Wins for Norths in Hardham Cup final and OBU in Colts final

Norths overcome Axemen challenge to win the Hardham Cup

The Hardham Cup has made its home for the next year at Northern United after they got up over a strong and committed Wellington Axemen side 26-16 today at the Hutt Recreation Ground today.

Norths got off to a good start with Jackson Garden-Bachop kicking an early three points to give Norths the lead.

Norths opened up the Wellington defence and what looked like was going to be a certain try to Norths halfback Tomasi Palu was spoiled by a great try saving tackle from wellington centre Ahtun Masun.

Wellington got back down to the Norths half to tie it all up as first five-eighth Hilton Mexted knocked over an easy three points.

Norths spread the ball through the hands and stretched the defences of the Axemen, the ball was given to Norths fullback Sinoti Sinoti who scored to finish a good team try. The try was unconverted.

Wellington got a scrum on the Norths 10-metre line, and a perfectly executed set play off the back of the scrum and a decisive burst by No. 8 Vaea Fifita led to a try to Wellington winger Sani Taylor. Mexted was unable to convert.

Both teams had added three more points to their tallies. When there was a break-out wide for Norths that lead to a try to captain and hooker Henry Smith who bulldozed his way to the try line.

Norths started to take control of the game after Henry Smith’s try, with converting another penalty and a try to centre and Hurricanes star Alapati Leiua.

Wellington threw everything they had at Norths to try to get a late win, and they were able to come up with a try to Josh McCombie through good forwards work.

Both wellington's Terry Soli and Norths Tomasi Palu were yellow carded late in the game due to professional fouls, but neither teams were able to score anymore points.

Though, it didn’t affect the game, there was also a long injury break midway through the second half after Norths No. 8 Parekura Lalaga sustained a serious knee injury.

Norths skipper Henry Smith said the key to victory was a lot of heart. “ We had to play at our best today to beat Wellington. They gave us a strong game over the full 80 minutes and credit to them, they showed that they are going to be a tough team in the Premier grade next year.”

Smith, who previously captained Norths to winning the Jubilee Cup, acknowledged that it’s been a difficult year for Norths but there’s much to look to forward to in the future. “We’ve only got a young team, some of these boys are fresh out of college and they’ve had to learn a lot this season playing in Senior rugby. But they’ll be better for it next year which is good for our club.”

OBU defend Colts title with victory over HOBM

The Old Boys University Junior Goats played clinical, positive rugby in beating the Hutt Old Boys Marist Junior Eagles 28-12 in the first final of the day, defending their Division 1 John E Kelly Memorial Cup title.

Played in perfect conditions in the morning, OBU won the game in the first half with three first half tries that took them to a 22-0 halftime lead.

The Junior Goats capitalised? on several HOBM errors and fullback Sam Chamberlain pounced for a well-taken double. ?Chamberlain chased through a loose ball and scored and converted Old Boys University’s first try in just the third minute of play.

Making a jittery start, HOBM struggled to get in the match and let themselves down with a misfiring lineout and they gave away too many turnovers, which allowed OBU to go further ahead in the 20th minute with their second try.OBU loosehead prop Heinrich Swartz, handed off to lock Karl Dumelow who galloped towards the line before unselfishly offloading to try scorer and blindside flanker Sam McGettigan and the Goats went ahead 12-0.

Chamberlain extended the lead to 15-0 soon after with a penalty, before Chamberlain scored the try of the game off an 80-metere turnover and sweeping counterattack up field.

HOBM came back into the match in the second half, but hugely committed OBU defence repeatedly kept them out. The Junior Eagles should of scored early in the second half after a concerted raid but again made key errors close the line and their chance for a comeback was lost. Instead, OBU went further ahead to 25-0 with another penalty.

HOBM, who finally started to use their big ball playing forwards, prop Tasi Fidow, blindside Lise Soloa and No. 8 John Tufele to good effect, finally scored through Fidow on the 60th minute mark. They scored a second try when halfback Matt Poole darted over from close range, closing the gap to 28-12.

But it was too little too late and OBU’s determination and organisaton saw them home.

OBU’s captain and openside flanker and captain Francis McKeefry, who left the field with a shoulder injury in the 15th minute, said the win was the a terrific culmination for his side’s hard work all season. “This is pretty awesome for us to have won this final today; a great way to end the season for the OBU boys”, he said."

McKeefry praised his team’s defence. “We defended really well out there, we’re battered and bruised and they threw a lot us and we hung in there well towards the end.”

McKeefry signalled it was a team effort, but was quick to praise two-try hero Chamberlain and the two locks who both had top games.

“Our fullback Sam Chamberlain’s a good player. He’s a pretty good cricket player as well, so he’s got some sharp skills.”

“Our locks Zac Power and Karl Dumelow are the heart and soul of our team and that they both stood up today.”As well as Chamberlain and the locking duo, loosehead prop Swartz, hooker Zac Nevison and No. 8 James McDougall also toiled hard all match.

For HOBM, loose forwards Tufele and Soloa both played well in the second half, as did try scoring prop Fidow and replacement midfielder Ben Peni who added punch.

Scores: Old Boys University 28 (Sam Chamberlain 2, Sam McGettigan tries; Chamberlain 2 con, pen; Matt Fowler 2 pen) beat Hutt Old Boys Marist 12 (Tasi Fidow, Matt Poole tries; James Bailey con). HT 22-0.