Northern United and Ories to host Women's Semi-finals

Above: Ories left wing Jane Bryce scores her 24^th try of the season today against OBU.

Top qualifier Northern United will host Old Boys University in one playoff match at Porirua Park and second placed Oriental-Rongotai and third placed Wainuiomata will meet in the other at the Polo Ground in next week's Victoria Tavern Trophy Women's semi-finals.

Defending champions Norths sealed top spot for the playoffs ahead of first round winners from earlier in the season Ories with a 71-0 win over Poneke-MSP today.

Fullback Jamie McIntosh ran in four tries in their win, her second four-try bag against this same opposition this season while eight players scored their other seven tries.

Needing a bonus point win to cement their home semi-final spot, Ories scored five tries in beating Old Boys University 31-5 today.

In extremely windy conditions, it wasn't all plain sailing for Ories against a competitive, disruptive OBU side that deservedly put the first points on the board when first five-eighth Georgia Daals sliced through off a lineout in a withering run to the line.

Ories battled hard into the wind and eventually scored through prolific teenaged try scoring wing Jane Bryce after a powerful burst inside the 22 by centre Amanda Rasch. Bryce has now scored 24 tries for Ories this season, one short of what is believed to be the all-time Men's record set by Petone's Mike Clamp in 1981.

Then, with the last act of the first half, OBU dropped their guard and Ories counterattacked from halfway and scored through fullback Elizabeth Goulden to make it 12-5 at halftime.

Ories' third try early in the second half was also from a break out, replacement flanker Faasua Makisi scuttling clear. Hooker Ngaire Linde crossed for their bonus point try and livewire first five-eighth Kauna Lopa dived over to score.

Wainuiomata beat Tawa 87-0 in their match to put them on the bus to Miramar next Saturday.

Avalon beat Stokes Valley 27-0 in their last round match.

Meanwhile, in the Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup, Petone have tentatively qualified first for next week's semi-finals after beating the Wests Roosters 35-0 today.

The other semi-finalists have yet to be finalised, but in other meaningful results today, HOBM defeated Poneke 29-0 and Tawa beat the Upper Hutt Rams 22-3.

The Wellington Axemen's second XV ended their season with a 14-3 over Wainuiomata in a battle of the mid-table sides.

Likewise the semi-finalists for next week's HD Morgan Senior 2 competition are yet to be finalised, pending full results and points table clarification.?

Hutt Old Boys Marist, who had their bye today, had already been confirmed as top Senior 2 qualifier.

In one game that was played today, Petone beat Avalon 10-3.

There were two defaults OBU beating Norths and Johnsonville beating the Upper Hutt Rams without either needing to take the field.

In the U85 kg Paul Potiki Shield, all scheduled games were played today.

The MSP Blues harnessed the winds and the sea spray whipping off Evans Bay top beat the Upper Hutt Rams 61-0, to take a five-point lead at the top of the standings.

The Poneke Cavs and the Tawa Titans are second equal. The Cavs beat the OBU Onslow Spartans 26-0 and the Titans defeated the OBU Onslow Bunnies 12-0.

Waikanae hold fourth after having their bye today.

Eastbourne beat Avalon 6-0 - the lowest score of the season in any Senior men's grade.

There are two more rounds to play in this grade.