National U19 Tournament: Day Three coverage

Above: Waikato celebrating their win at the National U19 tournament in Taupo today. Photo by Dave Lintott Photography 

UPDATE 2: Waikato are the Premiership Graham Mourie Cup final champions and Counties Manukau are the  Championship Michael Jones Trophy winners at the conclusion of the third annual National U19 tournament in Taupo today.

Day Three results at a glance:

15th v 16th: Heartland XV 32 - Southland 5

13th v 14th: North Harbour 27 - Northland 0

11th v 12th: Tasman 32 - Hawke's Bay 20

9th v 10th (Michael Jones Trophy Final): Counties Manukau (35) - Bay of Plenty (20)

7th v 8th: Auckland B 29 - Taranaki 27

5th v 6th: Otago 13 - Manawatu 13 - Match tied up at fulltime and at end of extra time, so Otago declared winnrs as they outscored Manawatu two tries to one

3rd v 4th: Wellington 31 - Canterbury 24

1st v 2nd (Graham Mourie Trophy Final): Waikato (25) - Auckland (22)

Waikato (25) v Auckland (22)

Waikato: 25 (Luke Jacobson try; Matthew Lansdown 6 pen, 1 con) Auckland: 22 (Jerry Samania, Loketi Manu, Charles Napa’a tries; Wiseguy Faiane 1 con 1 pen, Oliver Polson 1 con)

Waikato have won the Graham Mourie Cup to be crowned the National Under-19 champions. Waikato are the third different winner after Wellington in 2014 and Canterbury last year.

Despite being outscored three tries to one, Waikato never trailed as first five-eighth Matthew Lansdown punished Auckland ill-discipline by kicking a record six penalties.

Waikato, as they did in the semi-final, started aggressively and with polish to construct a 16-0 lead in as many minutes. No.8 and captain Luke Jacobson scored a try in the third minute receiving an inside pass from fullback Sam Toa. Waikato had built seven phases, changing angles swiftly to outflank the Auckland defence.

Auckland first five-eighth Oliver Polson missed two chances to open his sides account. Lansdown was on target three times from more than 40-metres.

Auckland's lineout was the strongest facet of their game. Locks Jacob Pierce and Samuel Slade combined to steal five Waikato throws and the drive produced two tries. In the 19th minute Jerry Samania rumbled over for a converted try to make it 16-7. Unfortunately the prop would be yellow carded in the 31st minute which allowed Lansdown to slot another penalty.

The first twenty minutes of the second-spell was a stalemate. Each side traded penalties to make the score 22-10. In the 58th minute Wesley Tamiefuna livened up proceedings when he soared to catch a high-kick and surged into the Waikato 22. A few rucks later reserve first-five Wiseguy Faiane grubbered ahead for Loketi Manu to snaffle and score. Manu had a strong game for Auckland with his lack of mercy on defense being particularly eye-catching.

Waikato kicked the ball out on the full from the re-start. From the halfway scrum openside Du’plessis Kirifi won a penalty isolating halfback Harry Saker after a messy transfer between eight and nine. Lansdown raised the flags again and despite another try from a lineout drive, Auckland ran out of time.

Kirifi was the player of the final. He won pivotal turnovers with his low body position and combative defence. He also carried with gusto and was dramatically denied a try in the 46th minute when rundown after a 35-metre charge by Dalton Papali’i.

Jacobson won the Sir John Graham Medal as the player of the tournament. The New Zealand U20's representative had another solid outing. Despite his wayward lineout throwing hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho was busy and abrasive as was loosehead Ryan Coxon and lock Sam Caird.

Lansdown finished the tournament as the leading scorer with 51 points.

Counties Manukau (35) - Bay of Plenty (20)

Counties Manukau: 35 (Viliami Taulani 2, Salimoni Tukania 2 tries; Orbyn Leger 3 con, 3 pen) Bay of Plenty: 20 (Sami Veikoso, Paea Lavaka tries; Reece MacDonald 2 pen 2 con)

Counties Manukau have successfully defended the Michael Jones Trophy defeating Bay Of Plenty 35-20 in the final.

