Hutt Old Boys Marist and Wainuiomata to meet in Jubilee Cup final

History will be made at a heaving Hutt Recreation Ground next Sunday afternoon when the Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles and Wainuiomata meet in the 2014 Jubilee Cup final.

In an All Hutt Valley final, HOBM will appear in their first final since 2007 and Wainuiomata will be playing in their maiden season decider.

Both teams won well today in contrasting circumstances.

Top qualifier HOBM beat Oriental-Rongotai 43-26, ending Ories' run of three consecutive finals appearances. Wainuiomata pulled clear to defeat Marist St Pat's 26-13.

HOBM were simply sensational in racing to a 31-0 halftime lead, and despite a comeback in the second half by Ories who out-scored them 26-12 in the second spell, the damage was done.

Led by their hard working hooker James O'Reilly, whose work on both attack and covering defence was feverish, All Blacks lock Jeremy Thrush and blindside flanker James Wall, the Eagles harried and hounded Ories right from the opening whistle.

After an early feeling out period, the Eagles scored two quickfire tries to race to a 14-0 lead.

They opened the scoring after a break by left wing Chase Tiatia, carried on by halfback Sheridan Rangihuna that led to a try to O'Reilly when the Calvary arrived in support.

The competition's top try scorer Tiatia then flew in to score off the shoulder of centre Taiso Silafai-Leaana to double the Eagles' lead.

HOBM grabbed their third try on the 20 minute mark when Thrush pounded at the try line from close range. The Eagles maintained their relentless pressure and ran in their fourth and fifth tries, including Tiatia's brace, to put them ahead 31-0 at the oranges. ?

Ories hit back early in the second half through Ambrose Curtis, who showed a clean pair of heels running in support of second five-eighth Paulo Aukuso after scrum on their own side of halfway, closing the score to 31-7.

Both sides responded with more tries, Ories closing to 38-19, giving them a flicker of hope. But HOBM scored again to cement their spot in the final.

Fittingly, departing Ories midfielder Paulo Aukuso scored a consolation try at the end in his 150th Premier game for the club.

Over the hill at Wainuiomata, Wainuiomata took a 6-3 ahead after 11 minutes in an early penalty shootout.

Wainuiomata's big forwards were warming into the work and pressed hard for the next period of play.

But it was the visitors that struck with the game's opening try. From a five-metre scrum. second five-eighth Isaia Petelo darted over after Waniomouta were caught short of defenders out wide.

Soon after, Waniomouta No, 8 Ben Tupuola, followed by lock Glen Angus, stormed into the MSP half with a combined 40 metre burst. From the next ruck, the ball was sent out to fullback Josh Robertson-Weepu who drew the last defender and put Tau Mamea over for a try to make it 13-10 at halftime.

Wanuiomata were on fire in the second half. Playing towards the southern end, the tactical kicking of First-Five John Monu - in his 100th Premier match for the club - and Robertson-Weepu kept MSP pinned in their own territory and forced them into errors.

With about 15 minutes remaining and leading 16-13, Tupuola barged over in the corner. Tane nailed the conversion and Wainuiomata was never going to be stopped, a snap Robertson-Weepu dropped goal sealing victory.

Hardham Cup

In the Hardham Cup, top qualifiers Northern United will meet second placed Poneke in next Sunday's final, which will be the curtain-raiser to the Jubilee Cup final.

Northern United defeated Avalon 34-30 in one semi-final at Porirua Park and Poneke pulled away to beat Wellington 18-8 in the other.

Norths took a decisive 24-3 into the latter stages of the first half, with three tries.

Avalon preyed on Norths ill-discipline and closed the gap to 10-24 at the halftime interval when they were awarded a penalty try.

Avalon first five-eighth Cameron Cross closed the margin to 24-13 with a penalty, before Norths wing Kolio Feauanti scored what proved to be the winning try to push his side out to 29-13.

Avalon scored again to close the margin to 29-20 but Masina scored his second try of the match off a 5-metre scrum, sealing victory.

At Kilbirnie Park, Poneke have earned a tense win over local rivals the Wellington Axemen.

Despite both teams' enthusiasm to throw the ball around the first half coughed up few points. Poneke's Edwin Ainley got the home side on to the scoreboard with two precise penalties before Hilton Mexted put Wellington on the score-sheet. Ainley played a major role in his side's win at Kilbirnie Park. He possesses a crisp pass and creates opportunities for the players around him.

The first half thrills and spills did not amount to any tries. However, the game was played at frenetic pace at times and plenty of counter-attack opportunities never eventuated into five points. There didn't seem to be an onus on maintaining possession for long periods and building phase-play. Both sides were guilty of pushes passes and lacking patience on attack.

However, defensively both sides were on the ball and the forwards were extremely physical in the tight encounter that shed few points. The times when both teams mounted pressure through phases the tries came.

It was a titanic battle in the front row and the Axemen boasted a superior scrum, rolling Poneke on two occasions. They also dominated in the lineout with Sam Gard'ner pinching plenty of opposition ball in the air. Gard'ner was a standout in the set-piece all match.

