The Avoca Mixed 7s was another cracker despite only a few teams signing up to this year’s event due to exams and other commitments! Did you know this event has been going since 2012! We might have to resurrect the stats…

With only 5 teams competing, the Panthers found the going tough against teams with players half their age; but they battled well and only just lost out to Dgrogans 3-5 in their opening duel. Low Expectations held off Bomb Squad to claim a narrow 3-2 victory but then came undone against the reigning Champions the Bens losing 1-3. The Bens were in cruise control as they came into their final group game with 3 wins but Bomb Squad managed a scalp of their own and earned a 3-2 victory and with Low Expectations winning as expected against the Panthers; it was a three horse race for the title with all sides 3 wins and a defeat. After double checking the scores, The Bens would meet Low Expectations and due to fewer goals scored, Bomb Squad missed out on the final and had to make do with 3rd place as Dgrogans conceded defeat.

The sun came out for the final and a special thanks to Ben Geoghegan who umpired 5 group games and the big match. The Bens scored early in the 1st half only for Zack Waters to equalise for Low Expectations towards the end of the half. The match was ebbing and flowing and as time ticked on, it looked like the game was going to be settled by a shoot-off. With the score board in action and counting down the seconds all eyes were on the game; another special thank you to Jeff Jones for installing the fantastic scoreboard. With seconds remaining, captain Ben Marnell picked up the ball in his own half and jinked past a defender and with one to beat, he pushed his effort homeward bound to win the game with 2 seconds on the clock!!! Amazing stuff… we’ll certainly have higher expectations of low expectations next year and look forward to doing it all again then!

The Avoca Mixed vets 7s took part at Newpark on Saturday 11th May. 4 teams signed up for this year’s inaugural event and with glorious weather is was a super day out. After watering the pitch, competitive half-pitches matches ensued with plenty of good laughs in-between! The All Blacks, who changed their kit from black to white due to the sun, claimed the title beating the Panthers in the final winning 5-2; although the game was a lot closer than it seems as Ferg equalised to make it 2-2 midway through the second half. Sex-kak beat the Winners 5-1 in the 3rd place…

Refreshments went down exceedingly well in the Wishing Well post-tourni and plans are afoot to run a similar event again soon!