Pride power to final as Development finish with a flourish

Above: Luke Taulupe scores a clutch try for the Wellington Development team this afternoon in their win over Auckland B. Account of the game below. 

The Wellington Pride will host a final next Saturday while the Men’s Development squad ended 2018 with a third consecutive victory on a successful afternoon for local sides at Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Northern United won the first leg of the American Ambassador's Sevens at Maoribank Park. Norths beat Marist St Pat's in the Cup final. Norths also won the women's section. 

Pride overpower North Harbour in semi-final

The Wellington Pride have overpowered North Harbour 33-7 to claim a place in the Farah Palmer Cup Championship final next weekend.

The hosts won the second-half 26-0 adopting a more forward oriented approach in variable and tricky conditions which changed from horizontal rain to sunshine.

Playing into the wind, Wellington started authoritatively squeezing the visitors scrum and casting an anchor inside the North Harbour 22. Eventually Harbour wilted and No.8 and captain Jackie Patea-Fereti ploughed over.

North Harbour were far more competitive than what they were in their previous meeting against Wellington, which the Pride won by 40 points. Lock Sophie Fisher was off target with two penalty shots, but on the stroke of halftime and after a concerted period of attacking play blindside Pia Tapsell carried several defenders over the paint. The conversion by Fisher levelled the scores 7-7 at the break.

The second-half started tragically when North Harbour first-five Nikita Ngarongo-Porima collapsed injured on halfway. The 25-minute delay galvanised the Pride who struck twice back-to-back. Patea-Fereti completed a double before blindside Nina Foase was driven to the chalk attached to a rampant lineout maul after the previous re-start didn’t go 10 metres and the Pride reloaded from a scrum on halfway.

The Pride’s forward reserves of Rosie Stirling, Isadora Laupola and Eleta Taito were all exceptional, blunting North Harbour’s resistance. However it was experienced centre Fa’asua Makisi who sealed victory gliding into a hole with about 20 minutes still remaining. Taito had the last say, rewarded after a series of explosive bursts.

Pride first-five Acacia Te Iwimate caused hassles taking the ball to the line and lock Joanah Ngan-Woo was a towering presence in the lineout.

For North Harbour Fisher and Tapsell are quality performers while hooker Amy Robertshaw and openside Kate Williams battled gamely in the forwards. Centre Juliana Newman and fullback Briar McNamara were the pick of the backs with the latter saving at least two tries with desperate cover.

Wellington will host Otago in the final next weekend at the same venue after the former defeated Hawke’s Bay 34-10 in the other semi-final in Dunedin.

Wellington have a 6-1 record heading into the decider. They have scored 392 points (60 tries) this season which is just 21 short of Auckland’s all-time record for most points in a single season.

Wellington Development deny fast-finishing Auckland

The Wellington Development have finished 2018 with three wins from four outings - denying a fast finishing Auckland 33-28.

Wellington enjoyed the assistance of a substantial breeze in the first-half and turned with a 19-7 advantage at the interval.

Auckland struck first when second-five William Talataina-Mu eased clear following a penalty and attacking lineout inside Wellington’s territory, but the home side soon took control.

First-five Pakai Turia opened Wellington’s account with a nice run to the line after an attacking lineout to level the scores up at 7-7 inside 10 minutes.

Wellington Axemen pair Alex Dalzell and Ollie Sapsford combined and centre Sapsford was on hand to collect a skilful offload from the workhorse lock.

Left wing Fereti Soloa required no support to earn his place on the scoresheet, bumping off his opposite with disdain after an attacking scrum and a pass to the wing by his club teammate and halfback Sheridan Rangihuna. Soloa’s special put Wellington up 19-7 after 25 minutes. There was no further scoring in the first half.

Now playing into the wind, fullback Wells rans back a kick in general play and was seemingly tackled 45 metres out. But Wells got up and kept going and popped up a pass to replacement prop Jonathan Fuimaono who was tackled 30 metres out. Quick recycling saw second five-eighth Kienan Higgins and then flyhalf Turia make bursts with the latter popping a pass to replacement prop Alex Barendregt to score to put them up 26-7.

Auckland hit back straightaway, moving the ball wide from a lineout and replacement right wing AJ Lam blitzing through to score to cut the lead to 26-14.

Wellington regained those points, Turia again in the mix with two consecutive inside passes close to the line to forwards, the second to replacement flanker Luke Taualupe who crossed for what proved to be the match-winner.

Wellington incurred the wrath of the whistle in the last 20 minutes allowing Auckland to reduce the deficit from 33-14 to 33-28 with a minute to play. Tiny substitute halfback Henry Saker was a bundle of energy and his sneaky finish set the stage for a wild climax.

Locks Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Dalzell and openside Greg Foe were arguably the best of the Wellington forwards with Matt Peni and Luke Taulupe adding punch from the bench. Turia can quickly go from rags to riches while Sapsford by contrast is a model of consistency.