Clinical Old Boys University defend Colts title

Above OBU Green celebrate their Colts Division 1 final win today at the Hutt Recreation Ground

It's a three-peat for Old Boys University Green.

The club's crack Colts team has defended its John E Kelly Cup Memorial Cup Colts U21 Division 1 title with a 35-8 win over Hutt Old Boys Green in this morning's final at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

It was a clinical performance from the Junior Goats, who did the damage early, racing to a 20-0 lead in almost as many minutes with two penalties and two converted tries.

They then added a third just before halftime to take an unassailable 27-0 lead into the turnaround.

With the use of a freshening breeze in the second half, the HOBM side fought hard, and too their credit drew the second half 8-8 and scored a well-deserved consolation try in the dying stages to replacement hooker Devan Savelio.

OBU did the damage early, utilising their strong set-pieces and capitalising on a jittery start by the Junior Eagles who coughed up possession early and allowed the Goats to pounce.

All three of the Goats' first half tries came directly from their set-pieces and the good work at the back from fullback Sam Chamberlain.

Following an early penalty, Chamberlain helped set up the first try with a raking touchfinder up into the Eagles' 22. Lock Jared ‘The Pole' Martinovich then soared high to steal the lineout and OBU ripped the ball to left wing Jack Green who raced in for the first of his two tries

Their scrum turned provider for their next two tries, Chamberlain scoring a try himself and Green his double in front of the hot dog stand.

OBU captain and prop Morgan Poi was in the thick of the action all match, and credited his teammates afterwards and his coaching staff for getting them up early this week to prepare for the mid-morning kick-off.

"We're stoked to win three in a row. The boys dug deep there in the second half. We started off with a roar but then faded away, but luckily we held on to win," said Poi.

"The coaches did us a favour getting us up at 6.30 am and changing our routine and getting us up and into the game early."

"Us forwards knew we had to stand up today, and I think we did that. Full credit to HOBM for taking the game to us in the second half."

Poi also praised OBU's backs. "The likes of Chamberlain and ‘Unit' [fowler] have been here before so they showed their experience and know what its about. Jack Green on the wing is a good player and knows his way to the line."

HOBM were much more competitive after the interval, getting themselves on the scoreboard with a penalty to livewire fullback Site Timu.

But it was short-lived as Chamberlain kicked his third penalty and 21^st point of the match to restore the halftime advantage with a little over a quarter of the contest to play.

Chamberlain and Fowler then combined with a counterattack up the grandstand touchline, leading to replacement flanker Connor Silvester scoring their fourth try.

The win for the Junior Goats is their 35^th straight win in this grade, going back to 2012. They now have the 1978-1980 MSP Premiers' 42-match winning streak on their radar going into 2015.

Scores:

OBU Green 35 (Jack Green 2, Sam Chamberlain, Connor Silvester tries; Chamberlain 3 pen, Chamberlain 3 con) beat HOBM Green 8 (Devan Savelio try; Site Timu penalty). HT: 27-0.

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