The heat was on to crown the champion Lions sevens team, the title which was eventually taken away by UJ, after 94 games were played over the two days.
UJ seniors, captained by Zain Janse van Rensburg, outplayed Pirates in the final, the team which eliminated Alberton seniors by 14-7 in their semi-final clash. UJ was also victorious in the junior division, after a final victory over Wits, which ousted Alberton 14-10 in the junior semi-final.
The big tournament kicked off the past Saturday in the same rainy weather conditions as last year, with the A-Square Forklifts Alberton senior and junior teams, in action in the first games as the initial openers as per the programme, were cancelled.
Alberton juniors started on a winning note with a 28-0 victory over Jabulani, and Alberton seniors won 12-5, also against Jabulani. The tune for what to come the weekend was set by UJ, with great victories of 48-5 seniors and 42-0 for the juniors, both over Harlequins.
Eventually Alberton seniors won their entire group and quarter final games by defeating Stingers Midrand 40-0, Diggers 38-0, Kagiso 40-0, and in the eliminator prior to the semi-finals, neighbouring club Germiston Simmer 19-5. Alberton juniors were also victorious up to the semi-finals, with victories over Stingers Midrand 34-0, Alexandra 28-0, Kagiso 40-0 and in the quarter-final 12-7 against Harlequins.
The final category winners as it will go into the record books were:
* Cup: Seniors: UJ and runners-up Pirates. Juniors: UJ and runners-up Wits.
* Plate: Seniors: Germiston-Simmer and runners-up UJ “B”. Juniors: Raiders and runners-up Police. Bowl: Seniors: Wits and runners-up Union. *Juniors: Pirates and runners-up Simmer.
This sevens tournament was the rare highlight of the weekend for Alberton sport fans, after both the Super Lions rugby and the Protea cricket teams lost dismally.
Unfortunately, it was the last sevens rugby tournament at Alberton for at least the next two years, as the 2016 and 2017 tournaments will be hosted by Pirates at Greenside.
In his closing address A-Square Forklifts Alberton Manie Reyneke expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to the sponsors, without which this one highlight on the Alberton rugby calendar won’t be possible. .
