Tasman denied by late Otago try in South Island sevens final
Some Jesse Pitman magic, a Te Puoho Stephens hat-trick and spirited fight-back couldn't quite propel Tasman to the Southern regional sevens title after ending the final on a heart-breaking note.
Leading 27-24 with just seconds remaining at Alpine Stadium in Timaru on Saturday evening, all the Turf Hotel Tasman men's side had to do was regain possession from their own kickoff and kick the ball out.
However, a slick Otago side were able to run their way near the tryline and the continued phases and the constant pressure eventually took its toll on the tiring Tasman defence, allowing Thomas Johnson to break through a gap and dive over near the posts to score the game-winning try after the hooter had sounded.
The final score was 29-27.
Gary Stevens, who was the assistant coach for both men's and women's teams, said while it was pleasing to secure qualification to the national tournament on the back of their top five finish, the team was still gutted to leave Timaru without some silverware considering they came within seconds of winning the tournament.
"That's the game though and you have to play to every second. It's a game where opportunities create themselves and you either have to take them or defend them," Stevens said.
"The main objective was to qualify for nationals, but after the first two games we had done that so our attention turned to winning the thing, and they were obviously disappointed at the end but happy to achieve the outcome."
Tasman showed plenty of attacking prowess in the final - even without star winger Viliami Lolohea who had succumb to an injury during their 38-12 win over Mid Canterbury in the semifinal - with Pitman and Stephens the pick of the Tasman players throughout the tournament decider, while forwards Tone Ng Shiu and Shannon Frizell were also able to showcase their strong ball-running attributes.
Despite losing to Otago 31-0 in their semifinal, the Turf Hotel Tasman women's team are also guaranteed a place at the national tournament.
Tasman beat a poor South Canterbury side twice, including their emphatic 64-0 win in the third-fourth playoff to grab the final qualification spot.
The successful Canterbury women's team, who beat Otago 22-17 in the final, featured former Tasman players Sam and Taylor Curtis.
The national tournament will be held in Rotorua on December 16 and 17.
