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Junior Lions to meet Canterbury in National U19 final

Representative Rugby | 01 October 2014 | Club Rugby

Above: Wellington openside flanker Henry Stowers scores in the corner and leaves Auckland's defenders in his wake early in their National U19 semi-final match.

The Junior Wellington Lions will meet Canterbury in the final of the Graham Mourie Cup National U19 final on Saturday after holding on to beat the Auckland U19s in this evening's semi-final at Owen Delany Park in Taupo.

Wellington and Canterbury both won hair-raising semi-finals, Wellington holding on with a superb second half defensive effort to beat Auckland 19-15 and Canterbury stealing a come-from-behind 26-23 win over Waikato.

Waikato and Auckland will meet in the consolation final.

Manawatu will play Southland in the final of the Bottom 8 Michael Jones Trophy after high scoring semi-final wins.

Manawatu defeated fellow Hurricanes? franchise union Hawke's Bay 42-35 and Southland overcame the New Zealand Heartland XV 48-38.

Wellington v Auckland by Jack Callender

Wellington 19 (Henry Stowers, Leni Apisai, Faraimo Nofoaiga tries; ?Pakai Turia ?2 con) beat Auckland 15 (Vatiliai Tuidraki, Mitchell Karpik tries; Mitchell Hunt pen, con) HT: 7-3

In glorious evening conditions, Wellington held off a fast-finishing Auckland side to win 19-15.

The first half was fairly scrappy, with both sides making plenty of errors but due to poor discipline from Auckland, Wellington scored midway through the first half.

Dynamic Wainuiomata openside Henry Stowers ripped the ball off NZ Sevens rep Akira Ioane inside the Auckland half and scored in the corner after weaving past three defenders.

An outstanding sideline conversion from Pakai Turia and an Auckland penalty slotted by Mitchell Hunt completed the scoring action in the first half.

Wellington roared into the second half all guns blazing, hoeing into the breakdown with vigour and were rewarded.

After fullback Chase Tiatia evaded a couple of tackles down the sideline, he passed the ball to Tawa's right winger Faraimo Nofoaiga.

He in turn, found Norths hooker Leni Apisai who dotted down close to the posts.

Wellington had a commanding lead and just when Auckland started falling off more tackles, Akira Ioane was sent to the bin for a professional foul.

His sinbinning hurt Auckland badly as they gave up a try four minutes later. Right winger Nofoaiga scored from an overlap out wide.

Auckland had a couple of chances to score when Ioane returned. An intercept was received from a lacklustre Wellington pass. Just when Will Talataina-Mu looked set to coast home, Wesley Goosen produced a textbook try saver.

Goosen prevented another try from being scored. He epitomised the heart in the Wellington defence.

With 7 minutes remaining, Auckland scored two tries. Replacement winger Vatiliai Tuidraki scored out wide from an overlap and the outstanding flanker Mitchell Karpik crashed over. He drew comparisons to legendary French flanker Jean-Pierre Rives because of the flowing blonde hair.

Auckland had one final flurry to attempt to score, but a mistake occurred and captain Luke Campbell fittingly booted the ball into touch.

"I'm proud of the boys for sticking it out, Auckland are a great side and they were a big challenge today", a beaming Campbell said during the post-match interview.

Despite losing, Auckland captain Liam Polwart spoke highly of the Jock Hobbs Memorial Tournament.

"It's been quite enjoyable. All the boys have enjoyed it and it's a great thing to be a part of".

Wellington will take on Canterbury in the final for the Graham Mourie Cup.

Canterbury v Waikato By Adam Julian

Canterbury: 26 (Nathan Clough, George Bridge, Mitchell Dunshea, Hamish Dalzell; Finn Hart-Strawbridge 2 con, Harrison Groundwater 1 con) ?beat Waikato: 23 (Thomas Orr Tau Koloamatangi tries; Bryn Gatland 3 pen, 2 con

Canterbury scored three stunning tries in the last 15 minutes to upset Waikato.

Boasting three New Zealand U20 representatives in their forward pack, Waikato led 23-7 and appeared to be on target to reach the final.

However Canterbury fullback George Bridge scored a brilliant individual try to ignite an improbable comeback.??

Bridge received the ball in midfield on halfway. He broke the initial line of defence and dashed towards the sideline. Bridge then cut infield and drove over under the posts in the grasp of a two-man tackle. Hart-Strawbridge converted and it was suddenly 23-14.

Throwing caution to the wind, Canterbury suddenly discovered holes in the Waikato defence. Waikato missed 27 tackles and some brilliant team rugby resulted in two further tires in the right- hand corner to locks Mitchell Dunshea and Hamish Dalzell.

Both lanky specimens galloped 20 metres to complete long, side to side counter attacks; Dalzell's try was the last play of the game.

Earlier Canterbury dominated the opening ten minutes. No. 8 Jordon Jackett created the first try when he threw a cut-out pass to winger Nathan Clough who sprinted, 30-metres to score.

Bridge warned Waikato of his attacking flair when he made a 60-metre break. From the next ruck Canterbury bombed a try when Harrison Groundwater received a forward pass.

Waikato rallied and two penalties to Bryn Gatland made it 7-6 at halftime.

Centre Thomas Orr scored Waikato's first try immediately after the break. Gatland cleared the ball from his own 22 and it bounced awkwardly for the Canterbury defenders and fell into the hands of Orr.

Gatland played an assured game and a 45-meter penalty extended the lead to 16-7.

Prop Tau Koloamatangi barrelled over from a series of pick and goes to make it 23-7. At this point the contest appeared over, but the boldness and brilliance of Bridge was all the inspiration Canterbury needed to win a memorable game.

Standouts for Waikato were Captain and blindside Mitchell Jacobson, openside David Morris and second-five Jason Thomason.

For Canterbury Bridge was immense, openside Charlie Gamble toiled gamely and second-five Jonathan Faauli was a powerful presence in the second-half.