Junior Steamers claim U19 title

Bay of Plenty with the Graham Mourie Cup. PHOTO: https://www.facebook.com/NationalUnder19s/

Bay of Plenty have become the fifth different winner of the Graham Mourie Cup in as many years, dramatically defeating Canterbury 35-30 in the Premiership final of the Jock Hobbs Memorial U19 tournament on Saturday.

The dying stages of the match categorially illustrated how sought after this title has become.

Bay of Plenty was ahead 27-23 with eight minutes remaining. The Junior Steamers put together 17 phases and earned a penalty which fullback Kaleb Trask failed to kick.

Bay of Plenty re-entered Canterbury’s 22 and with three minutes left Trask bounced a penalty shot off the posts to expand the lead to 30-23.

Canterbury kicked off and Trask went from hero to villain. His attempted clearance was charged down by reserve flanker Josh Bosker who snaffled and lumbered deep into the Bay of Plenty 22 - offloading in the grasp of a tackle to replacement halfback Connor McManus who finished. First-five Fergus Burke kicked the conversion and it was 30-30.

With a minute to go Canterbury secured the Bay of Plenty kick off and directed their attack right.

No.8 Matthew Letoga received just outside the 22 and tried to link with a winger on his outside.Bay of Plenty wing Jayjay Suemai was alert and poached an intercept to trigger senses of delirium.

It was a harsh climax for Letoga, one of Canterbury’s most influential.

Canterbury led 13-8 halftime. Burke opened the scoring following a dozen phases only for Trask to tie the scores after 10 minutes.

A swift switch from halfback Luke Donaldson to excellent flanker Cullen Grace resulted in a hole and the first try of proceedings. Burke’s conversion made it 10-3 to Canterbury.

Burke had two further chances to score for Canterbury and was successful with one penalty as Canterbury established their largest lead of the match.

A pivotal moment was to occur just before the interval when Trask pushed aside a meek Burns Mills tackle to half the deficit.

Bay of Plenty right wing Emoni Nawara was a hero in the second-half, playing a hand all three tries.

After strong led up running by front rowers Mafi Fifita, Miracle Lolofie and Jonas Pomare, Nawara made the last pass for openside Kohan Herbert as the Junior Steamers levelled the scores.

Ahead 15-13, Nawara then fended off three players at halfway and delivered another back hander for first-five Cole Forbes.

In the 45th minute Burke’s longest success made it 20-16, but the threat of Nawara loomed large.
In the 52nd minute, Bay of Plenty halfback Leroy Carter managed to bust from a backpedalling scrum liking with Nawara who set up Trask’s double with a well-timed inside pass.

Predicably Canterbury rallied and an assertive rolling maul resulted in profit for prop Finlay Brewis.
En-route to the title Bay of Plenty won six games in a row and scored more points than any other Union in the country.

Trask was the recipient of the DJ Graham Medal for player of the tournament. The New Zealand Under-20’s representative is the first back to receive the accolade. The previous winners have been all flankers.

Bay of Plenty 35 (Kaleb Trask 2, Cole Forbes, Kohan Herbert, Jayjay Suemai tries; Trask 2 con, 2 pen) Canterbury 30 (Finlay Brewis, Cullen Grace, Conor McManus tries; Fergus Burke 3 con, 3 pen) HT: 8-13

Michael Jones Trophy Final

A 17-minute stalemate was broken when Waikato wing Jack McConnell retrieved a clearance that bounced wickedly astray of the Otago fullback on halfway. McConnell recycled quickly and Waikato stretched to the opposite touchline where Siave Seti carried three defenders with him over the line.

Otago responded strongly with a nine-phase attack and earned a scrum deep inside the Waikato half. A powerful burst by centre TJ Ane followed and fast hands by flanker Sam Dickson put fullback Harrison Boyle in the clear.

The Waikato forwards took control of proceedings from the 25th minute restricting Otago to only a third of possession for the remainder of the match.

Seven robust phases allowed Seti to touchdown for his second before a McConnell break from splintered maul made the score 17-5 at halftime.

In the 44th minute Raiki Willison kicked a penalty to stretch the lead to 20-5 and three minutes later lock James Thompson strolled over following a dozen phases.

Otago fought valiantly with Dickson producing a commendable display. Waikato always looked like winners though and centre BJ Lima (son of Samoan international Brian Lima) has the last say finishing a break from the illusive McConnell.

Waikato outscored three opponents at the tournament 148-10.

Day Three Results

Championship
Manawatu 21 – Heartland 12
Auckland Development 59 – Northland 14
Counties Manukau 29 – Southland 24
Waikato 30 – Otago 5

Premiership
Hawke’s Bay 40 – Taranaki 13
Auckland 35 – Tasman 31
North Harbour 21 – Wellington 10
Bay of Plenty 35 – Canterbury 30

Finishing positions

1st Bay of Plenty
2nd Canterbury
3rd North Harbour
4th Wellington
5th Auckland
6th Tasman
7th Hawke’s Bay
8th Taranaki
9th Waikato
10th Otago
11th Counties Manukau
12th Southland
13th Auckland Development
14th Northland
15th Manawatu
16th Heartland

Individual statistics 

Top Try Scorers for the Tournament   
5 Jack McConnell, Waikato   
5 Siave Seti, Waikato    
5 Bartje Wierenga, Bay of Plenty   
4 Lalomilo Lalomilo, Bay of Plenty  
4 Kaleb Trask, Bay of Pleny   
4 Lincoln McClutchie, Hawkes Bay   
4 Heremaia Murray, Counties Manukau
4 Tevahn Ta’ufo’ou, Manawatu   
4 Michaile Van Wyk, Auckland Development 

Top Point Scorers for the Tournament
54 Kaleb Trask, Bay of Pleny   
51 Fergus Burke, Canterbury   
41 Viliama Sipa, Auckland Development 
39 Josh McPerhson, Tasman   
36 Thomas Strachan, Auckland 
34 Nikau Graham, Northland    
34 Callum Harkin, Wellington   
31 Jack Heighton, North Harbour