By Stu Piddington

The South Canterbury men's sevens rugby side qualified for the national tournament despite only winning one game at the regional South Island tournament in Timaru on Saturday.

The side will head to Tauranga later this month after squeaking through on a countback.

An emphatic 36-12 win over Mid Canterbury in their final game meant the home side joined Mid Canterbury and Southland in a three-way tie for fourth with one win from five games.

JOHN BISSET/STUFF

South Canterbury's James Wilson-Bishop hangs on to Tasman's Jimmy Tabaleka during a match at the South Island rugby sevens tournament in Timaru.

Mid Canterbury had earlier upset Southland 17-12 to put the pressure on South Canterbury but they responded brilliantly

With five of the six tournament teams qualifying for the nationals, officials went to the calculators to decide final positions on points differential, with Southland fourth and South Canterbury fifth to grab the last spot.

South Canterbury were competitive in most games and showed plenty of heart, losing 21-5 to Tasman and 21-14 to Otago, in a game they could have won. They also lost 33-21 to Southland but were only being beaten by 10 points, 22-12, by eventual champions Canterbury.

South Canterbury's Kalavini Leatagaga attempts to get the ball from Tasman's Stein Schreiber during a match at the South Island sevens rugby tournament in Timaru.

South Canterbury was captained by Kalavini Leatigaga and featured six players from the Lochore Cup winning side including James Wilson-Bishop, Miles Medlicott, Clarence Moli, Siu Kakala and Anthony Amato.

Forwards Amato and Kakala put in big performances and big minutes while Medlicott showed a cool head guiding the backline. Wilson-Bishop showed a big heart in defence while 37-year-old Nate Robinson showed plenty of nous.

Robinson was a late call-up to the side on Thursday, 20 years after he first debuted in the South Canterbury sevens side as a schoolboy.

JOHN BISSET/STUFF

The South Canterbury team head onto the field for a match against Tasman at the South Island sevens rugby tournament in Timaru.

The balance of the side included Desmond Dillon, Inoke Naufahu, Hateni Tafolo, Etienne Van Zyl and and Polutele Soape. Van Zyl also impressed until an injury ended his day.

Canterbury's title win also needed a countback. Otago had the chance to win outright if they beat Tasman in the final round but lost 15-10, leaving a three-way tie.

Unfortunately Tasman officials however miscalculated the points differential, which led to the team kicking the ball out against Otago from an attacking penalty to finish the game. Any sort of score in the last play of the game would have handed them the title.

STU PIDDINGTON/SUPPLIED

The winning Canterbury side with Tofa Afoa Shield at the South Island sevens rugby tournament in Timaru.

Canterbury finished on top in the closest of finishes with a points differential of 50, Tasman 49 and Otago 48.

Canterbury featured former teenage South Canterbury loan player Rico Syme.

Canterbury captain Daniel Fransen was delighted to be taking the Tofa Afia Shield home.

JOHN BISSET/STUFF

Tasman's Graham Urquhart is hoisted high to try and win possession against South Canterbury during the South Island sevens rugby tournament in Timaru.

"I don't know how long it is since we have won, we are not the biggest side but we have shown a lot of ticker.

"The boys fronted up well."

* Meanwhile, Timaru Boys' High School's sevens side is playing off for ninth to 16th at the Condor national schools tournament in Auckland.

In pool play they managed an impressive 27-19 win over Howick, with Jimmy Robertson scoring a hat trick.

No other South Island school made the top 16.

Article added: Monday 02 December 2019