Sizzling Comebacks Part 3

Swindale Shield Premier | 11 January 2015 | Steven White

Above: Lua Lokotui scored a key try for Marist St Pat’s in their 35-27 win over Northern United at Porirua Park in 2012, pulling in a 13-27 lead deficit early in the second half.?

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Defending Jubilee Cup champions Marist St Pat’s turned around a one-point halftime deficit to score three second half tries and floor Upper Hutt 40-23 to register their first win of the season. MSP appeared heading for a fourth straight loss when trailing Upper Hutt 3-11 midway through the first half and then 15-16 at halftime. But they roared into action in the second spell and added 25 points and three further tries. Tries for MSP to hooker-turned-blindside flanker Liu Taituave and debutant openside Tom Dawson followed first half tries to lock Nick Passi and Apoua Stewart, the latter scoring on the stroke of halftime. Earlier, hard running Upper Hutt No. 8 Jarred Beyer and right wing Ofa Pongi had burst through for tries for the home side as they piled on the early pressure.

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Wainuiomata defeated Poneke for the first time since in Premier rugby since their promotion in 2007, also claiming the coveted Hakaraia Trophy. Wainuiomata won a thriller 22-20, after scoring an intercept try with five minutes to play that took them into the lead. Trailing 15-20, Wainuiomata wing Jason Love intercepted a Poneke pass on his own side of halfway and turned and sprinted 60 metres to score under the posts at the scoreboard end of Kilbirnie Park. First five-eighth Junior Taumaoe knocked over the conversion .From the re-start, Wainuiomata held on to possession for the next three minutes, but Poneke got their hands on the ball with fulltime fast approaching, rumbling up field and putting first five-eighth Sam Rasch in position for a dropped goal. Rasch's pot sailed wide, Wainuiomata had trailed 3-10 at halftime with a southerly at their backs, but lock Sharn Eru finished off the try of the game in the second half. In a 70-metre team effort, backs and forwards combined to keep the ball alive through numerous sets of hands for Eru to cross under the uprights.

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At Lyndhurst Park, Tawa earned a spectacular 42-35 victory over Poneke after being seemingly down and out early in the second half. Trailing 7-35 early in the second half, they came roaring back with five unanswered tries over the final quarter of the match. The injection of fresh legs and an increasing confidence paved the way for a win that saw Tawa score 35 unanswered points and completely overrun their red and black visitors. The introduction off the reserves bench of an entire new front row and blindside flanker and the shifting of New Zealand Sevens star Nigel Hunt from centre to halfback all at once in the 50th minute paid dividends for Tawa. With a spring in their step, Tawa's dangerous backs ignited and they scored two quick converted tries, then another, then another to suddenly be on level terms with Poneke - Eighteen year old winger George Tilsley racing in to score his second consecutive hat trick in the process. Second five-eighth Shaun Treeby scored the match winning converted try under the posts with two minutes to play and Tilsley almost grabbed a fourth try on fulltime but was cut down in full flight.

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Poneke grabbed one of the more sensational Wellington club rugby victories at Kilbirnie Park, coming from behind late in the match to pip neighbours Marist St. Pat's 23-21. Poneke came back from a 6-21 deficit after 75 minutes with two converted tries and a penalty at the death to complete a stunning turnaround. Unable to penetrate MSP's tenacious defence close to the forwards, all seemed lost when left wing Ambrose Plaister dropped a pass out wide with the line wide open to see a long period of sustained pressure come to nothing. But Plaister was part of a breath-taking five minutes that followed. With MSP lock Nick Passi having just been sent to the sinbin for killing play in his 22, Poneke regained possession and halfback Brad Faulkner crossed near the touchline for a seven-pointer to close the gap to 13-21. Led by lock Daniel Ramsay, Poneke broke free from the re-start and stormed back into MSP's territory. Ramsay almost scored after a galloping run up the clubrooms touchline, but kept the ball alive long enough in the tackle to feed a pass to openside flanker Masefau Leuluniu to keep the movement alive. Poneke recycled and hooker Dane Coles scored a second try to the left of the uprights. First five-eighth JeremyTe Huia's second conversion closed the gap to 20-21. With barely a minute remaining, MSP first five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili's long re-start beat everyone into touch and Poneke had to start again with a lineout inside their 22. Coles found his man Ramsay with his throw and the red and black pack rumbled towards their own 40-metre line. Ramsay charged up towards the right hand corner once more but was bundled into touch amidst collective groans from Poneke's supporters on the near side and relief from MSP's ringing the far touchline. But referee Hamish Mexted had blown his whistle for an offside penalty closer to the posts. Te Huia calmly stepped up to kick the winning points.

