Wellington Axemen hold off Pare-Plim in a thriller to win Senior 1 title

Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup Final
Wellington 15 - Paremata-Plimmerton 13

Senior 2 HD Morgan Memorial Cup Final
HOBM 24 - Petone 16

Age Grade Division 2 Vic Calcinai Memorial Cup Final
Tawa 19 - Avalon 18

Age Grade Division 3 Eric Connelly Cup Final
Johnsonville 16 - Petone White 3

U85kg Restricted Division 2 Round 2 Final
Stokes Valley 20 - Petone Vipers 6

Reserve Grade Division 2 Final
OBU Righteous Brothers 27 - OBU 69ers 8

The Wellington Axemen held off Paremata-Plimmerton in a thriller to win the 2012 Wellington club rugby Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup title in front of a rousing crowd of supporters from both sides at Hataitai Park today.

Wellington won the final 15-13, but had to watch as visiting first five-eighth Blake Neve pushed a potential match winning penalty from halfway wide with the last act of the game.

Only then could the celebrations begin for Wellington's hard working group of players and coaching staff and their loyal supporters and ex-players who were watching on.

In accepting the Ed Chaney Cup off WRFU President John Wotton, Wellington flanker and captain Mike Smith dedicated the win to former Axemen player Dean Gifford who sadly passed away earlier this week from a brain tumour. Former lock Gifford also played for Ories, OBU, MSP and for the Petone Police side.

Wellington coach Joe Tawhara was quick to acknowledge afterwards that his team had been an almighty contest. "We didn't underestimate Pare-Plim in the final. We beat them in the first round [41-10], but we knew they'd be much stronger today. They belted us out there and that was very tough game."

"We did well in the first half to get 15 points but we just couldn't budge them in the second half. We thought they'd tire but they never did and they just kept coming at us and took the game right down to the wire."

Tawhara said the win in the final was the culmination of a big season, in which the Axemen lost just once, to Upper Hutt several weeks ago, and also took out the first round Senior 2 National Mutual Cup.

"The club's been building all season for this win. These guys believed in themselves right from the beginning, they stuck fat all the way through" he said.

Tawhara said the team's game-plan all season served them well. "We try to create fast ball at the breakdown and play positive rugby."

"We've got strong forwards and a good backline, but if I had to single out player who is a game breaker for us that's our No. 8 Vaea Fifita. He's new to the club this year and he's just gone from strength to strength and has deservedly made the Wellington U20s [along with first five-eighth Hilton Mexted].

"It's really hard at Senior Second level to attract players of his quality, but now we are back in the Senior 1sts for 2013 hopefully the attraction is there for other players to come along."

Tawhara also paid tribute to his fellow coaches Evan Hopkin and Richard Deck, and to the resource coaching team led by Murray Mexted.

Wellington had established a 15-0 lead midway through the first half with a strong wind behind them, through two tries and a penalty.

After missing two early penalties to first five-eighth Hilton Mexted, the Axemen found the tryline twice in five minutes

After a concerted build-up, halfback Wiremu Darlington darted over the line from close range, and after some big defensive pressure in midfield, the Axemen struck through their backs and fullback Kazuki Yoshida scored just inside the corner flag.

This lead could have been extended, with Mexted's educated boot twice forcing mistakes at the back in front of the tryline but twice Pare-Plim held out the resulting set-piece attacks in what could have been crucial missed chances.

Instead Pare-Plim regrouped and after a period attacking inside the Axemen's 22, they ran their fullback in for a try, which Neve converted to close the gap to 15-7.

On the stroke of halftime, Mexted missed a straightforward third penalty attempt, a miss that could have proven costly.

With the wind behind them, and with a large group of vocal supporters cheering them on, Pare-Plim came hard at Wellington in the second half.

Neve closed the gap to 15-10 with his first penalty, ahead of Mexted missing a fourth penalty.

The rest of the second half developed into a tug of war, with Pare-Plim growing in confidence and winning several big turnovers off the Axemen. Their No. 8 Tane McMillian-Parata and their hooker James Shearing both led from the front with their strong ball carries and high defensive workrates.

With several minutes remaining, Para-Plim won another penalty and Neve opted to take the points, closing the gap to 15-13.

The Axemen won a reprieve from the kick-off when Pare-Plim knocked on, and from that point they managed to keep play inside Pare-Plim's half of the field.

A hush descended on Hataitai Park at the end however, as Neve lined up an ambitious penalty on halfway on a slight angle to win the game. His attempt fell short and the Axemen had added another title to their illustrious history.

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