National club rugby results: July 22
Northland
(Premier)
Old Boys-Marist 64 Hora Hora 17
Mid Northern 24 Waipu 10
(Promotion/relegation)
Otamatea 33 Moerewa/United Kawakawa Sports 7
Kerikeri 18 Mid-Western 0
North Harbour
(ASB Cup final)
Northcote 17 Takapuna 15
(Plate final)
North Shore 26 Marist 6
Northcote have won their fourth North Harbour premier championship and, for the second time in two weeks, replacement back Ben Searle was the toast of the club.
The 17-15 victory over Takapuna was as tight as all the pundits had predicted and Searle delivered in the clutch, as he did in last week’s 21-19 semifinal win over East Coast Bays, with a penalty goal in the 83rd minute.
Northcote halfback Sean Law scored the sole try of the decider, played in atrocious weather conditions at QBE Stadium. First five Jack Bergin assumed the goalkicking duties and banged over three penalties, while his opposite Bryn Gatland slotted five penalty goals to keep Takapuna right in the contest. The lead changed hands several times in the second half until Takapuna nosed ahead 15-14 with just six minutes to play.
In a dramatic finale, Northcote won a penalty and lineout after the hooter had sounded, edged field possession and set for the drop goal. Takapuna was, however, penalised at the ruck, and Searle did the rest. The Northcote team song was belted out with gusto.
North Shore claimed the Plate final, 26-6 over a young Marist side that should be very competitive in 2018. New Harbour signing Jarrad Hoeata had a run for Shore.
Auckland
(Gallaher Shield semifinals)
University 27 Ponsonby 22
Suburbs 16 College Rifles 9
(Jubilee Cup semifinals)
Eden 20 Manukau 17
Grammar TEC 31 Pakuranga 14
(Portola Trophy semifinals)
Papatoetoe 21 Marist 18
East Tamaki 26 Waitemata 15
(Presidents Cup final)
Mt Wellington 29 Waitakere City 8
For the first time ever, the Gallaher Shield decider will pit University versus Suburbs, two clubs that have contested the third-tier Portola Trophy in the last two years.
Defending Gallaher champion Suburbs did enough to edge College Rifles, who again fall at the semifinal stage, 16-9 at Shadbolt Park.
University, meanwhile, had a titanic struggle in the wet at Colin Maiden Park to overcome Ponsonby 27-22 and return to the final. They had a run of three straight finals, of which they won one, in 2014, from 2013-15.
Ponies missed first five William Talataina-Mu, who has signed with the Southland Stags for the Mitre 10 Cup, but took the early initiative when prop Rob Cobb crashed over after just four minutes. They had the wind and fullback Jordan Trainor was slotting the goals, including one from more than 50m. When captain and industrious flanker Waha Waitohi scored off a lineout drive, the visitors had a 15-3 lead. But Varsity’s scrum sparked up and they scored two critical tries before the break, one to second five Kava Fuavao, scoring on the goalpost padding, and the second to wing Amos Pogia after several phases.
When Ponies centre Patrick Tausie scored less than five minutes into the second stanza, Ponies had the 22-17 lead. However, neither side could force an advantage as they passed the ball too much in the conditions when skid kicking was the order of the day. The forward struggle was intense, and Varsity was led by lock Lyndon Dunshea and the energetic No 8 Uini Fetalaiga.
The decisive play came when Trainor, who took a fatal extra step, was charged down and wing Lui Morel pounced to score. Varsity then hung tough, after losing halfback Brenton Helleur to injury, with some staunch defence, though they made life difficult for themselves by not clearing their lines properly. Ponies had multiple phases at the death but knocked-on, much to Varsity’s jubilation.
In the other semi, a resolute Suburbs scored tries via halfback Brad Moyer and wing Caleb Clarke to shut out Rifles, who had chances but did not take them.
Eden and Grammar TEC will contest the Jubilee Cup final after victories over, respectively, Manukau (20-17) and Pakuranga (31-14). Mt Wellington beat Waitakere City 29-8 to take the Presidents Cup. – Campbell Burnes
Counties Manukau
(McNamara Cup final)
Bombay 32 Karaka 24
Bombay have won their fourth straight McNamara Cup and are fit to rank as the union’s best club team in the last 20 years.
They had to fight hard to subdue a big, competitive Karaka who were hungry for their first title. But after going to oranges at 17-all, Bombay cranked up the power in the second spell and mostly controlled the encounter. Ki Anufe’s tally of 12 points via three conversions, a penalty goal and a pot was decisive in the four tries apiece clash. Some of his successful kicks were far from easy in the wet, greasy conditions.
