One-point results decide Jubilee Cup semi-finals places in epic last round

Jubilee Cup round seven: A one-point loss is frustrating at any time. But a one-point defeat becomes heartbreaking when after eighteen weeks of dedication and determination that solitary point comes down to the last match of the regular season.

That was the emotion felt by Oriental-Rongotai's supporters and players on Saturday following their 13-12 away defeat to Upper Hutt that saw them miss out on the Jubilee Cup playoffs, after another one-point result much closer to home had transpired to fall in their favour.

At Kilbirnie, Northern United's pulsating 12-11 win over Poneke meant that if Ories had beaten Upper Hutt they would have made the semi-finals for the first time since 2002. A win for Ories would have seen them finish equal with Poneke on 16 competition points, enough for them to pip Poneke for the last playoff place because they beat them?20-16?? when they met earlier in the round robin.

Instead, next week's Jubilee Cup playoffs will see Norths travel to Petone and Poneke make the trip over the road to Evans Bay Park to meet Marist St. Pat's.

In the fight for top place between Marist St. Pat's and Petone, MSP narrowly?held on to keep their second round unbeaten record alive to retain the Andy Leslie Trophy for finishing as top qualifier at the end of the round robin. MSP were held to a 22-all draw by Hutt Old Boys Marist, while second placed qualifiers Petone ran out bonus point winners over Old Boys-University to finish level with MSP on 28 points at the top. But MSP pipped Petone to the top spot by virtue of their 20-15 win over them in round two.

Playing for pride only at Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt opened up a crucial 13-5 lead over Ories midway through the match, with all their points coming from Bucharest-bound first five-eighth Ben Aoina. Aoina, who leaves shortly for a stint playing in Romania, sold a dummy and scored a converted try and then kicked two penalties to give his side a crucial lead. Upper Hutt then rallied behind Aoina with iron-curtain defence throughout the second half to deny the visitors any more than a converted try near the end.

Consequently the season ends for Ories, while Poneke cross the road next week to meet MSP in the semi-final, with their heartbreaking loss to Norths turning into relief upon the realisation that their 2008 season remains alive.

Poneke were desperately unlucky not to have held on and beaten Norths, after turning to face the biting southeast wind and accompanying rain showers holding just a 6-0 lead over the Norths side featuring three of the best attackers at the back in Wellington club rugby in Buxton Popoalii, Sinoti To'omaga and Daley Harper. But Norths were also reduced to 14-men for the entire second half with halfback Leon Ellison red carded for stomping just before halftime, and the bitterly cold and slippery conditions made for running, broken field rugby extremely difficult.

Led by the inspirational Moananu brothers, prop Luni and second five-eighth and de facto loose forward Paluni, the red and blacks fought hammer and tong with the champion Porirua side after halftime.

Norths were fast out of the blocks after the break, scoring an excellent try after turning over a Poneke ruck near the 40-metre line. From the next play they surged into Poneke's 22, and promising teenaged centre Alipati Leiua flew through a hole off a cutout pass for a converted try.

But Poneke fought back and re-took the lead almost straightaway with a sensational try to strong running fullback Marika Kau, his fifth try of the second round, Kau crashing over on the blindside in front of the scoreboard running on the outside of Paluni Moananu.

Kau's try put Poneke ahead 11-7, a lead they looked like defending thanks to their massive defence and Norths being a man down and unable to play their preferred?game in the wet. But just as they had repulsed a massive Norths raid at their line, a defensive scum went wrong, the ball squirted out loose on the try-line and Norths' second five-eighth Siaosi Anamani dived on it and scored.

It then came down to a Poneke penalty attempt at the end, first five-eighth James Pointon unable to convert the most difficult of chances into the teeth of the southerly - after missing what would have proved to have been the match winner from almost in front right at the start - and Norths held on to their 12-11 advantage. This was also the fifth match out of the last six between these sides that has been played at Kilbirnie Park that has gone to the wire. Of the past six matches between the pair played at this venue, the average winning margin is now just over 5 points.

Elsewhere, defending premier champions Hutt Old Boys Marist and MSP drew an unplayable at the Hutt Recreation ground and their match was transferred up the road to Fraser Park. The move to the neutral venue almost saw them finish their season on a high and knock over a rampant MSP that are unbeaten since the very first of the season at the end of March.

In a spirited second half, the Eagles soared back from a 16-8 halftime deficit with two converted tries to lead 22-16, before MSP first five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili locked the scores back up with two penalties. Fili, who brought up his 200th point of the season last week for MSP was again the key player, kicking four penalties, a dropped goal and the conversion of winger Jope Naubo's try.

MSP were outscored three tries to one by the Hutt side, who scored their tries to second five-eighth Mike Kingsbeer and the brothers Risdon, Jason and Nick. Halfback and captain Nick scoring the game's first try in his 100th Premier match.

Petone made no race of it against OBU, cruising to a bonus point victory and giving them every opportunity of finishing as top qualifiers ahead of MSP. Five of their six tries were scored by their outside backs, centre Greg Walker and winger Fautua Otto grabbing two each and fullback Sam O'Leary scoring another.