Two out of Two for North Harbour Clubs in Regional Interclub 7’s

  • April 10, 2022

North Harbour secured a notable double at the weekend when teams from two of the Centre’s clubs, Birkenhead and Takapuna, qualified for the national inter-club sevens finals in Wellington in October.

 Birkenhead won the men’s regional play-off at Browns Bay while Takapuna’s outstanding women’s players won through for the second consecutive season.

 In the men’s playoff Birkenhead drew with Point Chevalier (Auckland), and beat Onerahi (Northland) and Kaitaia RSA (Far North), surviving one unexpected setback when its Black Jack singles player Tony Grantham lost to Point Chevalier’s Alex Reed 21-3. Overall Birkenhead edged out Point Chevalier by 1 game point.

 But Grantham was at his best in the other rounds and there were solid performance for Evan Thomas and Daymon Pierson in the pairs and the four of Nigel Drew, Jack Huriwai, Martin Short and Mark Rumble.

 Takapuna qualified in the women’s competition ahead of Hikurangi (Northland), Royal Oak (Auckland) and Kerikeri (Far North). With three-nil wins in each of the first and second round matches against Hikurangi and Royal Oak did not need to play its third round match against Kerikeri.

 But its win was much more hard fought than the six out of six whitewash might suggest. There was a particularly tense battle with Hikurangi and coach-manager Graham Dorreen admitted rather than a 3-nil win the result could easily have been reversed.

 Selina Goddard won her singles match against Hikurangi Leanne Stewart 21-20 and at one stage trailed 13-1. Dorreen praised her for her recovery, saying it showed just how much mental strength the Black Jack international has.

 In the pairs against Hikurangi Lisa Dickson and Anne Dorreen only won 16-15 and the Takapuna four of Wendy Jensen (skip), Lauren Mills, Robyne Walker and Adele Ineson also just won 14-12.

 The second round against Royal Oak was more decisive, though the Jensen-skipped four again had to battle, winning by just 12-11.

 Indeed, the fact Takapuna had to show so much resolve to win this play-off was perhaps a tribute to the intense competition it has faced from other North Harbour clubs this season. For Takapuna also had to fight hard against clubs like Orewa and Mairangi Bay to even win the Harbour sevens and that proved an excellent preparation for the weekend’s regional play-off.