Paremata-Plimmerton earn top billing for Senior 1 playoffs

Above: Paremata-Plimmerton No. 8 and captain Tane McMillan-Parata, who scored his side’s winning try, making a break for his team against Wainuiomata today.

Paremata-Plimmerton have qualified in pole position for next week’s Ed Chaney Senior 1 playoffs with a determined 14-10 win over Wainuiomata in their last round top-of-the-table clash at Ngatitoa Domain this afternoon.

Gritty defence and a key try early in the second half to skipper and No. 8 Tane McMillan-Parata paved the way for Paremata-Plimmerton’s eighth win in nine games in the second round and will see them return home next Saturday to host Hutt Old Boys Marist in one semi-final.

First round Senior 2 champions Hutt Old Boys Marist secured their semi-final place with a 41-22 win over Poneke, also consigning Poneke’s second side to Senior 2 status next season.

Despite the loss in today’s last round, Wainuiomata finished second and will host third placed Tawa in the other semi-final.

Tawa defeated mid-table Norths 25-23 in their match today. Petone finished with a 15-12 win over MSP but ended up in fifth place, while Ories bagged maximum points but remained in sixth by winning by default over the already relegated Upper Hutt.

At Ngatioa Domain, McMillan-Parata crashed over in the corner from a lineout drive and fullback Ryan McLean landed two second half penalties to see Paremata-Plimmerton beat Wainuiomata in a willing but scrappy match in windy conditions.

Playing with the first assistance of the wind, Wainuiomata made most of the running in the first half but all they could manage was an 8th minute try to lock Bevan Clark, converted by goal kicking openside flanker Aaron Gage.

They should have scored at least once more from further raids down field, but some forced passes going to ground and well-organised defence from the home side, particularly in the midfield, kept them out.? Instead, McLean got Paremata-Plimmerton on the board with a penalty in the 30th minute and they trailed just 3-7 at halftime.

Paremata-Plimmerton scored their try early in the second spell to put them ahead for the first time at 8-7, extending this to 11-7 with McLean penalty. Gage replied with a penalty to make it 11-10, but McLean kicked the winning penalty with about 15 minutes to play and they held on to the finish.

In the Senior 2 HD Morgan Memorial Cup, the Wests Roosters booked themselves top spot and a home semi-final in a fortnight by beating Wainuiomata 31-0.

Wests are guaranteed to finish on top ahead of current second placed OBU by virtue of their win over them earlier in the round.

OBU beat MSP 38-10 in their match and also booked the second of the home semi-finals with next week’s final round to spare.

Avalon cemented third place regardless of the outcomes of next week’s matches and will play OBU in their semi-final, despite drawing their match today with Poneke 29-29.

The fourth Senior 2 playoff place is wide open, however, with Johnsonville in the box seat and one of six sides still mathematically in the hunt in next week’s last round set of matches.

Today Johnsonville beat Stokes Valley 37-22, while Petone beat Norths 24-17 in the other match.

There were also two Premier 1 First XV college semi-finals today.

Top qualifiers St Pat’s Silverstream beat Naenae College 36-14 and Wellington College defeated Scots College 27-0. St Pat’s Silverstream and Wellington College will meet in next Saturday’s final at Porirua Park.

In other matches, Porirua College defeated Rongotai College 29-10 and St Pat’s Town beat HIBS 41-10.

?