Semi-finals: Ten of the best

Above: Julian Savea goes over to score in the 2013 'semi-final from heaven' between Oriental-Rongotai and Hutt Old Boys Marist, that resulted in Ories winning in the 17th minute of extra time. 

As part of the countdown to this weekend's Jubilee Cup playoffs, here's a look at 10 of the memorable semi-final matches

10. 1999: Marist St Pat's 16 - Western Suburbs 15

In the last major semi-final played at Athletic Park, Wellington Lions and Hurricanes wing Lome Fa'atau pounced on a Western Suburbs handling error with about 15 minutes to play and sprinted 85 metres to score the winning try, against the defending champions. Fa'atau's try was the difference, after MSP first five-eighth James McHardy and his Wests opposite, Scott Leighton, traded penalties. Going into the last quarter, Wests held a 12-6 lead on penalties before Fa'atau's runaway try put MSP ahead,13-12. Leighton retook the lead for Wests with his fifth kick at goal but McHardy replied to put MSP ahead for the last time late in the match.

9. 2017: Old Boys University 50 – Tawa 22

An entertaining 10-try semi-final at neutral Porirua Park. Much of the talk going into the match was the initial Wellington Lions squad naming during the week featuring no Old Boys University players despite them being top qualifiers. A motivated OBU pack was quick to establish set-piece dominance and that coupled with bustling work at the breakdowns saw OBU 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. before OBU scored another three tries including an emphatic try to midfielder Regan Verney, who was later added to the Lions squad along with outstanding flanker Will Mangos. OBU led 24-8 at halftime. 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. 

8. 1993: Petone 21 - Harlequins 14

‘Harlequins denied by bad bounce' said the Dominion's headline, following Petone's tense victory over Harlequins [now Old Boys University]. Petone had established a seven-point lead after first five-eighth Simon Mannix had kicked a penalty for his side's last points of the game on the 65 minute mark. All that was left for Petone to do was hold on to the end.? Harlequins needed to score a converted try to force extra time - and they very nearly did. Replacement wing Alaska Taufa's kick into the in-goal area sat up for flying centre Sale Sorovaki to race through to go for the try. However the ball was squeezed from his grasp by the cover defenders and Petone held on and won a cliffhanger. Petone went onto win the Jubilee Cup in 1993, successfully defending their title won in 1992.

7. 2000: Poneke 27 - Marist St Pat's 26

Wellington and Hurricanes first five-eighth David Holwell kicked five penalties and a conversion and set up the game-clinching try to knock defending champions MSP out of the Jubilee Cup, under lights at the new Westpac Stadium.Twenty minutes into the second half, Holwell caught MSP napping and took a quick tap penalty to set up a try for left wing IeuTuiavi'i, to put Poneke ahead, 21-12. Holwell kicked two penalties to extend this lead to 27-12. MSP weren't done however - mounting a gallant comeback and scoring tries to wing Lome Fa'atau (see 1999, above) and replacement Eddie Gray. Fullback James Reilly converted Gray's try to set up a classic finish, but Poneke clung on to fulltime.

6. 2015: Marist St Pat’s 27 – Tawa 23

The lead changed hands five times in an Evans Bay Park blockbuster, as MSP reached their second final in four years. It was a ding-dong battle in the first half as MSP led 13-10 at the turnaround. Tawa took the lead early in the second half when Telea Seumanutafa dashed 25 metres down the right hand lane and scored. Following the re-start, Tawa made a mistake in their own half. MSP No. 8 Tokakece barrelled over to score his second try of the afternoon to make it 18-17.James So’oialo kicked a penalty to put Tawa back in front, 20-18, but Fa’atonu Fili replied with two for MSP to make it 24-20. Tawa kicked the ball out on the full but won a scrum penalty on halfway, which So’oialo kicked to make it 24-23. Then Fili kicked a 45-metre penalty close to fulltime.

