Ories v Wainui: Semi-Final

Defending Hardham Cup champions Oriental-Rongotai will find themselves in a tough battle when they travel to William Jones Park in Wainuiomata for their semi-final. Wainuiomata are sure to have a legion of home support behind them willing them on to a first ever final at Westpac Stadium.

Wainuiomata and Ories – in that order – were the two frontrunners right through the round-robin phase until the very last round when Upper Hutt leapfrogged both of them into the top qualifiers position after both lost their respective round seven games. Ories lost to a desperate Western Suburbs 8-12, who had to beat them to avoid relegation next year, while Wainui succumbed to Upper Hutt 12-35 at Maidstone Park.

Both of these teams were fast out of the blocks, with Ories winning their first four games and Wainuiomata their first five, as well as drawing their sixth with Wests. The fifth of these wins was against Ories and was also Ories’ first loss, with All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu contributing with 15 points in a 21-8 victory in the only other clash between these teams this year.

Although pushed out of the top spot in the last week, making the playoff round still represents a fine achievement for Wainuiomata after making the running over the last seven weeks and contributing to a pulsating Hardham Cup. Their rise has been even more exciting considering they finished fourth in the first round Harper Lock Shield, behind the three B teams that also played in the Cup round. For the long-established Ories, progression to the final will be good reward for an often under performing Swindale Shield round.

Whatever the outcome of this clash, it promises to be compelling viewing, with both teams unafraid to throw the ball around and counterattack in broken play, a style employed by the successful Jubilee Cup sides.