Scots hammer Grammar

Above: Player of the Day today Alex Fidow showing his wares recently in the Wellington Premier 1 final.

Another week, another major scalp.

This time it was Auckland Grammar who succumbed to the in-form Scots College First XV

After first five-eighths for both schools, TJ Va'a and Wiseguy Faiane, traded penalties early in the opening 20 minutes, it was Auckland Grammar that scored the opening try of the afternoon.

A botched lineout from Scots College saw the Grammar forwards rumble into their work.

After numerous pick and goes, the Scots defence finally cracked when tighthead prop Callum Otway crashed over. The conversion was added by Faiane.

The Blues region champions were up 10-6 and Scots began to fire up.

After a burst down the sideline from the lethal Umaga-Jensen twins, the ball found its way to centre Malo Tuitama. He knew how to finish as he outstretched his arm to slam the ball down on the chalk. Not bad considering Tuitama had only just arrived from Apia this morning so there was no jetlag in the slightest. The conversion was a gimme.

And in the 28^th minute, the try of the game occurred through a lineout drive. The lineout drive started forty metres out from the tryline and Henry Mexted held the ball at the back before scoring. The Scots forwards kept the drive going in good motion with the Auckland Grammar forwards having no answer to Scots superior technique.

When the lineout drive comes off perfectly which it did in Mexted's try, it is a thing to marvel at.

Chiefs coaches Dave Rennie and Wayne Smith looked on with interest. Perhaps they were doing some early recruiting?

Scots were looking comfortable at 18-10 but Grammar's livewire fullback Shaun Stevenson ensured that it would be his team having the final say of the first half.

Stevenson ran the ball hard at the Scots midfield. Rather than taking on the Umaga-Jensen twins, he cleverly opted for a grubber kick. The kick sat up perfectly as the Scots defenders stood around while Stevenson darted in to score a much needed five pointer.

Scots' lead would be cut short to just one point at halftime.

The boys from Strathmore started the second half in excellent fashion. Michael Findlay pilfered the ball off the Auckland Grammar scrum close to their own try line.

Elliot Morrison who had an outstanding game, passed wide to captain Va'a. TJ dipped into his bag of tricks to produce a trademark left foot step which cast Wiseguy Faiane adrift big time as he dotted down under the sticks.

With 20 minutes to go Auckland Grammar had to strike back and they did, capatalising on a poor lineout throw from Scots hooker Lotunu'u Haueia. 120kg lock Sam Ulufonua received the ball and he wouldn't be stopped. He scored at a crucial time in the match and with Scots up 25-22 the game was well and truly in the balance.

But when Tuitama scored his second try of the afternoon and popular prop Alex Fidow dotted down, the game was wrapped up with ten minutes to play.

Alex Fidow was player of the day. Once again his strong runs had alarm bells ringing in the opposition defence and he hit rucks with a vengeance.

Scots have not only made the grand final, but in doing so, they also clinched the oldest rugby trophy in history, the prestigious Moascar Cup. Their opponents, Auckland Grammar held the trophy since late May when they defeated Hamilton Boys High.

TJ Va'a was pleased to get the win today and rightly so after another impressive 19 point haul. He said that his team "tried not to be scared of facing the big Auckland schools".

Well they weren't intimidated facing the top school in the Blues region; it was more the other way round when Thomas and Peter Umaga-Jensen ran hard and straight at the Auckland Grammar defence.

The much talked about Auckland Grammar centre Reiko Ioane had a quiet game today.

Scots' historic season concludes with a first ever grand final appearance. They will face Hamilton Boys' High School this Sunday afternoon at 2:45 pm.

In the other semi-final, Hamilton Boys' High pipped Christchurch Boy's High School 20-19 in a game that went right down to the wire.

Scots College 39 (Malo Tuitama 2, Henry Mexted, Alex Fidow, TJ Va'a tries; Va'a 2 pen, 4 con) beat Auckland Grammar School 22 (Callum Otway, Shaun Stevenson, Sam Ulufonua tries; Wiseguy Faiane pen 2 con). Crowd: 200