Guam plate runners-up (Sixth) in Asian Women’s Sevens

The Guam Women’s Rugby Sevens team  can hold their heads high after stunning a number of more established Asian rugby nations to finish runners up in the plate competition (sixth place) at the  I.R.B. Asian Women’s Sevens tournament held last weekend in Pattaya Thailand.

Guam entered the tournament ranked number 10 out of 10 countries in the championship division with Asian rugby superpowers China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Kazakhstan all looking to be crowned the best women’s sevens team in Asia.  The tournament also featured a development division with a further 4 nations competing.   Guam was drawn in Pool B with the powerful Chinese and Hong Kong teams as well as the seasoned international Singapore side and new comers Uzbekistan.  

Guam opened the tournament against the experienced Hong Kong side.   Tries by Tallada and Haldre Rogers with one conversion by Stephanie Taguacta saw Guam tie the match 12-12 and gain two valuable competition points.

As conditions warmed up, so did the competition and Guam’s second match was against the strong Chinese side.   Guam had not played China before but was well aware of their ability.  Guam played hard in the hot conditions but fell to the superior strength and size of the Chinese women 29-0.  

Tournament newcomers  Uzbekistan were a big strong team who ran hard but Guam did not take a step back, running with speed and strength before going down 10-7.  Nina Peck and Haldre Rogers played well with Tiffany Tallada scoring a try which was converted by Stephanie Taguacta.

Guam last match of day one against Singapore would determine whether we would proceed to the cup quarter-finals.  Guam stepped up a notch in miserable wet conditions and with tries by Stephanie Taguacta,  Kayla Taguacta and Haldre Rogers all converted by Stephanie Taguacta, dominated the game and won 21-0 to take third place overall in Pool B.

Day two saw Guam play take on Pool A second place getter Kazakhstan.  Kazakhstan was just too big and strong for Guam and came out winning 29-0 to put Guam in to the plate competition.

The plate semi-final was against Chinese Taipei. The game was played with tremendous intensity as each side was looking to advance to the final but Guam was able to withstand the pressure and win 15- 5 with unconverted tries by Cera Taguacta, Haldre Rogers and Tiffany Tallada.

The plate final saw Guam face up against old adversaries, Arabian Gulf.  In their previous encounter in Hong Kong Sevens in March, the Arabian Gulf team had proved too big and too strong for Guam winning 26-0.  This time it would be different.  Guam started well with an excellent try by Cera Taguacta which was converted by sister Stephanie.  The Arabian Gulf replied with an unconverted try and Guam looked to be heading for another upset but well earned victory.  Unfortunately, with only a minute to go, a bad bounce favored the Arabian Gulf and they picked up the loose ball and ran the length of the field to score under the posts.  The final result; a heart wrenching 7-12 loss for Guam.

Coach Willie Hetaraka was justifiably pleased with the ladies performance over the weekend and attributed this, in large part,  to the increased emphasis the team had placed on fitness and conditioning since the Hong Kong Women’s tournament in March. “These girls have the ability, speed and a passion for playing this game at the international level.   What they lack in physical stature, they more than make up for with sheer determination and pride.  They have come together to show Asian rugby that we are a team to be reckoned with and Guam has now passed Hong Kong,  Chinese Taipei and Singapore in the Asian Women’s sevens rankings.”

Guam Rugby Union President Stephen Grantham is ecstatic about this result.  “While it would have been great to have won the plate competition and bring home some silverware, we are extremely happy with the performance of these young women.  We have set a goal for the team in relation to the 2009 East Asian Games to be held in Hong Kong in December and are marshalling our resources behind these young women to help them achieve that goal.  Their results in the Hong Kong Women’s Sevens in March and again here show that our faith in their ability and commitment to Guam rugby is well justified.”

Detailed Guam match results

Day 1
Hong Kong	12		12	Guam
China	29		0	Guam
Guam	7		10	Uzbekistan
Singapore	0		21	Guam
Day 2
Quarterfinals
Kazakhstan	31		5	Guam
Plate Semi Final
Guam	15		5	Chinese Taipei
Plate Final
Arabian Gulf	12		7	Guam

Click images to enlarge

Text courtesy : Stephen Grantham