Canterbury win blockbuster U19s final in Taupo

Canterbury are the 2015 Graham Mourie Cup champions, beating Waikato 41-35 in a thrilling Premiership final this evening in the Jock Hobbs Memorial National U19 tournament.

Canterbury scored the match winning try in the dying moments of the final, after a late rally and vigorous series of attacks at Waikato’s whitewash.

The red and blacks’ flanker, Charlie Gamble, won the DJ Graham Player of the Tournament accolade.

Counties Manukau won the bottom 8 division Michael Jones Trophy with a 32-28 win over Tasman. Counties Manukau came from behind to steal victory at the end. Tasman had led 16-15 at halftime.

In another close match, Taranaki beat Otago 28-23 to claim third spot overall in the tournament. Otago led this match 11-10 at halftime.

Wellington beat North Harbour 38-11 in the playoff for fifth and sixth, former New Zealand secondary schools wing Malo Tuitama scoring four tries.

In other matches, Southland pipped Hawke’s Bay 14-13 , Auckland A overcame Manawatu 48-13, Bay of Plenty beat Northland 20-7 and the Heartland team beat Auckland B 29-17.

Final match report:

Canterbury: 41 (Charlie Gamble 2, Matthew Morrison, Joel Hintz, Fraser Scott tries; Brett Cameron, Cameron 5 con 2 pen) Waikato: 35 (Shelford Murray, Amanaki Savieti, Aaron Preest, Sekope Moli-Lopeti, Christian Kelleher tries; Matthew Lansdown 5 con)

Twice Canterbury rallied from behind to capture the National U19 title.

It was a blockbuster final that turned dramatically before halftime. Ahead 21-3 Waikato lost wing Shelford Murray to the sin bin for a tip tackle.

Canterbury responded by scoring two tries to reduce the deficit to four points.

Sixteen phases of graft saw openside Charlie Gamble muscle over.

Blindside Anthony Burnett then snaffled a loose pass by Waikato halfback Nic McCurran and burst down the left wing. Halted at halfway he offloaded to centre Cameron Bailey and Bailey kicked inside the Waikato 22. Waikato fumbled in retreat, Canterbury regained the ball and lock Caleb Aperahama passed to hooker Matthew Morrison who galloped away.

Earlier Murray opened the scoring by dashing 60-metres after an errant pass by Canterbury fullback Caleb Makene.

Waikato was rampant for 25 minutes. Quick hands by first-five Matthew Lansdown realised powerhouse centre Amanaki Savieti to make it 14-3.

Hooker Sekope Moli-Lopeti extended the lead. falling over the line at the back of a rolling maul. 

Canterbury missed 11 tackles in the first-half and Waikato fullback Jordon Trainor dropped the ball with the line at his mercy as Canterbury barley hung in.

Waikato seized the initiative early in the second spell. Moli-Lopeti received a swift transfer from prop Ayden Johnstone at a lineout on halfway. Moli-Lopeti bowled over four defenders and stormed inside the 22. Caught by Canterbury lock Hamish Dalzell, Moli-Lopeti offloaded in a tackle to lock Aaron Preest who lumbered away for Waikato's fourth try.

Down 28-17, Morrison made a 25-metre bust instigating a Canterbury attack inside the Waikato 22. A series of pick and goes resulted in prop Joel Hintz sneaking over, 28-24.

Canterbury leapt ahead 31-28 when Waikato ill-discipline was punished by a rolling maul try to Gamble.

Halfback Logan Crowley was one of the best players in an outstanding match. He broke 30-metres and won a penalty which First-five Brett Cameron duly slotted, 34-28.

Waikato wasn't done and bullying runs by Savieti and Moli-Lopeti restored Waikato's lead with seven minutes to go.

Crucially Canterbury stole the kickoff. Second-five Jordie Barrett soared above the Waikato defence and grasped in two hands.

Canterbury employing tough and accurate 'pick and goes' rumbled to within meters of the Canterbury try line. Aperahama was especially prominent making four forceful carries.

With a penalty advantage Canterbury quickly passed blindside and wing Fraser Scott dived over triumphantly to seal victory.