Reg Goodes impact was clear in the opening stages and his defence is second to none. His presence did not aid the ailing scrum, getting pushed back on their haunches at times.

Unfortunately for Wellington, the set-piece domination did not lead to many points and they trailed their opposites 6-3 at the break. It was hard to believe only nine points had been accounted for after plenty of running rugby and opportunities against the run of play. A lack of support runners cost both sides plenty of points on a fast track in Kilbirnie.

Poneke looked to pull away with a try to no.8, Nathan Iro yet failed to convert the conversion and three successive penalties with the boot, 11 points gone begging. Three different kickers were used to solve the kicking problem, something they will have to rectify against a strong Norths side next weekend.

Poneke's missed opportunities and inability to sew the match up kept the Axemen in the hunt and gained some much-needed momentum through the likes of Dean Brunsdon and fresh reinforcements from the bench. The pressure mounted on Poneke and Wellington had their try through winger Jaco de Waal and trailed by three points with the hint of a comeback in the air.

Colossal winger James Solomon, who I liken to Welsh winger George North, dashed those hopes with a blockbusting side-line run, beating two defenders and scoring under the posts to push the margin to 10 points with few minutes remaining. The home support were in rapturous applause and ecstasy that their side had escaped a late-match banana skin by allowing the Axemen back into the game.

Ill-discipline cost Wellington on both sides of the break as both locks, Vaea Fifita and Simon Shearer, were sent packing by referee Christopher Graham, who controlled the game well despite a heavy penalty count overall.

Wellington has made impressive strides after re-entering the club scene in 2014 and should only elevate their level in the coming years.

Poneke now have one match remaining against Norths next weekend. They will look to avenge a 28-20 loss three weeks ago.

If they are to win the Hardham Cup in 2014 it will be on the back of young five-eighth, Pakai Turia, who did control his backline astutely and kicked well under pressure, but got little-opportunity to stretch his legs on attack.

Reg Goodes' presence will again be immense next weekend along with the breakdown expertise of Greg Foe and Nathan Iro. Tauasosi Tuimavave was kept quiet today but two weekends in a row is hard to see. His ability to break a game open will worry Norths.

If Poneke can link with Tuimavave and get the ball in the hands of James Solomon more often, then the Hardham Cup final should be a humdinger.

Colts Division 1

In a repeat of last year's final, OBU Green and HOBM Green will meet in next Sunday's Colts Division 1 decider.

OBU Green earned their 35^th straight win, beating fourth placed qualifier Petone Blue 56-5 in their semi-final at the Basin Reserve.

HOBM Green made a lightning start, were reined in and then pulled away to beat Norths Blue 29-13 in their semi-final.

HOBM raced to a 12-0 lead with two tries in five minutes. But Norths regained their composure and took the match to the Junior Eagles in the forwards. Their reward was Norths taking a 13-12 lead when their industrious lock broke from an attacking lineout and crossed.

HOBM's fullback Siite Timu, who scored their first try, then found space on the outside and booted through a pinpoint centring kick for his flanker to score off, making it 19-13 at the break.

Timu scored his second try of the match and kicked a penalty after halftime, extending the lead to 29-13.

Other grades

In the Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup, Poneke suffered their first loss of the second half of the season, going down 5-32 to Tawa at Lyndhurst Park. Although their semi-final place is assured, they will need to beat HOBM to guarantee a home semi-final on 9 August.

HOBM are fourth, having smoked Norths 83-0 today.

Petone are in second place after beating the Upper Hutt Rams 33-0 this afternoon.

In two games with no bearing on the upcoming playoffs, Wainuiomata beat Wests 38-10 and Ories beat Wellington 37-13.

In the HD Morgan Memorial Cup, HOBM put a delayed start owing to a mix up with the kick-off time behind them, to beat Avalon 19-12 in their top-of-the-table clash.

HOBM are guaranteed top qualifiers of the Senior 2 second round competition with next week's last round to spare.

Avalon are still second, ahead of OBU who were held to a 10-10 draw with Stokes Valley.

Fifth placed Johnsonville defeated fourth placed Petone 40-24 in their match, making for a close run to the semi-finals for these teams.

The MSP Blues defeated the Tawa Titans 19-18 in today's top of the table Paul Potiki Shield U85 kg grade match.

Waikanae continued to impress on their visit to the seaside, defeating Eastbourne 23-8.

Both the OBU Onslow teams went down. Poneke beat the Bunnies 39-15 and the Upper Hutt Rams defeated the Spartans 43-8.

In Women's matches today Wainuiomata tipped over Norths 17-15, while Ories overcame Tawa 131-0.

Stokes Valley came back in the second half to beat Poneke-MSP 24-19, after Poneke-MSP having scored three first half tries. In a grandstand finish, Poneke-MSP came close ?to crossing the chalk only for Stokes Valley to kill the ball time and time again and hold on to the end.

In College First XV rugby this afternoon, there were quarterfinal matches played.

Wellington College defeated Hutt International Boys' School 39-10, St Pat's Town beat St Bernard's College 43-10.