Tawa to play Ories in Jubilee Cup final

Above: Ma’a Nonu was one of three All Blacks and three other Super Rugby players to play in the Ories-HOBM Jubilee Cup semi-final at the Hutt Recreation Ground. Nonu had a quiet game and was subbed after 53 minutes. The match itself was a thriller, Ories winning deep in extra time.

Swindale Shield champions Tawa will meet Oriental-Rongotai in next Sunday’s Jubilee Cup final and Northern United will play the Wellington Axemen in the Hardham Cup final after a contrasting set of semi-finals this afternoon that produced truly epic playoff rugby on one hand and one-sidedness on the other.

In one of the most thrilling semi-finals grassroots supporters could hope for, the Oriental-Rongotai - Hutt Old Boys Marist clash had it all, from All Blacks playing to extra time. In the end, it took a winning penalty in the 97th minute of the match from Jubilee Cup veteran first five-eighth Fa’atonu Fili to give Ories a 30-27 win over HOBM and send Ories into their third consecutive final.

Top qualifiers Tawa achieved a more assured victory over Old Boys University, though still befitting of semi-finals rugby. They won 29-13 and they will play in their first Jubilee Cup final since 1998.

In the Hardham Cup, the Wellington Axemen played themselves into next week’s final with a hard-fought 10-9 victory over Upper Hutt at Maidstone Park.? After trailing at halftime, Wellington came back to snatch the win with 10 minutes to play when fullback Paddy Hughes scored and first five-eighth Hilton Mexted converted.

In the other Hardham Cup semi-final, Northern United made sure of their place in the final with a commanding 88-5 win over the Wests Roosters. There was no high-drama at Porirua Park as Norths cruised to victory.

The Jubilee Cup and Hardham Cup finals will both be played at the Hutt Recreation Ground next Sunday. The Hardham Cup is at 1.00 pm, followed by the Jubilee Cup at 3.00 pm.

In the first leg of a triple header finals day, the HOBM Green and OBU Green teams will meet in the final of the John E Kelly Colts Division 1 competition, after HOBM Green defeated Norths 40-17 in one semi-final today and OBU Green beat the Junior Axemen in the other.

In week eight of nine of the Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup, Paremata-Plimmerton were confirmed as one of the home semi-finalists for the upcoming playoff series after taking a 26-8 win over Ories.

Wainuiomata also booked their semi-finals place with a week to spare after beating Poneke 36-12.

In a clutch game of the round, Hutt Old Boys Marist prevented third placed Tawa from booking their semi-finals place just yet and advanced their cause by winning their match 40-29.

In other Senior one results today, Marist St Pat’s smoked Northern United 55-5 and mid-table Petone defeated Upper Hutt 21-10. The defeat for Upper Hutt means they are confirmed as one of the two sides to be relegated to Senior 2 next year. Poneke must beat HOBM with a bonus point next week and hope that Norths lose to Tawa with no points to avoid same fate. ?

In Senior 2 HD Morgan Memorial Cup matches, leaders the Wests Roosters beat Stokes Valley 35-14 and second placed OBU defeated Petone 24-16.

Avalon are clear in third place after defeating Wainuiomata 38-7 in another key game of the Senior 2 round.?

In the other games, Johnsonville smashed Norths 57-5 and MSP accounted for bottom placed Poneke 26-3.

In some highlights of the Jubilee Cup semi-fnals, three All Blacks came out to play at the Hutt Recreation Ground in the semi-final between HOBM and Ories, and all three were part of an epic match.

Ories first five-eighth Fa’atonu Fili won the game for his side in the 17th minute of extra time, after scores had been locked at 20-20 at fulltime and then 27-27 with three minutes remaining.

Ories had given themselves every chance to win when flanker Tutasi Masoe crashed over in the corner with the last play of the game, leveling the scores up. Fili missed a difficult conversion that would have given them the win.

HOBM had thought they had the game won seven minutes from fulltime when their right wing James Kusel had fielded a Fili kick on the fly near halfway and steamed up the right hand touchline to set up a try. HOBM first five-eighth Brandyn Laursen converted to put them ahead 20-15.In a game of missed chances and off days on the kicking tee for both team’s kickers, HOBM and Ories had shaded each other all match.

HOBM made a promising start, with Ories falling off tackles and HOBM’s set-piece play much better. HOBM scored the first try to left wing Reuben Colquhoun following a break in centre field by second five-eighth Alexis Time.

Time’s opposite, Ma’a Nonu and his dangerous midfield partner Paulo Aukuso, was under used.

Nevertheless, Ories wing Afa Fa’atau, big and powerful, crashed up field and set up a try in reply and scores were eventually locked up at 10-10 at halftime.

After winning the opening second half re-start, through their All Black and lock Jeremy Thrush, HOBM spent the first 10 minutes of the second half camped inside Ories’ 22 and were twice held up over the line. Eventually they were awarded a penalty and Laursen took the points to put them ahead 13-10.

The drama then unfolded, with, first Ories scoring an unconverted try in the corner to the other All Black on the field Julian Savea to take a 15-13 lead, and both sides scoring twice more to make it 20-20 after 80 minutes.

In the other semi-final at Lyndhurst Park, Tawa led 10-6 late in the first half before props Taniela Koroi and Tolu Fahamokia combined for a decisive try. Fahamokia barged over and first five-eighth James So’oialo converted to put Tawa ahead 17-6 at halftime.

The Billy Goats were now up against it in the second half, but try as they might they couldn’t create the conditions to mount a comeback.

Instead, Tawa won the game on the 60-minute mark when left wing Jeff Makapelu scored after a period of concerted pressure.

Both sides scored tries in the final 20 minutes, but the big home crowd were already making their plans for next Sunday’s trip to the Hutt Recreation Ground.

In the Hardham Cup semi-final at Maidstone Park, home team Upper Hutt’s unbeaten run at home came to a halt when Wellington came from behind to snatch the victory.

Ill-discipline let Wellington down in the first and gave Upper Hutt the early lead, Upper Hutt however were unable to score tries from the penalties due to hooker Camden Howard having a poor day with his line out throw-ins.

Wellington managed to get three points back, when their blindside flanker Terry Soli was yellow carded for a late tackle and using the shoulder. Upper Hutt went into halftime leading 9-3.

After the break, Wellington started to apply some pressure and Upper Hutt were struggling to slow the momentum. This lead to Camden Howard illegally putting his hands in the ruck and getting yellow carded.

Wellington applied the pressure with the extra man, leading to penalties, wellington were taking the risks with not going for the points, with 10 minutes to go Wellington’s fullback Paddy Hughes danced through Upper Hutt’s defence and scored in a favorable position for the kicker.

Hilton Mexted converted and Wellington took the lead and finished victorious 10-9.

In the other Hardham Cup semi-final, Northern United strode out in the sunshine.

They scored 14 tries against the Roosters and led 43-5 at the halftime interval, after scoring four tries at almost a point a minute and leading 26-5.

First five-eighth Jackson Garden-Bachop crossed just after the break to bring up the half century for Norths, but they didn’t ease off.

Wing Sinoti Sinoti scored a hat-trick, fullback Johnny Teleaga two tries while flanker Dean Brunsdon also scored his 17th try of the season.