counties Manukau and Bay of Plenty.

The two sides made the final in contrasting circumstances. Counties ran away from Hawkes Bay in their semi-final to post a 31-5 victory, while Bay of Plenty had a good battle with a game Northland before prevailing 14-5.

Counties made the early running in the championship decider to lead 19-14 at the break. A Matt Hodson touchdown soon after the spell put the Bay side in front. While Counties came back with a converted try, the remainder of the second spell belong to the home team, who ran in three further tries to take hold of the trophy 38-26.

Bay skipper Ruki Tipuna led from the front, jinking his way past opposition players throughout the day. Matt Hodson announced his return from injury with two touchdowns, while Sam Cane who is one of the rising Bay stars also dotted down.

Counties player Sherwin Stowers, who topped the days try tally showed his class with two touchdowns in the final, while Siale Piutau and Bundi Aki also dotted down for the runner-up.

The Consolation final was a battle of attrition between Waikato and Wellington. The Waikato side posted their first try late in the first half - and then scored a second in the second spell to grind out a 10 nil victory.

The icing on the cake for the Bay of Plenty supporters was provided when the Bay of Plenty Invitation team took out the Plate final 34-28 against Taranaki.

2010 BOP Provincial Sevens Results
Bay of Plenty 38 (Matt Hodson 2, Scott Curry, Ruki Tipuna, Zion Nordstrom, Sam Cane tries; Tipuna 4con) Counties-Manukau 26 (Sherwin Stowers 2, Siale Piutau, Bundi Aki tries; Stowers 2con, Kaino Kaino con). HT: 14-19.

Semi-Finals: Bop 14 Northland 5; Counties Manukau 31 Hawkes Bay 5.
Consolation Final: Waikato 10 Wellington 0.
Plate Final: BOP Invitation 34 Taranaki 28.

For further information contact:
Mike Rogers BOPRU Operations Manager
07 927 1316 029 478 4292