New Zealand Club Rugby round-up 25 July

Finals and semi-finals championship rugby continued yesterday, with several more deciders around the country.

The Christchurch club rugby Hawkins Cup and Plate finals are being played today (Sunday).

In Dunedin, University are the new champions, beating defending champions Taieri 31-15 in the final. The students raced to a 17-10 lead at halftime, against the run of play. They then came out fizzing in the second spell and there was no stopping them. First five-eighth Fletcher Smith scored the match-sealing try with about 15 minutes to play. Kaikorai defeated Dunedin 48-39 to win the inaugural Gainsborough Shield title.

Of note, Taieri first five-eighth Josh Casey ended the season with a Dunedin club championship season record of 300 points to his name.

In the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga Sports won the Baywide Premier title on Saturday.Tauranga Sports defeated top qualifier Te Puke Sports 26-14 in the final. Tauranga out-scored Te Puke three tries to two, with wing Jason Harvery scoring a brace.

In Counties Manukau, Bombay defended their McNamara Cup title, edging Karaka 23-21. In a tight and willing final, Karaka scored a converted try late on halftime to take an 18-16 lead into the turnaround. But Bombay struck with their only score of the second half and they held on to win.

In North Harbour, Massey won the Premier One Championship Final, beating North Shore 31-26. In the Plate final, Northcote defeated East Coast Bays 41-28.

In Northland, Wellsford won the Premier title, beating Mid Northern 29-12.

In Auckland, Grammar TEC are the 2015 Gallaher Shield champions after beating Auckland University 39-14. In a repeat of last year’s final, Grammar TEC led 12-9 at halftime before pulling away to win well in the end. Ponsonby defeated Papatoetoe 27-21 in the final of the Jubilee Trophy, Eden beat Suburbs 34-27 to win the Portola Trophy and Otahuhu overcame Maungarua 35-13 in the final of the President’s Trophy.

In two region competitions still going, ITM Cup minnows Wellington holds it Jubilee Cup final next Saturday. The two teams meeting at Jerry Collins Stadium are Marist St Pat’s and Old Boys University.

In the Hawke’s Bay, next week’s Maddison Trophy semi-finals will see top qualifier Napier Pirates play fourth placed Taradale and second and third placed Hastings Rugby and Sports and Havelock North meet 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 Final
Tauranga Sports 26 v Te Puke Sports 14

Counties Manukau
McNamara Cup Final:
Bombay 23 – Karaka 21

Northland
Southern Districts final:
Wellsford 29 vs Mid Northern 12

Otago
Final: University A 31 – Taieri 15
Gainsborough Shield: Kaikorai 48 – Dunedin 39