OBU and MSP lock in home semi-finals in Jubilee Cup

Above: Hutt Old Boys Marist fullback Brandyn Laursen lines up what would prove to be the winning penalty in today’s Jubilee Cup clash against Tawa at a gloomy Hutt Rec Recreation Ground.

Old Boys University and Marist St Pat’s will host next weekend’s 2017 Jubilee Cup semi-finals, after a cracking afternoon of rugby on a dull day to end the regular season.

Top qualifiers Old Boys University won the Andy Leslie Trophy and will host defending champions Tawa in one semi-final next Saturday, while second placed MSP will host Hutt Old Boys Marist in the other.

Today’s two key results that determined the playoff match-ups saw MSP beating OBU 22-21 at Evans Bay Park and HOBM prevailing 13-10 over Tawa at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

The other two Jubilee Cup matches that were played today saw Northern United pip Wainuiomata 34-33 in a final round thriller at Jerry Collins Stadium to get up to finish fifth, and Oriental-Rongotai account for winless Petone at the Polo Ground.

At Evans Bay Park, a MSP win looked like a distant hope in the game's opening, struggling in most facets of the game, namely at scrum time.

Using OBU's territorial dominance as a platform, Teegan Minkley scored his first of two tries, finishing tidily in the right corner.

He would score later in the half as he beat three MSP defenders with spectacular footwork and pace, though the hosts struck back almost immediately thanks to an Isaia Petelo set up for Ryan Saunders' try.

The Billy Goats started the second half with a quick three points, though their upper-hand at set piece was nullified after MSP brought on veteran hooker Valentine Meachen and prop A'asa Sanerivi.

The home side had to remain staunch in defence for the opening 15 minutes of the second half, and that they did, only conceding a further penalty goal before they flicked their attacking switch.

Nick Harrison, who would prove to be the two-try hero for MSP, bustled his way over OBU's line for his first try, though the visitors were allowed to respond through Dale Sabbagh's boot after a high tackle.

At 21-17 in OBU's favour, a try was going to be MSP's only saving grace and, courtesy of three consecutive almighty scrums, the hosts found themselves just five metres from the goal-line.

After several phases, Harrison again crossed the chalk to edge MSP in front by one point.

With one minute to play, though, the Billy Goats won a breakdown penalty and up stepped Sabbagh. In difficult kicking conditions, Sabbagh's game-winning penalty attempt was slightly off to the left, seeing MSP hold on for a thrilling victory.

At the Hutt Rec, a solitary 45-metre Brandyn Laursen penalty and committed second half defence gave the Eagles the win over Tawa, after scores had been locked up at 10-10 at halftime.

Playing into the teeth of an angry southerly, Tawa rallied throughout much of the second half, dominating possession and territory but failed to finish off several clear opportunities to put themselves in front.

HOBM’s well-drilled lineout and their tireless loose forwards, George Amosa, Lise Soloa and Tasi Fidow, stopped them in their tracks on several occasions as it appeared Tawa were building enough momentum to storm the chalk.

HOBM finally got back downtown, with Tawa’s Telea Seumanutafa sent to the sin-bin, and it was the Eagles that should have closed the game out. But a missed Laursen penalty and a knock-on near the line prevented them scoring again.

The match finished in high spirit with Tawa breaking out and threatening a grandstand finish but it was not to be. Perhaps worryingly for their supporters, key props Tolu Fahamokioa (right knee) and Sitiveni Paongo (unspecified) ended the contest on the deck injured.

Tawa had started the match off with a hiss and a roar, second five-eighth James So’oialo landing a monster penalty with the wind at his back and converting what proved to be their only try of the game scored by Kalim Kelemete for a 10-0 lead. HOBM hit back with a converted try to second five-eighth Tomasi Alosio and Laursen locked the contest up on halftime with a penalty.

At Jerry Collins Stadium, Northern United skipped out to a 27-12 lead early in the second spell over visitors Wainuiomata, but a second half surge saw the visitors come back with three tries to take a 33-27 lead. Norths rallied and scored the match-winner near fulltime to end their season on a winning note.

At the Polo Ground, halfback Declan Hay scored their first try of the match for Ories to put them in front 7-0. Petone replied with a try in the corner to prop Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, closing the gap up to 7-5. But a Hayden Whelan try off a kick through by first five-eighth Tren Renata put Ories up further.

Ories No. 8 Luca Rees helped seal their last match of 2017 with a 30-metre intercept try. Petone scored a consolation try at the end through Lester Maulolo.

Hardham Cup

Round 7 of 10 of the Hardham Cup today, with wins for Paremata-Plimmerton and the Upper Hutt Rams and a draw between Poneke and Wellington.

Paremata-Plimmerton beat Avalon 40-5 for their first win of the season. Paremata-Plimmerton scored two converted tries to lead 14-0 and then pulled away to take a 33-0 lead into halftime. No. 8 Peni Tapau and second five-eighth Kewa McMillan-Parata both scored braces, while halfback Jayden Keats and fullback Blake Neve also scored tries. Neve added five conversions.

Upper Hutt Rams flanker Mitchell Markov scored an early 60-metre try to start the scoring against the Wellington Axemen. The Axemen worked hard on attack for a long while and captain and prop Jason Bird scored to close the gap to 7-5.

