Best sevens ever

JOEL RITCHIE

THIS year’s Kiama Rugby Sevens were one of the best on record, according to Kiama Rugby Club president Mark Bryant.

A crowd equal to any Bryant had ever seen at the sevens were treated to glorious weather, spectacular on field action and entertainment, at Kiama Showground and Chittick Oval.

“It was one of the best we have had with the weather, the crowd and the standard of football,” he said.

“Everything went well; the committee did a really good job.”

Securing teams from 48 different rugby clubs and organisations was the only thing Kiama Rugby Club would have to improve for 2009, Bryant said.

“We had to double up with a few clubs; we would really like to have 48-different groups here in 2009,” he said.

Manly denied Gordon back-to-back Kiama Rugby Sevens titles with a 41-7 win in the final.

The Highlanders scored within the first 30 seconds of the match but didn’t get another look-in as Phil Blake’s side ran in try after try to secure the major prize.

Randwick A defeated Queanbeyan A 29-17 in the plate final.

Queanbeyan B defeated defending champions Shamrocks 14-12 in the Country Cup decider.

The Illawarra Academy of Sport’s rugby union squad played the NSW Waratah Academy side in an entertaining 10-a-side fixture before the division finals.

Kiama’s hopes for a trophy at their home tournament were dashed thanks to a 17-12 loss to Randwick B in the first round of the plate knockout.

The tournament hosts started their campaign with a 22-19 win over Leichhardt Juniors.

However, Kiama’s hopes of winning their first Kiama Rugby Sevens title for 33 years ended with a 36-nil loss to Southern Districts.

More than 60 volunteers were at Kiama Showground and Chittick Oval on the day, with 15 helping clean up on Sunday.