Dynamic Ories capture Jubilee Cup in style

A superb all-round team effort and some breathtaking tries has given Oriental-Rongotai its first standalone Jubilee Cup title after a memorable Premier college and club finals day at the Petone Recreation Ground.

Ories ran in five tries to blitz two-time defending champions Northern United in a dynamic exhibition of grassroots rugby. In an exhilarating 20 minutes of play either side of halftime, Ories came from 13-6 behind to score four electric tries and take the game away from Norths.

With barely 10 minutes up on the scoreboard clock in the second half, Ories had scored their third and fourth tries and kicked a penalty to open up a 33-13 lead and it was effectively game over.

All four tries had the huge crowd on its feet and with the weather having turned windy, wet and cold from the south just before halftime after bright sunshine all day up to that point, Ories set about protecting their big lead.

The first try, started from 60 metres out and eventually finished off by lock Dan Reddish was a beauty. From deep inside their own half, centre Paulo Aukoso made a break that sparked the movement. Big left wing Afa Fa'atau handled twice and was caught short at the end trying to bulldoze his way through Norths centre Nene Va'alepu. Quick recycling and passing across the posts saw Reddish crash over for a seven pointer to level the scores.

Right wing Ambrose Curtis ran back the ball from near halfway to set up the second, eventually scored near the corner by No. 8 Iani Pahulu after a penalty and lineout and attacking scrum.

Pahulu himself was to cap off a terrific game by being presented with the Jimmy Brown Medal for the Player of the Final at the post-match presentation by Jim's son, leading golfer Mark Brown.

Right on halftime, Kinikinilau made another telling break up into Norths' 22, that was carried on by skipper and prop Donal McNamara. Norths held on, but Ories were awarded a penalty in front which Curtis slotted to give Ories a 21-13 lead at the turnaround and with the southerly arriving.

Now playing into it, Ories scored their third try on 45 minutes. A big scrum turnover led to a concerted raid and halfback Sean Hay gave the final pass to wing Fa'atau who crashed over. Curtis added the extras and Ories now led 28-13.

Almost immediately following the re-start, Ories were in again with a decisive fourth try. From the back of a Norths scrum near halfway, Norths No. 8 Sene Ta'ala flicked a pass straight to livewire Hay who took off upfield. Hay in turn found Kinikinilau in support who soared into the clear and kicked ahead. Centre Aukuso regathered the kick and passed back inside to Kinikinilau who effectively sealed the Jubilee Cup right there and then.

The celebrations had to wait as there was still a good 25 minutes left in the final. But this was Ories' day, and when left wing Afa Fa'atau scored a freakish try off a penalty kick by Curtis that held up in the wind and came back into the field of play, the partying had started.

For Ories, many players were huge contributors. Captain Donal McNamara was reluctant to single out any one player, saying it was a massive collective team effort. "The whole team played so well, numbers one to 22 each played their part in this win."

McNamara commended his team's effort in the second half after they had established their big lead. "After halftime we thought that we had to hold on to possession and deny Norths the ball and stop them from coming back at us. They are dangerous from everywhere so the way we all stood up was tremendous."

McNamara also acknowledged the heritage of the Ories club and thanked the large contingent of vocal Ories supporters that packed the ground.

"This is an outstanding moment for the club and our first [standalone] title for over 100 years. We know how much this means to our supporters and players that have worn the jersey before us."

"Seeing and hearing the chanting of all our fans on the far side was a massive boost, especially after it had turned freezing cold and started raining. Their chants of Ories, Ories, Ories really stirred us on."

The Ories forward pack was a massive in the final. Their scrum was dominant, as has been all season, and they won the ruck and maul count 126 to 44. Ories enjoyed over 70 percent of second half possession.

Lock Dan Reddish, who was in the middle of this superb effort and said that the win was something the group of players had been building towards for some time.

"We've been building for this moment for several years now," said Reddish. "The last few seasons we've made the Jubilee Cup round but failed to kick on when it counted. Everyone just started to believe, we knew we had the team to do it but had to put in the hard work to get this result and look where we are now."

Norths came back with a concerted period of play over the final 10 minutes, and were finally rewarded with a well-worked try to replacement prop Steve Fa'atau that closed the gap to 40-18.

The sound of fulltime brought a huge cheer from Ories and their fans and tears of joy to several old timers afterwards.

The win was particularly special following the recent passing away of lifetime Ories supporter and the club's patron Don Bond. One supporter on the field afterwards looked skyward and thanked Bond for watching over the team throughout the latter part of the season and for "blessing us from up high with this fantastic win."

For Norths, they were humble in defeat and acknowledged the excellent season and performance that Ories put on in the final. With so many fine players and a superb support base, first round Swindale Shield champions Norths will be back strong again next season.

Earlier in the match, which opened in bright blue sunshine and in front of a large and expectant crowd, Norths had come out by far the more composed of the two teams and raced to a 13-3 after 15 minutes.

Ories infringed from the opening kick-off and fullback James So'oialo slotted a 45 metre penalty to open their account. Five minutes later referee Mike Fraser awarded Norths a penalty from a scrum turnover and So'oialo stepped up from 40 metres to make it 6-0.

Kinikinilau sliced through a large hole in Ories' first clear chance of the match. The ball was lost, but in a sign of what was to come, Ories' scrum muscled up and Norths won a penalty which Curtis nailed.

After letting slip a near-certain try after a clean break up the middle by first five-eighth David Palu and carried on by second five-eighth Josh Hunt, Norths scored from a free kick and tap to blindside flanker Mana Faraimo. So'oialo's conversion put them ahead.

But from that point it was all Ories.

Earlier in the day, Wellington College ran out 20-18 winners in the Wellington Premier Secondary School final. In an equally pulsating match, Wellington College left wing TeDee Sami scored the match winning try in the corner with about four minutes left on the clock.

Silverstream had got themselves in front midway through the second half with the second of their second half tries, after Wellington College had capitalised on first half set-piece ascendancy scored from a brilliantly executed forwards drive right after halftime which broke an 8-8 deadlock.

Both sides had kicked early penalties and scored a try apiece late in the half. Wellington College crossed first to go ahead 8-3, before Silverstream fullback Liam Forbes scored in the opposite corner after a lovely break by halfback George Vance.

Wellington College now go on to play Gisborne Boys' High School next Saturday in their regional final clash with the winner making the national Secondary Schools Top Four.

?