New Zealand Club Rugby round-up 18 July

Champions were crowned in Southland, Tasman, Manawatu, Taranaki and Waikato on Saturday.

Star beat Marist 14-9 to win the Southland Galbraith Shield. Stars came back from 8-11 down to lead 25-11, and then withstand a comeback to win the final 25-21.

After two consecutive seasons as bridesmaids, Wanderers have won the Nelson Bays championship. Wanderers defeated Kahurangi 21-12, winning two tries to nil.

After a nine-year absence, the Marlborough title returned to Moutere’s clubrooms. Moutere defeated Central 22-11 in the final in Blenheim.

In Palmerston North, College Old Boys retained the Manawatu Hankins Shield by beating Kia Toa 32-21 in the final. College Old Boys won the final four tries to three, to finish the season holding the first round Jubilee Cup and second round Centennial Shield as well as the Hankins Shield.

There was an operatic finish to the Taranaki final, as defending champions Inglewood did all they could to steal top qualifier New Plymouth Old Boys’ thunder.

NPOB won the final 17-15, but it took last-gasp try and a sideline conversion by Logan Rei to take the title. Inglewood had led 12-10 at halftime and then 15-10 with fulltime fast approaching. But a yellow card and a try to left wing Jackson Carrington locked the match up. Rei then slotted the biggest kick of his life.

In the Waikato, the Hamilton Marist Ravens defended their crown, edging University 10-8 in the final. Hamilton Marist led 10-3 at halftime and held on grimly throughout the second half. The students eventually scored with about 10 minutes remaining but couldn’t land the conversion from wide out. The Ravens won the title for the third consecutive year. Hamilton Marist also won the Premier B final.

There were also several semi-final rounds around New Zealand yesterday.

In Dunedin, Taieri and University A will replay last year’s final when they meet in next week’s Dunedin premier club rugby final. Taieri beat Southern 25-21 and University A beating Harbour 35-33 to progress.

In the first semi-final, Southern built a handy first half led with wing Josh Gordon scoring a hat trick to help Southern have a 21-12 led at the break. The boot of Josh Casey kept Taieri in touch and 13 points in the second half, while keeping Southern scoreless was enough to get Taieri the win. In the second semi-final, it was University A who attacked whenever possible and led 28-16 at halftime. Harbour closed the gap and eventually took the led but a break by University A first five Fletcher Smith was finished off by Matt Faddes. The conversion pushed the students ahead 35- 33 and into the final.

Top qualifier Te Puke Sports and Tauranga Sports and Te Puke Sports will meet to decide the Baywide Premier title next weekend after winning their semi-finals. Tauranga Sports beat Mount Maunganui 37-13, while Te Puke Sports won 40-20 against Whakarewarewa.

In counties Manukau, Karaka and Bombay will meet in next week’s McNamara Cup final. In the two semi-finals, Karaka defeated Pukekohe 17-14 and Bombay beat Ardmore Marist 18-3.

In Auckland, Grammar TEC and University will meet in next week’s Gallaher Shield final.Grammar TEC defeated Waitemata 27-3 in the semi-finals. Papatoetoe and Ponsonby will play each other in the Jubilee Trophy final.

In a repeat of last year’s final, defending champions North Shore will play top qualifiers Massey in next weekend’s North Harbour title decider. North Shore defeated Glenfield 32-15 in one semi-final and Massey beat Western 24-8 in another. East Coast Bays and Northcote will meet in the Plate final.

In Northland Mid Northern met Otamatea in one semi-final and top qualifier Wellsford met Mid Western in the other.

In Christchurch, Lincoln University will host Christchurch in the final of the Metro Hawkins Cup. Top qualifiers Lincoln University pipped New Brighton 17-14 and Christchurch defeated second placed qualifier Marist Albion 24-22 in the other.

In other competitions, there’s still a round to play next week before the Maddison Trophy semi-finals. Havelock North, Napier Pirates and Hastings Rugby and Sports have all qualified for the semi-finals, but Napier Old Boys Marist and Taradale will be battling it out to grab fourth sport.

In Wellington, top qualifier Old Boys University will play Oriental-Rongotai in one Jubilee Cup semi-final next week and second placed Marist St Pat’s will host Tawa in the other.

To view the results from the competitions we run, summed up above, and our current Heartland Championship partners Wairarapa-Bush, Wanganui, West Coast, Buller, East Coast and Mid Canterbury (coming shortly) please click on the map of New Zealand on our home page www.clubrugby.co.nz

For a result wrap-up of some other club rugby competitions please see below (note of the results available as at Sunday morning):

Bay of Plenty
Baywide Premier semi-finals
Tauranga Sports 37 - Mount Maunganui 13
Te Puke Sports 40 - Whakarewarewa 20

Counties Manukau
McNamara Cup semi-finals
Karaka 17 - Pukekohe 14
Bombay 18 – Ardmore Marist 3

Manawatu
Hankins Shield Final:
College Old Boys 32 – Kia Toa 21
Val Holland Memorial Trophy:
Feilding Old Boys Oroua 18 – Te Kawau 13
Women’s Final:
FOB Oroua 13 – Kia Toa 0

Northland
Southern Districts semi-finals– TBC

Otago
Semi-finals:
Taieri 25 – Southern 21
University A 35 – Harbour 33

Southland
Galbraith Shield Final
Star 35 – Marist 21

Tasman 
Marlborough Final
Moutere 22 – Central 11
Nelson Bays Final
Wanderers 21 – Kahurangi 12

Waikato
Semi-finals
Hamilton Marist 29 – Hamilton Old Boys 24
University 27 – Otorohanga 24