Ories And Wainui In Final After Hardham Cup Humdinger

Oriental-Rongotai and Wainuiomata are this year's Hardham Cup finalists after running out winners against Avalon and Upper Hutt respectively in exciting semi-finals.

Top qualifier Ories continued their 2007 resurgence, beating Avalon 32-17 and outscoring them five tries to one at the Polo Ground to safely book their place in next Sunday's final.

Wainuiomata will be making their second visit in a row to Westpac Stadium, coming from behind to topple Upper Hutt 17-12 in a rematch of last year's final.

At the Polo Ground it was the home team who took the game by the scruff of the neck, knuckling down to some excellent 10-man rugby - and with three tries to dynamic hooker Lui Aukuso - who needs backs?

Aukuso scored the early opener, driving over in front of ecstatic supporters at the clubrooms end of the ground. First five eighth Karl Harding missed the conversion only to make up for it a short while later with a huge dropped goal from 40 metres.

Harding plugged at the corners, making sure of his touch kicks to keep the ball away from Avalon's play-making fullback, Andrew Turner.

Avalon right wing Stephen Cross put Avalon on the board with a penalty kick before Ories laid on another try. Flanker Michael Pahulu sent a long pass to his left out to Saint Misa who combined with centre Paulo Aukuso for a well-worked score in the left corner.

Another penalty kick and Avalon went into halftime with confidence in their wet weather play, despite being two tries down and 15-6 behind on the scoreboard.

Playing catch-up in the conditions meant both forward and back runners for Avalon often found themselves short of support in the tackle and under pressure.

But another successful penalty to Cross after halftime brought Avalon within three, and the visitors' intensity lifted, managing to pin Ories down with some brutal defense.

Then Harding came into his own, and on the back of a good forward set up, he pitched the ball down into Avalon's left hand corner, forcing an Ories lineout feed.

Chief lineout forward Mark Reddish, made a simple but effective call to himself at number two and cheekily passed it straight back to his hooker Aukuso who could not be stopped so close to the line.

Though Avalon came back with another penalty, and at 20-12 both sides' supporters felt on edge.

But 10-man rugby requires a certain amount of set-piece security, and Avalon's lineout was below par.

Reddish pilfered a wayward lineout throw and sprinted the seventy metre length of the left hand touchline, chased by left wing Sione Tauailato, to score a much-lauded try.

Not to be outdone, Lui Aukuso dotted down again after a cross kick found Saint Misa in the clear and able to draw the final defender to give the happy-hooker his hat-trick.

Peter Sciascia tried hard all day and nailed the consolation try when his forwards carried him over with two minutes to go.

Ories will be satisfied with a final score of 32-17 in the conditions. Should Karl Harding recover from a shoulder knock taken late in the game, they will be confident in their play whatever weather they find at the stadium next week.

It was also a willing contest at Maidstone Park between Upper Hutt and Wainui, the home side getting on top after 15 minutes. With Wainui lock Laifa Ta'ala cooling off in the sin bin, Upper Hutt No. 8 Matthew Luamanu combined with long-serving hooker Joe Ritchie for a converted try to put them ahead.

Wainui quickly replied through spindly speedster Lewis Marshall, crossing from the left wing for a seven-pointer to tie it all up again.

Next it was the turn of Marhsall's opposite number Sam Williamson to ignite the playoff, Williamson regathering a chip and chase with inches to spare before the deadball line. This made it 12-7 to Upper Hutt at halftime.

Wainui came out of the sheds after the break pumped, dominating field position and possession. Luamanu was sinbinned for Upper Hutt, but still their line held until instrumental Wainui first five-eighth Earl Va'a landed a penalty to close it to 12-10 to Upper Hutt.

Bustling Wainui No. 8 Daniel Olive then had the final say, crossing for a late try and the winning of the match.

Meanwhile in lower grade action, the finalists were found in both the 85 kg Restricted Division One and the Under 21 Division One grades.

Marist St. Pat's will meet Poneke in next week's 85 kg restricted final for the Paul Potiki Shield after MSP beat Wellington 19-7 in their semi-final and the Poneke Dogs of War side laid siege to Eastbourne 10-6.

In the John E Kelly Memorial U21 playoffs Petone cruised to a 41-3 win over Ories and will meet Wainui in the final who saw off the challenge of Old Boys-University 13-10 in their playoff encounter.

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