Both sides scored further tries to advance the scoring to 21-10 to the Rams early in the second half. But from that point the Rams kicked into gear, lock Sio Luamanu scoring their bonus point try to extend the lead to 28-10 and then second five-eighth Tyler Tane dashing clear to make it 35-10. Further tries to loosies Josh Brown and Dan Schrijevers cemented a solid win for the Rams.

The win for the Rams sees them go to the top of the table on their own, after second placed Johnsonville and third placed Poneke drew 15-15 in their match at the Evans Bay Park Artificial ground. For Poneke, prop Hennie Tui and openside flanker Galu Taufale scored tries, while for Johnsonville prop Steve Mafi and Jeff Makapelu crossed for tries. It was 8-8 at halftime.

Premier Reserve

Next weekend’s Premier Reserve Division 1 Ed Chaney Cup semi-finals will see Old Boys University hosting Marist St Pat’s and Tawa entertaining Petone.

In today’s matches, MSP beat top qualifiers OBU 24-19 in a prelude to their semi-final next week, Tawa edged Hutt Old Boys Marist 18-16 and Petone beat Ories 46-17 in the early game at Miramar. The fourth game failed to go ahead with Wainuiomata defaulting to Northern United.

Tawa beat HOBM by kicking an into-the-wind penalty to their halfback with the final play of the game. Trailing 15-16, they already had the bonus point they needed to qualify for a home semi-final next weekend, but the win gives them momentum.

Tawa’s forwards muscled over late in the first half for the only try of the first spell and they led 8-3 at the oranges. HOBM quickly closed the gap to 8-6 with a penalty and then scored a try in broken play to put them up 13-8. Tawa scored a 5-metre try under the poles to put them in front 15-13, but HOBM snatched the lead with a penalty.

The Division 2 HD Morgan Memorial games there was a blowout and two close matches. Competition leaders the Upper Hutt Rams eased to a 91-0 win over the Wellington Axemen’s second XV, while Paremata-Plimmerton edged past Avalon 10-8 and second placed Poneke pipped Johnsonville 15-10.

Les Mills Colts

Old Boys University Green secured the fourth John E Kelly Cup Colts Division 1 semi-final spot up for grabs on Friday night, with a 31-15 bonus point win over Marist St Pat’s.

In today’s games, Ories got up to be top qualifier after beating Petone 25-24 (five tries to three) and Hutt Old Boys Marist knocked over Tawa 22-20.

Next weekend’s Division 1 semi-finals will see Ories hosting OBU at the Polo Ground and second placed Petone playing third placed Tawa at home.

At the Hutt Recreation Ground, Tawa climbed into their work early with two quickfire tries. But HOBM worked their way into the game with nicely engineered tries of their own, one a sneaky piece of support play up the sideline and into the corner and the other a try by the loosehead prop after a counterattacking passage from 60 metres out. The second half was a tense affair, with HOBM doing enough to win by 2 points.

It was touch and go early in the second half on Friday night, however, when MSP – needing to score four tries and deny OBU any points - came back from 5-17 down to trail 15-17 (3 tries each).

Playing into the wind in the second half, OBU regained the next kick-off and worked their way on to attack, resulting in the replacement No. 8 scoring their fourth try from an attacking scrum to make it 24-15. OBU scored their fifth try on fulltime to win 31-15.

There was nothing riding on the other Friday night fixture that was, interestingly, transferred from the Ascot Park Artificial to the best ground in Wellington, Porirua Park #1. In a low scoring contest, first round Division 2 winners Paremata-Plimmerton scored the first try of the match to lead 5-3. They advanced this lead to 12-10 with time almost up before home team Northern United scored the match-winning try on fulltime to register a 15-12 win.

The Division 2 Colts semi-finals for the Vic Calcanai Trophy will see the top qualifier Upper Hutt Rams play Wainuiomata and Kapiti and Poneke meeting in the other.

Women’s

Next weekend’s women’s Victoria Tavern Trophy Division 1 semi-finals will see top qualifier Oriental-Rongotai hosting fourth placed Marist St Pat’s at the Polo Ground and second placed Northern United and third placed Old Boys University meeting in the other match.

In Victoria Tavern Trophy games today, Ories completed an unbeaten round-robin season by beating Old Boys University 62-10 and Wainuiomata tipped over Marist St Pat’s 27-19.

Next weekend’s Divison 2 semi-finals will see top qualifier play Hutt Old Boys Marist and second placed Poneke host Paremata-Plimmerton.

Today’s two fixtures saw Petone defeat Tawa 94-0 and Paremata-Plimmerton edge Hutt Old Boys Marist 15-12.

U85kg

The latest round of the Paul Potiki Shield U85kg Division 1 saw the Avalon Wolves beat Kapiti 41-13 to move to the top of the table, while the Tawa Titans are a point behind in second after defeating the HOBM Howlers 15-8 – pending the Poneke-Wellington result.

The OBU Bunnies beat the Upper Hutt Rams 17-5 to lead the Division 2 standings.

College

There was one WelTec Premiership First XV match played today in Masterton, with Wellington College defeating Wairarapa College 7-3.

In a Premier 3 fixture, Wainuiomata High School edged Onslow College 17-15.