23 March, 2016

Speed and skill on show at inaugural Ella 7s

Rugby union teams from throughout NSW and the Northern Territory gathered in Coffs Harbour this month to compete in the inaugural Ella 7s tournament in Coffs Harbour.

The event attracted 36 teams boasting high-profile players including former Wallaby Andrew Walker, former Waratah and NRL player Nathan Blacklock, former Australian Rugby 7s player Tanisha Stanton and current squad member Mahalia Murphy.

The Skindogs won the men’s cup final with a comfortable 40-21 win over the South Coast Wanderers. The Redfern women’s side also scored a convincing 36-0 win over the Highlands in the Cup final.

“Every year the competition grows from strength to strength,” former Wallaby Glen Ella said.

“If there was a competition like this around in my day, I’m not sure how I’d fare. These fellas are flashy and fast, it’s some of the best 7s action I’ve seen.”

“It’s great to see some of our elite athletes come back and compete in such a tournament, we have a lot of younger men and women playing so it’s great for them to play with and against people that they admire and look up too.”

“The Ella 7s is also a great place for people that have never played rugby union before. Player of the tournament, Maurice Longbottom has never played union but his speed and natural ability was outstanding during the tournament”.

Results:

Men’s Final
Cup: Skindogs 40 def South Coast Wanderers 21
Shield: La Pa Bummers 45 def Team of the Century 0
Bowl: Redfern All Blacks 38 def Clarence Valley Dolphins 7
Plate: Anaiwan 31 def Pindarri 12

Women’s Final
Cup: Redfern 36 def Highlanders 0
Shield: Cabbage Tree Island 5 def Nambucca Valley Jindas 0
Bowl: Barbarians 32 def Lower Clarence Magpies Doobs 0
Plate: Mindaribba 41 def Toomelah – Boggabilla 5

(IMAGES: Facebook)