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Upper Hutt won this 27-26 over Petone. Petone capitalised on early Upper Hutt errors and led 10-0 when wingers Belgium Tutagaloa and Willie Moala combined for the opening try. It was then 13-3 to Petone by the time Upper Hutt struck back with a counterattacking try to second five-eighth Anthony Davidson after a kick and chase. Tutagaloa scored again for Petone after a scrum turnover and the home side went into the break leading 18-10.Again, Upper Hutt hit back with another try, this time to No. 8 Campbell Beckett after a sizzling run into open territory by loosehead prop Apa Heemi and the subsequent sinbinning of his opposite Thomas Tupiavao. Fullback Jason Woodward's conversion from out wide closed the gap to 18-17 and it was game on. Petone second five-eighth Michael Lealava'a scored an unconverted try to extend the lead to 23-17, but Upper Hutt first five-eighth Keelan Poi's converted try put his side ahead for the first time at 24-23.Tit-for-tat, Petone regained the lead 26-24 with a penalty, before Woodward put Upper Hutt ahead 27-26 and they clung on for a pulsating victory.?

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Upper Hutt grabbed a heart-stopping 32-29 win over Tawa at home at Maidstone Park After three previous close losses at home, Upper Hut took their fans on another emotional roller coaster ride, conceding a whopping 0-17 deficit to Tawa and then coming back to score the match-winning try through outstanding fullback Jason Woodward late in the contest. Tawa had sensationally scored two tries, to their wings Ross Taurima and George Tilsley, to open up their big lead after just several minutes of play. Upper Hutt eventually settled and closed the deficit to 17-6 at halftime. Upper Hutt then scored two tries, to lock Ray Sio and left wing Max Pearson, and they now led 18-17. Tawa re-took the lead with their third try, to centre Jason Roache, and they led 24-18. But Upper Hutt struck twice through Woodward, his second finally putting the game in the bag for Upper Hutt. Tawa then scored a well-deserved fourth try to end a thrilling game.

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Competition leaders Oriental-Rongotai maintained their place by holding on to beat Hutt Old Boys Marist 36-31 in a 10-try thriller at the Hutt Rec. Ories won the game with a decisive four-try burst just before and after halftime, reeling in a 7-19 deficit. Ories turned their fortunes around to lead 33-19. HOBM came right back in the 60th minute with a sweetly timed try in the corner to replacement fullback Steve Honey, converted from out wide by Kahu Tamatea and it was game on again. A tense period of play followed before visiting left wing Ambrose Curtis stepped up to kick a 40-metre penalty to extend the lead to 36-26. But HOBM weren't done yet. With five minutes still on the clock, lock Polonga Pedro sensationally plucked a kick and chase out of the air and scampered over to score again for the Eagles, closing the margin up to within a converted try.HOBM's slick backs attacked right up to the end and the electric Honey very nearly set up a match equalising try with another breakout up field into the setting sun. The movement died, however, and referee Gordon Noble-Campbell blew fulltime on a whirlwind match.

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Upper Hutt fullback Jason Woodward brought the house down at Maidstone Park with the last act of the game by kicking the match winning conversion and giving his side an Old Timers' Day 25-23 victory over Wainuiomata. Woodward had kicked terribly all day, missing four from five of his previous kicks, as he lined up the winning conversion from about 15 metres inside the right hand touchline. The place erupted when the flags went up. It was heartbreak for Wainuiomata, who had at least deserved to escape with a draw after leading throughout and dominating up front against a lacklustre Upper Hutt who were rarely in the match in the first half. With Piri Weepu on board at first five-eighth, and their physical pack in control in the set-pieces, Wainuiomata had scored two unanswered tries to lead 17-3 at halftime.

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Marist St Pat’s got up late to grab an exciting 35-27 win over defending first round champions Northern United. MSP won their first Premier match over Norths in six attempts with a big win at Porirua. In the end, MSP's dominance up front paid off after Norths had pulled clear to take a 27-13 lead just after halftime and had threatened to do what they were synonymous with and pull away through sheer X-factor. With scores locked up at 13-13 at halftime, Norths pounced with two converted tries after the break to No. 8 Mana Faraimo and second five-eighth Perry Hayman. MSP, who had had the better of the tight forwards exchanges and had dominated territory and possession in the first half, hit back with two unconverted tries out wide to close to 27-23 and it was game on. Norths' discipline waivered and they conceded another try to MSP in the corner to blindside flanker Lua Lokotui. MSP now led 28-27. Replacement back JP Tocker then sealed the win for MSP towards the end.?

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Hutt Old Boys Marist left wing Leka Tupuola was the hero for the Eagles scoring a hat-trick including two tries in the shadows of fulltime at the Hutt Recreation Ground to give his side a 27-22 victory over previous joint leaders Upper Hutt. With his side trailing Upper Hutt by five points, Tupuola finished off a length of the field try to see them draw level at 22-22. He then scored again at the death off a chip and chase at the end to take the match away from Upper Hutt. It was some turnaround after Upper Hutt had dominated for most of the match. Jason Woodward, playing at fullback and then first five-eighth, controlled the game with clever kicking. Centre Ciaran Driscoll broke through to score for Upper Hutt right on halftime and momentum remained with them right up until the final desperate few minutes.