Early in the second half the contest was in the balance when the lead changed hands four times. Trailing 12-10 at halftime, Reece MacDonald nudged Bay of Plenty 13-12 ahead with a 30-meter penalty.

In the 50th minute Counties bounced back when destructive No.8 Viliami Taulani piggybacked a forceful scrum to dot down for a second time. Bay of Plenty responded instantly when Taulani's opposite Paea Lavaka burrowed over from a lineout maul. MacDonald nailed the sideline conversion to make it 20-19 to Bay of Plenty.

However Counties' composure in the last quarter was superior. Ledger kicked three penalties in six minutes to make it 28-20 and in the 64th minute Salimoni Tukania completed a brace of tries. The centre kicked ahead for himself and regathered in a thrilling 55-metre attack.

Earlier Taulani was the central figure. He scored an 85-metre try barging off multiple defenders and then stormed 25-meters to create space for Tukania to fetch his first after 20 minutes.

Despite being outsized Bay of Plenty showed plenty of resolve. Reserve prop Sami Veikoso twisted over in the 26th minute for a converted try to make the score 12-7. Bay of Plenty won the possession and territory count comfortably in the first spell, but Counties always appeared to have more ammunition.

Prop Jessie Williams, openside Angus McDonald, second-five Brad Armstrong and fullback Josh Honey played with distinction for Bay of Plenty.

Taulani and Tukania were obvious standouts for Counties and Ledger stood up when it counted.

Wellington (31) - Canterbury (24) 

Wellington: 31 (Alex Fidow 2, Folau Vea, Isaiah Walker-Leawere tries; Kemara Hauiti-Parapara 4 con 1 pen) Canterbury: 24 (Corey Taylor, Tom Christie, Will Jordon tries; Josh McKay 3 con, 1 pen)

A powerhouse performance by New Zealand U20's prop Alex Fidow has inspired a come from behind win by Wellington in the playoff for third.

Down 17-3 at halftime and 24-17 with 10 minutes to play, Wellington secured an improbable victory five minutes into extra time when lock Isaiah Walker-Leawere muscled over after 10 phases.

The brute force of Fidow triggered the rally. In the 45th minute Canterbury conceded four penalties in a row and Wellington launched an attack inside the 22. Three carries by Fidow resulted in a try after a patient build up.

In the 55th minute Wellington levelled the scores when Walker-Leawere caught the ball from a lineout at the 22. He shaped to establish a drive, but instead pivoted and dummied deceiving the Canterbury defence. Folu Vea made the most of the open space to cross the chalk. The reserve flanker's bustle was another key ingredient in Wellington's revival.

In the 58th minute Canterbury reclaimed the lead when illusive fullback Will Jordon evaded four defenders on his way to the line, but Fidow answered three minutes later when he dragged four hapless red and blacks with him to the goal line.

In the first-half Wellington won the ruck and maul count 64-23, but conceded 11 turnovers as they struggled to find direction in their attack.

In the second minute Canterbury opened the scoring when Jordon burst onto a short ball from first-five Josh McKay and dashed into space. Jordon impressively alluded Peter Umaga-Jensen, but steeped in touch on his way to the try line. From the five-meter lineout Ben Power overthrew for Wellington and Canterbury snaffled possession. Five rucks later and halfback Corey Taylor sneaked over in the corner. McKay kicked the sideline conversion and it was 7-0.

Wellington put together a game-high 22 phases and prop Sitiveni Paongo was denied a try for obstruction.

In the 25th minute, Canterbury won stable scrum ball on halfway and centre Braydon Ennor put Jordon in space. Jordon linked with second-five Raymond Nu'u who put Tom Christie in for his fourth try of the tournament.

The Canterbury loose forward trio of Christie, No.8 John Borland and blindside Siua Maile outplayed their opposites. All three worked feverishly on defense and pilfered vital turnovers, despite infrequently and deliberately not competing at the ruck. Ennor and Jordon were outstanding in the backs, but the twin towers of Fidow and Walker-Leawere proved too hard to stop. Halfback Kemara Hauiti-Parapara with his accurate goal-kicking and quick service also shined for Wellington.