Canterbury and Waikato to meet in Jocks Hobbs Memorial U19s final

Canterbury and Waikato will meet in the Premiership final of the Jock Hobbs Memorial National U19 tournament in Taupo on Saturday, each winning their semi-finals today.

Waikato continued their points scoring blitz of recent games, beating Otago 48-23 in one semi-final, whilst Canterbury’s young Lambs pulled clear in the second half to beat Taranaki 42-17 in the other.

In the two Championship semi-finals, Tasman held off Hawke’s Bay 26-20 and Counties Manukau smoked Southland 51-20, setting up a Michael Jones Trophy Final between Tasman and the Junior Steelers.

In the Premiership Plate match for fifth and sixth, Wellington will play North Harbour, after Wellington beat Auckland A 34-23 and North Harbour beat Manawatu 31-24.

The closest match of the second day of the tournament was the Championship Plate semi-final between Bay of Plenty and Auckland B. The Junior Steamers came from behind to beat draw the match 19-19 at fulltime, and then took a 24-19 golden point extra time win.

Northland beat the Heartland XV 22-16 in the other Championship match.

Waikato v Otago

Waikato: 48 (Sekope Moli-Lopeti 2, Jordan Trainor 2, Luke Jacobson, Jesse Rihari, Shelford Murray tries; Matthew Lansdown 5 con, 1 pen) Otago: 20 (Alex Hawira, Christian Kelly try; Thomas Johnson 2 pen, 2 con)

In 2015 Waikato blew a 23-7 lead in the last 15 minutes of the semi-finals to leave Taupo empty handed.

In 2016 they didn't make the same mistake. They surged further ahead to ensure their place in the National Under-19 decider.

The first 10 minutes set the tone. Waikato broke at will and scored two tries.

They crossed after sixty seconds when hooker Sekope Moli-Lopeti barged over following a 25-metre burst by centre Amanaki Savieti. Initially Moli-Lopeti had bustled 15-metres from an Otago fumble at the kick off.

A few moments later Savieti surged 35-metres and created a try for fullback Jordan Trainor - Trainor would prove to be a massive influence in the game.

Waikato were ill-disciplined throughout. They lost the penalty count 8-2 in the first-half and Turoa Stephens was yellow-carded late in the match.

This briefly allowed Otago to remain close. Thomas Johnson kicked two penalties and No.8 Alex Hawira scored a try after a charge down and dispatch by industrious lock Ben Weeby.

Leading 14-13 after 15 minutes, Waikato amplified the heat. Lansdown kicked a penalty before Trainor showed his illusive qualities by netting two tries.

He gathered an Otago spillage and darted 25-metres for his first. Then he pursed wing Jesse Rihari's chip and chase over 55-metres.

Waikato led 29-13 at the interval.

Trainor began the second-half full of running. He bisected the Otago defence on halfway, sailed 35-meters and engendered a try for his skipper Luke Jacobson.

To add insult to Otago injury Trainor was then collared in a high tackle by Jed Thomas who was dismissed to the sin bin for ten minutes.

Already overwhelmed upfront an undermanned Otago conceded a meek try from a lineout drive. Moli-Lopeti was awarded with his second.

Predictably Trainor had a say in the Mooloos last try. He offloaded in a tackle to wing Shelford Murray when he appeared to have been restrained just short of the line. Earlier Lansdown had sliced open the Otago defence.

Catnterbury v Taranaki

Canterbury: 42 (Fraser Scott 2, Caleb Makene, Jack McCormack, Anthony Burnett, Jacob Whitaker tries; Brett Cameron 4 con, 2 pen) Taranaki: 17 (Penalty try, Eli Kneepkens try 2 con, 1 pen)

Canterbury will have a chance to atone for their 2014 final defeat when they tackle Waikato in Saturday's decider.

Canterbury decisively accounted for Taranaki to prevent an all Chiefs final.

Canterbury settled the contest early in the second-half when they powered ahead 30-10.

In the 40th minute Taranaki was penalised for being offside from a 22 dropout. Canterbury opted to take a scrum and the forwards rolled up their sleeves, concealed the ball in tight and muscled over the line after a rigours sequence of 'pick and goes - Wellington's Jack McCormack was the benefactor.

Moments later the backs illustrated their prowess. Jordie Barrett boldly ran from his own in- goal. He passed into a Taranaki player who knocked it forward. Logan Crowley swooped on the crumb and dashed to halfway. The forwards recycled swiftly and Canterbury's backs steamed into top gear. The ball was transferred smartly from one side of the field to the other and wing Fraser Scott finished over 25-metres.

Ironically Barrett and Crowley both attended Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth.

Taranaki briefly led 7-5 after fullback Eli Kneepkens sprinted 25-metres to score a stylish try, but in reality Taranaki was always chasing Canterbury.

Scott scored in the opening minute and Barrett chipped deftly for fullback Caleb Makene.

Flanker Anthony Burnett was awarded for his toil and reserve back Jacob Whitaker completed the scoring.

Canterbury appears to be a polished unit with few weaknesses. Captain and No.8 Elia Elia was brutish in the second-half. He produced two fends which are bound to leave an imprint on the faces of the victims.

For Taranaki openside Du Plessis Kirifi, lock Finn Hoeata and wing Manasa Mataele were standouts.

Mataele created their penalty try when he chipped and regathered from his own 22, attempted the same stunt in the Canterbury 22 only to be taken out illegally by Scott.

Results from Day Two of the Jock Hobbs Memorial Cup competition tournament:

Top 4 Premiership Graham Mourie Cup semi-finals
Waikato 48 – Otago 23
Canterbury v Taranaki

Premiership Plate semi-finals
North Harbour 31- Manawatu 24
Wellington 34 - Auckland A 23

Bottom 8 Championship (Michael Jones Trophy) semi-finals
Counties Manukau 51 – Southland 20
Tasman 26 - Hawke’s Bay 20

Championship Plate semi-finals
Bay of Plenty 24 – Auckland B 19 (Fulltime 19-19)
Northland 22 - Heartland 16