OBU and HOBM to meet in Jubilee Cup decider after contrasting semi-final wins

Above: Kaliopasi Uluilakepa makes a break for the Petone Colts in this afternoon’s semi-final win over Tawa. Petone and OBU Green will contest next week’s final.

Next week’s six finals at the Petone Rec are:

• Jubilee Cup: Old Boy University v Hutt Old Boys Marist
• John E Kelly Colts Division1: Petone v Old Boys University
• Women’s Victoria Tavern Trophy Division 1: Oriental-Rongotai v Old Boys University
• Ed Chaney Cup Premier Reserve: Old Boys University v Petone
• Vic Calcinai Trophy Colts Division 2: Upper Hutt Rams v Kapiti
• Women’s Division 2: Petone v Paremata-Plimmerton

Old Boys University and Hutt Old Boys Marist will meet in next Saturday’s 2017 Jubilee Cup final at the Petone Rec after winning contrasting semi-finals this afternoon.

At Jerry Collins Stadium, 2015 champions OBU flew to an emphatic 50-22 win over Tawa, while at Evans Bay Park, 2014 title winners Hutt Old Boys Marist held on doggedly to beat Marist St Pat’s 19-14.

OBU out-scored Tawa seven tries to three in an entertaining encounter at Porirua, while there was just a try apiece at Evans Bay between the two Marist sides. OBU led Tawa 24-8 at halftime, while HOBM overtook MSP’s 11-10 lead in the second spell.

In their two previous match-ups this year, OBU have won 38-36 at the Hutt Rec and 19-17 in the Nairnville Park mud, so next week’s final promises to be a cracking affair.

It was a successful day all-around for the Old Boys University club, who will have four teams playing in next week’s six finals.

OBU’s Colts, Premier Reserve and Women’s teams all had semi-finals victories today too, their Colts beating Ories 41-20, the second XV edging Marist St Pat’s 20-17 and their women pipping Northern United 19-17.

Jubilee Cup

In the main match on a sunny Jerry Collins Stadium, the OBU forwards were quick to establish dominance at set-piece time and that coupled with bustling work at the breakdowns saw the top qualifiers cross the chalk three times in the first half hour.

OBU opened the scoring after a big break by No. 8 Teariki Ben Nicholas led to an attacking lineout inside the 22 and a try from the next play. Tawa second five-eighth James So’oialo closed the gap to 3-7 with a penalty, before OBU scored another three tries. A try scored by second-five Regan Verney from a backpedalling Tawa scrum was a fitting metaphor for the opening.

Tawa hooker Lotu Nuku rumbled over in the clubrooms corner before halftime, but anytime Tawa threatened a serious comeback, OBU had a swift response. Both sides traded two tries each at the beginning of the second-spell, with Tawa closing to 20-34 at one stage, But OBU wing Te Wehi Wright sealed the win with 10 minutes to play by poaching an intercept and running clear. Opposite wing Teegan Minkley applied the icing when he finished a thrilling break by fullback Jono Ihaka. 

For OBU, several Goats had strong games. In the forwards, blindside flanker Will Mangos showed plenty of sting, while both props, Finbarr Kerr-Newell and Jonathon Fuimaono were industrious in a busy tight five. Halfback Tomasi Palu played well, while Ihaka produced several moments of quality with his speed and flair. Tawa only troubled sporadically. Lock Hemi Fermanis and blindside Telea Seumanutafa never stopped trying.

Across town at Evans Bay the other semi-final between Marist St Pat’s and Hutt Old Boys Marist was a tough, abrasive, and absorbing contest that ebbed and flowed like water in the harbour nearby. The best early chance saw MSP's Valentine Meachen nearly cross but only denied by his opposite James O'Reilly before HOBM got on the board through a Brandyn Laursen penalty. That was countered by one from Fa'atonu Fili before a period of Eagle dominance was broken by some Mike Buckley brilliance to notch the game’s first try. HOBM were able to stem the rest of the red tide, before they got across from close range through Joe 'Apikatoa. The half ended on a second successful Fili penalty.

The second half was as hard-fought as any you'll see. Chances were hard to come by and the award of penalties from referee Nick Hogan were celebrated like tries. Laursen added two and Fili one for the hosts - and each missed one, before Laursen's fourth of the day put HOBM out to five points and forced MSP into catchup mode. Its was a valiant effort, but HOBM won one last penalty and soaked up the time from the lineout to book their place in next week’s decider.

Laursen was his side’s standout, directing the side around the park and ably aided by the nous of Nick Risdon and big efforts from Joe 'Apikatoa and Lise Soloa while George Amosa made some critical turnovers. MSP's best were Valentine Meachen, Isaac O'Connor, Isaia Petelo, but Billy Proctor and Andrew Wells found themselves well-contained.

Hardham Cup

In the Hardham Cup, the Upper Hutt Rams have taken an 8-point lead at the top of the standings with two matches to play in the round-robin Premier 2 competition, after beating Johnsonville 24-13 at Maidstone Park.

The Rams scored two tries in each half, leading 12-8 at halftime through tries to hooker Josh Houston-Tupou and flanker Mitchell Markov and then pulling clear with tries to fullback Tafa Tafa and second five-eighth Tyler Tane after an 80m burst by Markov.

Johnsonville remain in second on the table, just ahead of Poneke who defeated 48-10 on the Fraser Park Artificial. For Poneke, blindside flanker Api McMillan-Parata scored two tries, while six individuals crossed for their other tries. Poneke led 19-5 at halftime.

