The Panther Rugby Academy capped off four National Youth Rugby 7s wins in a row over the weekend, capping off an astonishing run for the coaching staff and the veteran players.
This year's group was a mix of veterans and newcomers to the Panther Academy, with Andrew Ryan and Jake Orefice garnering their fourth titles, and Wyatt Appleton, Elijah Pimental, and Trace Snellman claining their third and second.
This year also gave PRA players Uate Pifeleti and Seon Kumar a second bite at the apple, as they had lost in OT last year in the Championship match as U16s.
The remainder of the squad was built through the Panther's growth out west with four players from California. Amosa Segai and Timoci Baikeirewa joined from SAC Air, Andrew Takapautolo from EPA Razorbacks, and Zion Vaea from Granite Bay Rugby Club.
This group was once again led by the coaching duo of Gary Anderson (University of Kentucky) and David Katz (Former NYAC, USMC). They have been with some of these players since U14s.
Day 1 Pool Play saw the side start fast but go down a man in the first match when Orefice was injured. He would not return until the second half of the semifinal on Saturday.
The remaining ten players took up the mantle, with Snellman, Appleton, Amosa, and Vaea, leading the way with several fourteen-minute shifts each.
The entire squad came through with instant and electric offense led by Takapautolo, Pifeleti, Kumar, Pimental and Ryan. On the weekend every player scored, and several boys had multi-try matches. Vaea was dynamic in the air all weekend giving PRA several extra possessions off the restarts kicked by Snellman and Pifeleti.
