Tuesday, November 28, 2017
OPOTIKI’S Luka Connor plays for Bay of Plenty at the Cambridge Provincial Union Sevens Tournament on Saturday. Photo Bay of Plenty Rugby
BOTH of Bay of Plenty teams made the top four of their competitions at the Cambridge Provincial Union Sevens Tournament on Saturday.
However, neither the Bay men’s or women’s team were able to reach the final. The Bay of Plenty women’s team, which included Opotiki’s Luka Connor, were beaten 21-5 by Counties Manukau in their semi-final.
Connor played at loosehead prop for the championship-winning Volcanix team this year, and was the top try scorer in both the championship and premier competitions.
The Bay reached the semi-final after beating Auckland 17-0, Hokkaido 47-12 and North Harbour 21-12.
The men’s team lost 24-14 to Waikato Black in their semi-final. They were beaten by Waikato Red 17-5 in the first game of the day but blanked Poverty Bay and Taranaki before beating Auckland 38-14 to make the play-offs.
Provincial sevens teams will compete in regional events as they aim to be a part of the national sevens tournament in Rotorua on January 13.
Counties Manukau won both national titles in January this year.