On the Evans Bay Park Artificial, the Wellington Axemen beat Paramata-Plimmerton 36-24. Left wing Ollie Sapsford scored a hat-trick, while centre Paddy Hughes scored two tries. The Axemen led 24-7 at the turnaround.

Women’s

In the first of the day’s three semi-finals at Porirua Park, third placed qualifiers the Old Boys University Impalas beat second placed Northern United 19-17, scoring a converted try with the last play to win the game.

Fullback Montana Heslop was the try-scorer at the end for the Impalas, slicing through out wide and scoring to the right of the uprights following an attacking scrum on the grandstand side of the field near the 22. First five-eighth Tara Horsnell made no mistake of the conversion to complete the win.

Clinging to a 17-12 lead throughout much of the second half, Norths thought they had done enough to win the semi-final, but they knocked on just as they were working the ball out of their own territory one last time.

In a tight match, OBU had scored the game’s opening try in the 15th minute when right wing Kendall Templemann danced with the sideline from a ruck on halfway, cut in field and sprinted clear to put her side ahead 7-0. Norths came back to score two tries after patient build-ups to lead 12-7 at halftime.

The playoff came alive 10 minutes into the second half when OBU midfielder Sherri Burgess kicked through in general play to the Norths cover defender and then ripped the ball from her grasp following up and darted through to make it 12-12.

Barely two minutes later, Burgess tried a similar tactic, but this time Norths counterattacked and outstanding Norths centre Vaine Marsters cut through from 70 metres out to score to put her side ahead 17-12.

With the southerly breeze at their back, OBU dominated territory over the final quarter but were unable to break through, unable to win clean possession from their own lineout and thwarted in what was a big contest at the breakdown all match. But they left their best to last with their try at the death.

In the other Women’s Division 1 Victoria Tavern Trophy semi-final, unbeaten Oriental-Rongotai booked their place in next weekend’s Victoria Tavern Trophy final with a 38-5 win over neighbours Marist St Pat’s at the Polo Ground. The scoreline doesn't completely reflect MSP's effort and endeavour, as they dominated possession and territory but found themselves 0-21 behind before a late first-half try as Ories clinically took the chances they worked for themselves; the highlight of those being a 40m openfield break to the line by skipper Raylene Lolo.

Ories added three more without reply after the break as they found their rhythm in the heavy footing and will be warm favourites in the final. MSP, however, weren't broken and will reflect on how far they've come this season.

Petone will host Paremata-Plimmerton in next week’s Division 2 women’s final, after Petone beat Hutt Old Boys Marist 52-20 and Paremata-Plimmerton piped Poneke 12-10 on Kilbirnie Park on the other. Halfback Savannah Peniata crossed for both Paremata-Plimmerton’s two tries.

Colts, Premier Reserve, First Grade and U85kg

OBU Green were emphatic Colts Division 1 winners over Oriental-Rongotai, winning 41-20, while Petone beat Tawa 39-14 in the other playoff match

In the two division 2 Colts semi-finals, the Upper Hutt Rams edged Wainuiomata 19-17 and Kapiti defeated Poneke 15-10.

The two Premier Reserve Ed Chaney Cup semi-finals were won by the same score this afternoon. OBU beat MSP 20-17 on Porirua 2 and Petone overcame Tawa 20-17 at Lyndhurst Park.

OBU led MSP 13-12 at halftime in their playoff match until well into the second half. MSP scored a try with about 20 minutes to play through their centre, with the tighthead prop linking up well in general play, to take a 17-13 lead.

OBU pushed back hard on to attack and camped in front of MSP’s line with a series of 5 metre scrums. On the third scrum, a penalty try was awarded and OBU went back in front by three points. MSP launched a late raid and seemingly crossed the chalk near the right corner only to be ruled back.

Like their first XV counterparts, the Upper Hutt Rams seconds continue to lead the Premier Reserve Division 2 HD Morgan Memorial. The Rams beat Johnsonville 48-19 today to take a 6-point lead at the top of the standings to second placed Poneke with two matches to play.

In the other two HD Morgan matches, Poneke defeated the Avalon Wolves 32-24 and Paremata-Plimmerton eased past the winless Wellington Axemen’s seconds 58-14.

The Petone Brotherhood and the Norths Usos are the joint frontrunners in the First Grade Johnsonville Centennium Cup. Petone lost to rivals HOBM 12-31 and the Usos beat OBU 31-23.The Stokes Valley Chiefs are third after beating MSP 47-7, whilst Poneke beat Norths Red by default.

The Johnsonville Cripples rolled over the Stokes Valley Rhinos 29-7 today to lead the First Grade Division 2 standings with four wins from four.

The Wellington Light Axemen beat the Johnsonville Terrahawks by default today to be on top with five wins from five in the U85kg Division 1 Paul Potiki Shield. Tawa edged third placed Avalon 18-17, Eastbourne ousted the HOBM Howlers 12-11 and Kapiti beat the Poneke Caves 30-17.

College

The four semi-finalists in the College WelTec Premiership have been found. Porirua College were the only team that could force their way in, but after Wednesday's exertions were perhaps a little jaded in falling 10-33 to Rongotai. That leaves Wellington College - who beat Hutt Valley HS 67-3 - and St Pat’s Town as the away sides to face Silverstream and Scots who will decide the round-robin winner when they meet next Saturday. Scots kept pace in beating Tawa 44-8, while the remaining game saw Wairarapa victorious in Raumati, beating Kapiti 30-22.