Wainuiomata And Upper Hutt to Meet In Hardham Final

Hardham Cup glory-boys Wainuiomata won their way into next week's Westpac Stadium final with a last-minute come-from-behind 19-18 semi-final win over Oriental-Rongotai at William Jones Park. Wainuiomata will play Upper Hutt, who beat Western Suburbs 25-16 in the other semi-final, with the pinpoint goal kicking of Ben Aoina again guiding Upper Hutt to victory.

It was the continued resurgence of Wainuiomata that was again the talking point of the Hardham Cup top four round, with the green-and-blacks winning their way into their first premier final in almost two decades and registering their sixth win from eight games played this year. First five-eighth Earl Va'a was cool under pressure in landing the winning penalty for the last act of the game, to the disappointment of Ories who had led throughout.

Ories had opened up a 15-3 lead after 30 minutes, with tries to first five-eighth Mau Lolo and lock Mason Malagaamalii, the latter coming after Ories had charged down a Va'a clearing kick, one of three such tries in the four playoff games. But Wainuiomata pulled the deficit back early in the second half with a converted pushover try to the right of the uprights to no-nonsense No. 8 Sape Misa. Va'a (two) and Lolo exchanged penalties and Ories led 18-16 late in the match. But ill discipline cost them, giving away a last-gasp penalty, and when it sailed through the uprights their season and defence of the Hardham Cup was over.

In less dramatic circumstances, it was Upper Hutt's first five-eighth Aoina whose twenty points, together with New Zealand U21 halfback Alby Mathewson's class that saw Upper Hutt come through 25-16 over Wests at Maidstone Park.

Both teams started strongly, with defence and field possession the order of the day. Wests were keen to use the ball, with their second five-eighth Richard Cooney prominent throughout. However, basic errors let the visitors down with their final passes going to ground. Upper Hutt opened the scoring through Aoina, his first of six penalties, after Upper Hutt gained the momentum in Wests' half. Their strong number eight James Mei led the way with some strong runs through the centre of the park. A penalty to Wests' first five-eighth Scott Mudgway levelled the score at 3-all, but it was Upper Hutt who scored their first (and only) try 10 minutes out from the break. Left-winger Sam Williamson crossed the line, coming from a charge-down as Wests were trying to clear the ball from their own line seeing Upper Hutt into the break with a 13-3 advantage.

Upper Hutt started the second half strongly, as halfback Mathewson got them on the front foot with some nice touches around the rucks. Wests were hanging in there with their defence, but poor discipline was costly and Aiona made them pay with two more penalties to take a 19-6 lead. Wests knew what was at stake and they hit back with 15 minutes of strong play, No. 8 Natana Tiatia getting them forward and over for their first try. Mudgway was unable to convert, so Upper Hutt retained an eight-point lead.

Wests controlled most of the play from this point, their captain Justin Purdie scored after Wests had stretched Upper Hutt out wide. Another missed conversion and the score was 19-16 in favour of Upper Hutt. Wests had the edge in the final part of this match, but a brilliant run from Mathewson from halfway almost got Upper Hutt over the line. They earned another penalty from the move, to take the score out to 22-16. Aiona finished Wests off with his fourth penalty of the half, and with that Upper Hutt earned a place in next week's final.

Wests had their chances throughout the match, but the composure and class of Upper Hutt's half combination got them home.