Petone, Norths, OBU, MSP, Ories and Johnsonville win women’s, lower grade finals

Old Boys University won all three finals that they were involved in today at the Petone Recreation Ground, winning the Premier Jubilee Cup, the Colts John E Kelly Memorial Cup and the Women’s Division title.

But the remaining five finals that were played at the Petone Rec were won by five different clubs.

OBU (3 titles) Petone, Norths, MSP, Ories and Johnsonille all took home the spoils.

Petone won the Hardham Cup, beating Wainuiomata 27-26 with tries to Adam Simpson, Josh Onekawa, Dylan Williamson and Taurima Morris.

Wainuiomata were rueing a slow start to the Hardham Cup, conceding a 0-17 deficit by halftime as Petone made much of the running.

Right wing Peter Umaga-Jensen crossed early in the second half for Wainuiomata, but Petone scored again to extend their lead to 22-5.  Prop Andrew Mamea replied to make it 24-12.

Petone edged ahead again with a penalty, but Wainuiomata stayed in touch with a third try to centre Marvin Karawana. Once more, Petone kicked ahead and that was sufficient to win. Bevan Clark scored towards the end of the green and blacks to close the final score to one point.

Northern United held on a heart-pounding finish to win their first Women’s Division 1 Tia Paasi Memorial Cup final, beating Oriental-Rongotai 20-15.

Norths withstood waves of Ories attack inside their 22 over a frantic final few minutes with the defending champions searching for a match-winning score.

But as it had been all match, the Norths close-quarter and one-on-one defence held up and there was no way through for Ories, even after having two players sent to the bin for separate offences.

With two minutes remaining, Ories No. 8 Tina Paulo flung a low pass out to a waiting player but she failed to grasp the chance. There were further drives at the chalk by the Ories pack but they all came up short.

Earlier, Norths had established what proved to be a match-winning 20-10 lead earlier in the second half when they took a quick tap penalty and popular loosehead prop Dora Laupola crashed over in the corner.

This had come hot on the heels of another decisive try just prior to halftime to right wing Dhys Faleafaga. This broke a 10-10 deadlock and Norths went into the break leading 15-10.

At 10 points down following Laupola’s try, Ories were far from done. Their set-piece was superior, which led to an emphatic try from first phase from an attacking scrum. Ories halfback Reijeli Uluinayau bobbled the ball and ran up the shortside to set up a try to fullback Hia Ioane.

Norths had earlier established a 10-0 lead after a dominant opening 20 minutes, in which they used their ball running forwards to good effect up the middle. The direct approach paid dividends with an early penalty to first five-eighth Teina Puketapu followed by the first try of the final scored by Helen Collins.

Ories regouped and got back into the contest, pinching two consecutive Norths lineouts and captain and flanker Joanah Ngan Woo slicing through to score under the bar, followed by a penalty in front to lock it up at 10-10.

Norths completed the first and second round double and won their 12th Wellington women’s title overall since its inception in 1993.

Meanwhile, the Old Boys University Impalas made a fast start in beating Hutt Old Boys Marist 71-22 to win their Women’s Division 2 final.

Marist St Pat’s held on to beat Oriental-Rongotai 35-32 in the Premier Reserve Ed Chaney Cup final in an extra time thriller.

MSP led 25-22 with regular time still up on the clock, but Ories slotted a penalty to make it 25-25 after 80 minutes. This was after they crossed for a try to lock it up on 78 minutes. Ories had led 12-9 at halftime.

In extra time, MSP hooker Ian Leota crashed over under the poles to give his side a 32-25 lead after the first 10 minutes of additional time. Ories replied with a converted try, making it 32-32. MSP flyhalf Fa’atonu Fili kicked a penalty to put them ahead again, but hearts were pounding when Ories missed a penalty from in front at the end and that was that.

The Premier Reserve Division 2 HD Morgan Memorial decider was also the thriller, with Johnsonville winning 22-19 over Petone.

From fourth to first, Old Boys University won their fourth John E Kelly Memorial Cup in the past five years - thrashing Hutt Old Boys Marist, 55-0 in the Les Mills Colts Division 1 final.

The Junior Goats defeated the Eagles for the third time this season in absolutely resounding fashion. 
OBU led 31-0 at halftime and piled on another four unanswered tries in the second-half.

HOBM possibly enjoyed more possession as they tried to employ their big forwards to effect, but errors and poor tackling proved costly.

OBU scored several long range tries and impressed with attacking chemistry between the backs and the forwards 

Centre Reece Plumtree scored two tries while brother Taine was an imperious presence at lock.

No.8 Shamus Langton carried vigorously from No.8 and scored a try while the OBU bench carried on the momentum with subs Henry Mexted and Edward Vaeau-Mulitalo scoring tries.

Captain Nick Apikotoa and prop Puna Manaia tried hard for the Eagles who improved greatly throughout the season, but underwhelmed today.

Ories made it one from three with a 32-22 win over Poneke in the final of the Colts Division 2 Vic Calcinai Memorial Cup.

In College rugby, St Pat’s Silverstream secured top spot in the First XV Premiership with a 61-0 win over Kapiti College. Silverstream will host fourth placed Wellington College in one semi-final next week after Wellington College defeated Rongotai College 30-15.

Scots College will host St Pat’s Town in the other, despite contrasting finishes to their round-robin seasons today. Scots College lost 22-28 to Wairarapa College in a Masterton upset, while St Pat’s Town eased past Porirua College 19-0. St Bernard’s beat HIBS 22-19 in the other fixture.