Upsets Galore on first day of National Under-19 Tournament

The first day of the Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under-19 Tournament in Taupo produced several upsets with six of the eight lower seeded teams winning their quarter finals.

In the Graham Mourie Cup Premiership section. North Harbour, Canterbury and defending champions Waikato advanced while in the Michael Jones Trophy championship, Heartland, Counties and Southland were perhaps surprise winners in their respective fixtures.

North Harbour punish slow starting Wellington

Wellington lost in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2015, to North Harbour who were losers at the same stage in the championship in 2016.

The final score in a match which featured three lead changes was 30-27.

Wellington slumped to a 0-14 deficit in the opening quarter before Oriental-Rongotai flanker William Heather opened the Baby Lions’ account.

Halfback Carlos Price would have a major bearing on proceedings. He scored a try and kicked a 50-metre penalty with the breeze to propel Wellington into a 15-14 halftime lead.

Later Price would make a tackle on the North Harbour winger which accidentally forced the winger into hospital.

North Harbour regained the lead at the start of the second-half when centre Isaac Nonoa crossed the chalk, but Wellington regrouped and first-five Grayson Whitman’s clever kick created a try for hooker Xavier Numia.

Wellington’s discipline wavered and Jack Bergin chipped over two penalties to make it 27-20 to North Harbour.

Wellington rallied and wing Malachai Unasa scored a try from halfway to ties the scores.

With about 15 minutes left Bergin was on target with a third penalty to make in 30-27.
Wellington attacked desperately, including a last-ditch assault which travelled from 22 to 22, but North Harbour held on for an upset win.

North Harbour No.8 Nathan Vaatausili scored two tries. Petone flanker Jake Quinn was a standout for Wellington making at least three clean breaks while MSP centre Billy Proctor was threatening.

Premiership: Graham Mourie Cup

Tasman was the surprise package of the seeding rounds winning all three matches in the South Island section, but they proved little match for defending champions, Waikato.

In heavy conditions the Waikato forwards slowly strangled Tasman who were never able to build consistent pressure.  In the second-spell, Waikato played more expansively and prevailed comfortably 28-11. Xavier Row, Niven Longopoa (a member of the National Top Four winning Mount Albert School First XV last year) and Siosiua Kaho scored the junior Mooloos tries. Tom Jordan added three penalties and two conversions.

Canterbury pipped Bay of Plenty 23-21. In an even affair with little quarter given Canterbury was more composed in the last quarter. Surprisingly all three tries scorers were locals with Logan Bell (Shirley Boys’ High School), Atu Manu (Christchurch Boys’ High School) and Dallas McLeod (Christ’s College) touching down.

Auckland were the biggest winners of the day thumping Manawatu 71-5. Auckland scored ten tries with Anzelo Tuitavake bagging a double and New Zealand Under-20’s wing Caleb Clark featuring on the scoresheet. Harry Plumer was in fine form of the tee slotting 10 goals from 11 attempts.

Championship: Michael Jones Trophy

Hawke’s Bay really struggled in the Hurricanes seeding matches losing all three matches, but found some joy with a 25-14 victory against Northland. Old Boys’ University prop Tim Farrell, who has struggled with injury in 2017, was in imperious form and celebrated with two tries.

Jaya Moore was another multiple try scorer crossing the line twice for Southland in their 32-28 victory over Taranaki. Moore played over 50 games for the Rotorua Boys’ High School First XV and impressed with his finishing in the biggest surprise of the day.

Taranaki held Chiefs top seed Bay of Plenty to a draw in the grading matches while Southland lost every game prior to Tapou.

Tomas Hanham-Carter was even more greedy than Farrell and Moore. The Mid Canterbury based pivot scored all 19 points for Heartland in their 19-16 win against Auckland Development. Heartland have been on a roll lately with their 10-8 win over Hawke’s Bay in the last round of the Hurricanes seeding competition a surprise to.

Defending champions Counties edged Otago, 15-13. Otago first-five George Witana, a former New Zealand age group water polo rep, had a chance to win the game with a bold 45-metre penalty kick into the breeze on full time, but he was offline.

Earlier second-five Jack McHugh (formally an openside) scored a try for Otago and Witana kicked a conversion and two penalties.

Otago was left to rue a malfunctioning set-piece and Counties outscored the southerners two tries to one in a contest that didn’t soar to great heights. Counties tries were scored by Alex Tuiloma from the Bombay club and Petelo Ikenasio from Manurewa. Josh Baverstock kicked a penalty and a conversion.  Interestingly Baverstock, McHugh and Witana all played together at Sacred Heart College in Auckland.

DAY TWO DRAW (Wednesday 13 September)

Graham Mourie Cup
10.45am: Tasman v Wellington
12.30pm: Bay of Plenty v Manawatu
2.15pm: Waikato v North Harbour (semifinal)
4.00pm: Canterbury v Auckland (semifinal)

Michael Jones Trophy
10.45am: Northland v Otago
12.30pm: Auckland Development v Taranaki
2.15pm: Hawke’s Bay v Counties Manukau (semifinal)
4.00pm: Heartland v Southland (semifinal)