5. 2007: Marist St Pat's 24 - Petone 23

It was thrill-a-minute rugby at Evans Bay Park, where top qualifier MSP overcame Petone's challenge. 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. MSP held an 11-9 advantage at halftime after Naubo had beaten three defenders to score in the corner,with 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.

4. 2011: Oriental-Rongotai 18 -15 Hutt Old Boys Marist

This semi-final was won on gutsy defence, and Ories went on to win the title the next week. Playing in memory of Ories Life Member Don Bond, who passed away the week before, Ories won the game through two tries to first five-eighth Trevor Marama and their massive defence at the end. HOBM attacked Ories with a steady wave of attack over almost the entire final 20 minutes but Ories withstood the pressure. Their passion and commitment held out a number of Eagles drives and assaults close to the line. Earlier, Ories had struck in the opening minutes with a lovely 80-metre breakout try, started by left wing Ambrose Curtis and finished off by Marama. A flurry of tries by both teams followed to set up the grandstand finish.

3. 2005: Petone 19 - Poneke 17

Petone's season was seemingly over with time almost up in this playoff against Poneke. But their hooker Eugene Smith had other ideas when he won a tighthead scrum win 40 metres out from Poneke's line. Petone moved the ball to dangerous left wing Alex Telea who scorched down field and set up a try in the corner to centre Tumanu Martin. With scores now level, first five-eighth Earl Va'a slotted the sideline conversion. The drama wasn't over yet, however, as Poneke launched one final frantic attack and won a penalty. A deathly silence descended over the Petone Rec as Poneke fullback Brad Cooper lined up the shot to win the game for the red and blacks. But he pulled it across the front of the uprights and Petone celebrated.

2. 1989: Petone 24 - Hutt Old Boys 20

The original overtime thriller, that saw Petone finally wrestle the initiative and win the match from the 90thminute onwards. Swindale Shield winners Hutt Old Boys went into the match without three players including their star first five-eighth, All Black Steve Pokere. The trio, Mormons, sat out the Sunday semi-final. Ultimately, it was Pokere's absence that proved most telling - goal kicking woes costing Hutt Old Boys dearly. Hutt missed seven of shots on goal. Hutt totally dominated the first quarter, but only led 10-0 after 20 minutes with two unconverted tries. Further tries to both sides and Petone penalties advanced the score to 20-16 to Hutt, before Petone locked it up again at 20-20 with a 77th try to wing Matt Lee. First five-eighth Tim Perez could have won the game then and there with his wide-out conversion, followed by a penalty miss to Hutt fullback Steve Bruce to do the same. Extra time was called for and the winning try was scored by Petone wing Glen Curran after he had set up field position with a hack and chase down field.

1. 2013: Oriental-Rongotai 30 - Hutt Old Boys Marist 27

Ories first five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili won the game for his side in the 17th minute of extra time, after scores had been locked up at 20-20 at fulltime and then 27-27 after 97 minutes. Ories had given themselves every chance to win when flanker Tutasi Masoe crashed over in the corner with the last play of the game and Fili missed a difficult conversion that would have ended it then. Only a few minutes before HOBM themselves had thought they had the game won when their right wing James Kusel had fielded a Fili kick on the fly near halfway and steamed up the right hand touchline to set up a converted try to put them ahead 20-15. Previously, Ories wing Afa Fa'atau crashed up field and set up a try in reply and scores were locked up at 10-10 at halftime. HOBM spent the first 10 minutes of the second half camped inside Ories' 22 and were twice held up over the line. Eventually they were awarded a penalty and flyhalf Brandyn Laursen took the points to put HOBM ahead 13-10. The match unravelled, with Ories scoring an unconverted try in the corner to All Black Julian Savea to take a 15-13 lead, and both sides scoring twice more to make it 20-20 after 80 minutes.

This article was published here in 2016. It has been updated and reproduced ahead of the 2018 Jubilee Cup semi-finals this coming weekend.