Keenly contested Women?s and lower grade semi-finals

Above: Wainuiomata No. 8 Kiri Mei bursts through a wall of Ories tacklers to score the first try of their semi-final at the Polo Ground today. Ories came back to win the match 16-8.

Lock in a busy day of rugby next Saturday.

The Wellington Lions play Waikato at Westpac Stadium in the evening in the opening round of the ITM Cup and the All Blacks meet Australia in the Bledisloe Cup later that night.

But first will be the rugby that matters, with Wellington club rugby Women's Senior 1 and Senior 2 finals being played, Reserve Grade Division 1 semi-finals and the Reserve Grade Division 2 final. ?

At Porirua Park at 11.30 am, Northern United and Oriental-Rongotai will meet in the Women's Victoria Tavern Trophy decider, in a replay of last year's final.

At the Petone Recreation at 2.30 pm, Petone and Poneke will square off for the Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup and at the Hutt Recreation at 2.30 pm, Hutt Old Boys Marist will look to add another trophy to their cabinet when they host Old Boys University in the final of the HD Morgan Memorial Senior 2 competition.

Today's Senior 1, Senior 2 and Women's semi-finals were played in fine but cold conditions, and five of the six across the three competitions were won by the home side.

Top Senior 1 qualifier Petone edged out Hutt Old Boys Marist 26-20 in their playoff at the Petone Rec, while Poneke were the one side to win away from home, beating defending second round Senior 1 champions Tawa 34-3 at Lyndhurst Park.

With Lyndhurst Park heavy underfoot and resembling a bog in places, Poneke took their chances well and were much more accurate and clinical than Tawa, winning five tries to nil.

Poneke scored three tries in the first half and led 19-3 at halftime. After almost scoring off a Tawa mistake in the first minute of the match, Poneke scored their first try soon after and then scored consecutive seven-pointers off penalties and their well-functioning lineout. Fullback Pat Ho crossed in the clubrooms corner and the No. 8 barrelled over under the posts.

Tawa had their fair share of ball and territory but were unable to use turn any of their pressure into points, also missing two penalty kicks in the first half.

Poneke scored first in the second spell, extending their lead to 24-3 and then pulled clear over the final 10 minutes with breakout tries to replacement flanker Sam Reddy and left wing Chris Thomson.

Top qualifier Hutt Old Boys Marist defeated Avalon 24-17 in their HD Morgan Memorial semi-final at the Eagles' Nest, while OBU defeated Petone 44-22 at Te Whaea in the other Senior 2 knockout match.

The two Women's semi-finals were contrasting matches, top qualifier Norths pulling away to win six tries to nil against OBU and Ories hanging on to beat Wainuiomata, only sealing victory with a late penalty to fullback Elizabeth Goulden.

Ories had come back from an early deficit, following the game's first try to Wainuiomata No. 8 Kiri Mei, and from a long injury break to their star wing Jane Bryce and a subsequent change of field to the No. 2 ground.

Try scoring sensation Bryce broke her ankle and the game was adjourned to the other field with Ories leading 13-8 at the time and having just missed out on scoring tries to electric first five-eighth Kauna Lopa and to hard-running centre Amanda Rasch who were tackled just short of the chalk in separate raids.

Now having to play into the biting southerly breeze, Ories were forced to dig deep to stave off the determined challenge. Their defence at the breakdown, led by captain and prop Noeleen Nonu, lock Joanah Ngan-Woo and some key replacements that made a difference off the bench - and the fact that Wainuiomata couldn't offer anything in the backs - won them the game. Ories couldn't score again until near the end but they kept Wainuiomata pinned inside their own territory and not looking like scoring.

Earlier, Ories had responded to Wainuiomata's try to No.8 Mei with two stinging tries of their own, getting themselves into the game and capitalising on Wainuiomata errors. A sweeping passage of play led to flyhalf Kopa scoring in the corner, and lock Ngan-Woo sliced across the face of Wainuiomata's posts in broken play to score a standout individual try that could only be admired by Wainuiomata hooker Lesley McKenzie who had just been sent behind the posts to the sin-bin. Ories led 13-5 at halftime on the back of these two tries.

