Marist St. Pat?s And Hutt Old Boys Marist To Meet In Jubilee Final

It will be an all-Marist Jubilee Cup final at Westpac Stadium next weekend after Marist St. Pat's and Hutt Old Boys Marist both won entertaining and contrasting playoffs on a wet semi-finals day across Wellington.

It was thrill-a-minute rugby at Evans Bay Park, where top qualifier MSP overcame Petone's challenge to win 24-23, while HOBM dug deep at Porirua Park to defeat Northern United 15-5 and end the defending champions' run of recent title successes.

HOBM's outstanding pack - led by blockbusting No. 8 Leo Auvaa - and the deft skills of first five-eighth Jon Bentley paved the way for a convincing victory over the under strength Norths after scores were tied up at 0-0 at halftime.

MSP left winger Jope Naubo was the hero for his side, scoring two tries including the match winner at the end to help defeat Petone in a seesawing semi-final played in steady rain.

The scoring action was thick and fast between MSP and Petone, the lead changing hands several times throughout the match in a continuation of their exciting round seven clash last week, won 39-34 by Petone.

MSP held an 11-9 advantage at halftime after excitement machine Naubo had beaten three defenders to score in the corner, Petone first five-eighth Dan Kirkpatrick kicking three penalties in reply.

The lead changed four times in the second half, with tries to Petone centre Simeon James and MSP openside Victor Vito seeing MSP ahead 19-16, before Petone's left winger Greg Walker scored and Kirkpatrick converted to see the Villagers in front 23-19.

But Naubo had the final say, scoring the winning try for a one-point win and MSP's first Jubilee Cup final in four years.

HOBM's second try, to blindside Ash Parker, was the clincher at Porirua Park giving them a 15-0 lead late in the second half and steering them to their first Cup final.

It was also the culmination of a supercharged second half HOBM forwards uprising that saw the Eagles dominate after halftime after a closely fought first 40 minutes in which few clear chances were created.

HOBM's committed pack came out firing after the turnaround, keeping their play tight and organised and starving Norths of much of the turnover possession that they had won off them in the first spell. No. 8 Auvaa was the standout performer at the back of a focused pack that wrestled ascendancy off their Norths counterparts early in the half.

Locks Polonga Pedro and Steve Bradshaw and loosehead prop Otto Rasch also played leading roles for HOBM, while halfback Nick Risdon and first five-eighth Jon Bentley were both superb behind the big boys. Diminutive dangerman Bentley was particularly impressive, cool and collected under pressure and steady on attack.

It was Bentley who grabbed the first points of the semi-final after 45 minutes, successful with a penalty in front, after he had a previous shot from a difficult angle flagged way.

HOBM applied the blowtorch straightaway after the interval, asking immediate questions of Norths' defence. It was mobile lock Bradshaw who provided them with their first clear try scoring opportunity, charging down a clearing kick by Norths halfback Fa'afalele Va'alepu. Auvaa carried the movement on, setting up a 5-metre scrum from which Norths No. 8 Anare Koliavu responded with his hands in the next ruck and an easy penalty for Bentley.

More Hutt heat followed ahead of the game's decisive try on 58 minutes, Auvaa emphatically planting the ball down in the left hand corner after a series of attacking lineouts. Bentley's sideline conversion sailed through the uprights and at 10-0 up, momentum was well and truly with the Eagles.

Norths were badly in need of a reply, and it almost came courtesy of wild-child winger Sinoti To'omaga, who screamed up field on a counterattack, the movement curtailed just metres from the tryline. It was not proving to be Norths' day when left wing Francis Seumanutafa was then bundled into touch in the opposite corner.

Instead, it was HOBM who came up with the next try on the 70 minute mark, a Bentley chip and chase bouncing up in no man's land inside Norths' 22, cleaned up by the chasers pouring through and Parker scoring out wide.

The outcome decided, Norths threw the ball around at the end and it was fitting that Seumanutafa scored their consolation try, the converted wing sensation crossing for his 15th try of the 2007 season.

While Hutt were euphoric at the end, Norths can nevertheless reflect on an outstanding run of club rugby success, winning three titles in a row and contributing over half their first choice team to the Vodafone Wellington Lions plus Jerry Collins to the All Blacks. They will be back as strong as ever next year.

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