The Lakes Rugby Club hosted its ninth annual Sevens By The Sea tournament on Saturday, February 4, at Slade Park, Budgewoi, with Avoca taking the two major wins of the day.
This year was the biggest ever tournament, with 16 senior men’s teams and eight women’s teams competing for more than $6,000 in prize money and the chance to claim the Arthur “ Loopy” Wilson memorial trophy in a big day of Rugby 7’s.
Teams came from far and wide for the day with most Central Coast Rugby Clubs involved, along with teams from Hunter Rugby, Sydney Sub-Districts and Kiama (2022 winners).
There were 24 teams in total on the day, with around 340 players.
Games started at 7.45am and finished after the men’s final at 6pm with 47 games all-up including the finals.
The women’s division semi-finals saw Terrigal beat the The Lakes and Avoca defeat Briars to claim a finals spot.
The men’s semi finals saw a close battle between The Lakes and Merewether result in a win for Merewether following extra time and Avoca defeat last year’s winners, Kiama, to earn a finals berth.
The women’s final saw Avoca take the win over Terrigal 28-17, and Avoca won the men’s final against Merewether 12-5.
It was the first time Avoca claimed winner trophies at the Sevens By The Sea tournament and the first time any club has won both the men’s and women’s titles in the same year.
Major sponsor Bendigo Community Bank, Wyong Branch, provided a grant of $3,000, which paid for shirts gifted to referees, officials and volunteers and helped towards the total prize money.
Mexicoast Cantina at Toukley donated dinner vouchers for the men’s and women’s players of the day and to the referees who officiated both finals games and My Sports Tape donated sports bags and free strapping tape vouchers to men’s and women’s champions.
Next year will see the 10th Anniversary of the tournament in what has become a signature event on not only the Central Coast Rugby calendar, but the Central Coast sporting calendar as well.
Source:
Media release, Feb 6
Sevens by the Sea