Brumbies sevens tournament a big success

Schools for across the Riverina converged on Wagga for the annual competition, with a number of schools bringing more than one team for each age group.

Schools from Wagga, Young, Cootamundra, Temora, Tumut, Yanco and Griffith came for the day-long carnival, but it was Griffith High that came out on top overall.

Griffith showed its strength in the faster version of the game, taking out the years 7/8 competition while also finishing second in the years 9/10 competition.

Griffith High scored a two-point victory in the younger age group, holding off a late comeback from Mater Dei Catholic College. 

The Griffith team went ahead early after scoring two early tries and despite the Wagga school scoring late to take the score to 14-12, the run out of time to continue their comeback.

Griffith High School’s Solomonia Toru was named player of the grand final in the years 7-8 decider. 

Griffith High couldn’t complete the double, falling by four points in the years 9/10 final.

In a see-sawing match against St Anne’s Central School Temora, the two teams went try for try but it was the Temora team who finished on top late and came away with a 26-21 win.

Brumbies development officer Seth Stoltenberg said the close finals didn’t follow trend set earlier in the day.

There were some big wins for teams in the group stages, but as the cream rose to the top some fantastic rugby sevens games were played.

The numbers were similar to last year’s tournament, however there was a girls event run.

Stoltenberg said there were a number of reasons for not having the girls event including a lack of interest and ground changes.

"The day went smoothly,” Stoltenberg said.

“It was about on par from last year, but we didn't have girls this year.

“We only had the two fields due to the re-sow on ground three and the girls weren’t too keen after last year.”

Injury concerns were another reason the girls events didn’t go ahead.

Junee High School was the only school to nominate a girls team, but they ended up pulling out of the event entirely.

Kildare Catholic College were the stars of the pool stages, but teams in both age groups failed to make the finals.

Finishing on top in both age divisions, Kildare’s years 7/8 team fell to eventual winners Griffith High in their semi-final, while the older team also lost to Griffith High in the semis.

The top four teams in each division will now progress to the play in the ACT years 7-10 finals to be played on April 1.