Students teach Norths Jubilee Cup lesson

For the third time in four years, Old Boys University are the Jubilee Cup champions, defeating a fast finishing Northern United 37-31 at the Petone Recreation Ground.

OBU produced a near faultless first-half to lead 25-3 at the interval.

OBU dominated possession initially and scored two tries, through No. 8 Teariki Ben Nicholas and centre three-quarter Wes Goosen.

Norths were nervous and lacked accuracy while OBU were coldly clinical in the opening 20 minutes.

First five-eighth Jackson Gardn-Bachop put Norths on the board with a 40 metre penalty, but normal transmission was soon restored when effervesant halfback Matt Fowler scored from an unexpected dummy and dart to make it 17-3.

Norths lost tighthead prop Jerome Vaai to the sin-bin for a high tackle, allowing the dominant OBU forwards to maul over the line. Hooker Zeke Sopoaga was the scorer of the fourth try which pushed the lead out beyond 20 points at halftime.

Berated by their coaches, Norths played passionately in the second half.

Second five-eighth Kienan Higgins sliced through from close range and Garden-Bachop converted to make it 25-10 after 42 minutes. Then ex Wellington rugby league representative and fullback Johnny Teleaga scored to close the gap up to 25-17 with 25 minutes still to play.

By this stage Norths were in the ascendancy and Higgins bombed a try with a loose pass. Garden- Bacop missed a penalty, pushing wide to the left from 35 metres out in centre field. Soon after livewire replacement halfback Esi Komaisavai spilt an awkward pass in broken play with the line in his sights.

Dale Sabbagh was one of the players of the final with his authoritative kicking and strong running from second five-eighth. A 50-metre bust by Sabbagh from 22 to 22 triggered a rare OBU attack. Replacment halfback Adrian Adrian Seumanufagai then darted 15 metres before No. 8 Ben Nicholas crashed over for his second try.

Goosen was largely contained in the final, but showed his class when he stepped off his right foot, eluding several defenders and charging 40 metres for the winning score. Goosen has scored 31 tries in 36 games for OBU.

Norths refused to surrender and Garden-Bachop scored a try following a breakout from replacement back Daley Harper and a quick tap from Higgins, to make it 37-24.

Openside flanker Du Plessis Kirifi had an inspiring second-half, making a number of busts and poaching several turnovers. When Kirifi collected a ricochet kick and ran 30 metres to score under the posts the score was 37-31 with a minute to play.

OBU knocked on from the kick-off and Norths fed the scrum 10 metres out from halfway and Alex Barendregt – the Jim Brown Memorial medallist – won a penalty. OBU kicked the ball out that was fulltime.

Other standout players for OBU were Will Mangos, before he was blue carded and workhorse flankers Sam Coventry and Daven Candy and lock Agustin Escalona.

For Norths, Kirifi at times played a lone hand, Higgins was creative when he had chances and captain Parekura Lalaga was industrious.

OBU are enjoying their best run in Wellington club rugby since they won three Jubilee Cups in a row between 1952-54 (as University).

This is the seventh time since 2005 the second-placed qualifier has beaten the top qualifier in the Jubilee Cup final.

It is the first time since MSP in 2008-09 that a side has won two Jubilee Cups in a row.

OBU have won 41 of their last 50 games. The 52-54 team won 37 from 45.

Referee Richard Gordon has refereed all three finals that OBU have won, in 2015, 2017 and 2018.