Wainuiomata started the second half of promisingly, fullback Sieni Mose closing the gap with a penalty and ensuring a tense second half.?

In the other Women's semi-final, Norths quelled a fired up OBU who put the first points on the board, after building pressure and causing norths to in-fringe at the breakdown. Unlucky not to score, OBU settled for three points kicked by first five-eighth Georgia Daals.

Norths responded with the first try, off a kick return started by in-form fullback Jamie McIntosh, who had good support from Jessika Akavi and eventually finished off by a supporting Patsy Schwalger.

OBU themselves were penalised within their 22 and McIntosh replied in kind with three points. Norths captain Mo Aiatu dotted under the sticks after some good go forward by a Norths pack who were strong throughout the day.

By halftime the Norths backs had managed to get on the score-sheet. The try of the day came from Akavi who returned a kick from the middle of the field, beat a few tacklers and scored under the sticks. Norths' Player of the day Agnes Dean got a nice in and out try. Leka Leti (returning from injury) and flyhalf Vaine Marsters also scored tries.

OBU were left rueing missed opportunities as chances went begging. OBU player of the day Gina Williamson had a busy afternoon and had a hand in everything they did. Both she and Georgia Daals were standouts.

The Norths forward pack was directed around the field well by veteran Dean and the backs finished off the opportunities. The midfield defended well and worked tirelessly throughout the day.

Meanwhile, in a catch-up Women's round-robin match played last night, Stokes Valley defeated Tawa 29-17.

The MSP Blues have qualified for a home semi-final with one round to play in the Paul Potiki U85 kg Division 1 competition.

The MSP Blues defeated the Onslow OBU Bunnies 31-7, their seventh straight win in the second round.

The Tawa Titans have eased into second with a 52-8 win over Waikanae, who have dropped to fourth. Poneke are third after beating Avalon 15-0.

Eastbourne beat the Upper Rams 17-12, with these two teams in fifth equal and five points adrift of fourth placed Waikanae. Both these teams have already lost to Waikanae so all three would have to finish on the same points to force a circular tie situation for the fourth semi-final spot up for grabs.

HOBM have qualified top with next week's last round to go in the Moody Cup U85 kg Division 2 competition, beating the Wests Roosters 12-3 today. Stokes Valley head a crowded chasing pack after being held to a 25-25 draw by lower ranked Johnsonville.

Lowly MSP Green upset the fourth placed MSP Reds 38-33 in their match today.

In Colts Division 2 semi-finals next Saturday, Poneke will play the Upper Hutt Rams at Kilbirnie Park and Wainuiomata and Kapiti will meet in the other at William Jones Park.

Colts Division 3 semi-finals will see Tawa host the Upper Hutt Rams at Redwood Park and Johnsonville play Rahui at Helston Park.

It's also the semi-finals in Reserve Grade Division 1 Johnsonville Centennium Cup next weekend.

The Poneke Ruffnuts have qualified first and will host the OBU Therapists in one semi-final and the Upper Hutt J8s will take on the Petone Brotherhookd in the other.

Matches today saw the Poneke Ruffnuts hold off winless Upper Hutt Pirates 36-27 and the Upper Hutt J8s edge the Petone Brotherhood 22-19 in a dress rehearsal for next week's match, and the OBU Therapists knock-out the MSP Internationals from the playoffs by virtue of beating them 23-22. ?In one match that didn't have any bearing on the top four, the Poneke Rats beat the OBU 69ers 42-5.

The OBU Pink Ginners will play the Johnsonville Cripples in the final of the Reserve Grade Division 2 competition next week.

Reserve Grade Division 2 semi-final results today were the OBU Pink Ginners beating the OBU Teddy Bears 23-7 and Johnsonville pipping Paremata-Plimmerton 11-10.

The Rongotai College First XV won their Premier 1 Plate Final against HIBS 15-6 today, after trailing 0-6 at halftime. The final between Scots College and St Pat's Silverstream kicks off on Sunday at Porirua Park at 2.45 pm.

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