Bombay skipper Shaun Muir scored a double, while his loosehead prop Coree Te Whata-Colley performed strongly and tighthead prop Kalolo Tuiloma sealed the win with a late try.
The locking combination of Johnny Kawau and Matiaha Martin rolled their sleeves up, while
the loose trio of David O’Connell, Mitchell Thackham and Josh Allan were prominent.
Karaka lent on their big loose trio of Peti Lauese, Antonio Kata and captain Seluini Molia to carry them over the gain line, and the solo try to young wing Walter Fifita was a highlight. First five Baden Kerr entered the fray in the second spell and found some booming touch-finders, but his club were always slightly behind the eight-ball in the dying throes.
Bombay also beat Karaka in the Don Shuker Cup in premier two final.
Thames Valley
(McClinchy Cup semifinals)
Mercury Bay 23 Hauraki North 26
Waihi Athletic 22 Cobras 18
(Patrons Cup semifinal)
Waihou 21 Paeroa West 19
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide premier)
Rotoiti 18 Rangataua 17
Mt Maunganui 20 Te Puke Sports 16
Waikato
(Waikato Breweries Shield semifinals)
Otorohanga 31 Hamilton Marist 21
Hamilton Old Boys 43 Melville 0
King Country
(Meads Shield semifinals)
Waitete 32 Taupo Sports 17
Taumarunui Eels 17 Piopio 10
East Coast
(Semifinals)
Hikurangi 17 Uawa 15
TVC 25 Ruatoria City 20
Poverty Bay
(Lee Brothers Shield final)
HSOB 34 Waikohu 3
Hawke’s Bay
(Tui Maddison Trophy)
Napier Old Boys-Marist 48 Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 7
Napier Tech 42 Havelock North 7
Clive 31 Taradale 7
Hastings Rugby and Sports 57 MAC 0
Central 30 Tamatea 21
Wanganui
(Semifinals)
Ruapehu 10 Marist 9
Border 25 Pirates 7
(Consolation semifinal)
Taihape 40 Utiku Old Boys 6
Kaierau 13 Ngamatapouri 12
Manawatu
(Hankins Shield final)
Old Boys-Marist 28 Kia Toa 27
(Val Holland Cup final)
Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 20 Te Kawau 10
Wairarapa-Bush
(Tui Cup semifinals)
Gladstone 27 Carterton 5
Martinborough 18 Greytown 13
(Plate semifinal)
Pioneer 45 East Coast 7
Wellington
(Jubilee Cup)
Hutt Old Boys-Marist 13 Tawa 10
Marist St Pat’s 22 Old Boys-University 21
Northern United 34 Wainuiomata 33
Oriental-Rongotai 19 Petone 12
(Hardham Cup)
Paremata-Plimmerton 40 Avalon Wolves 5
Upper Hutt Rams 49 Wellington 17
Poneke 15 Johnsonville 15
Tasman
(Marlborough final)
Moutere 22 Renwick 19
(Nelson Bays final)
Nelson 41 Wanderers 19
Buller
(Final)
White Star 27 Westport 25
West Coast
(Taylor-Wallsend Trophy final)
Kiwi 22 Blaketown 15
Canterbury
(Metro)
(Trophy semifinals)
Lincoln University 29 Christchurch 5
Sydenham v University postponed
(Plate semifinals)
New Brighton 24 HSOB 3
Burnside v Sumner postponed (Burnside 9-17 Sumner)
(Bowl semifinals)
Shirley 38 Linwood 10
Belfast v Marist-Albion postponed (Belfast 41-10 Marist Albion)
Postponed Christchurch Metro Rugby results are:
Metro Rugby Results from Sunday
Premier Trophy Semi
Sydenham 15-24 University
Next Week’s Final: Lincoln University v University
UC Championship
Shirley BHS 29-26 St Andrews College
Rangiora HS 36-9 Roncalli Aoraki
Points: Christs College 48, Timaru 45*, CBHS 44*, Nelson 40*, St Andrews 39, Rangiora 36, Waimea 31, St Thomas 28*, Shirley 26, Marlborough 24*, Lincoln 20*, St Bedes 16*, Ashburton 6*, Roncalli 1, Burnside 0
*Games still to be played
(Ellesmere)
Luisetti Seeds North Canterbury Div 1
Glenmark-Cheviot 13 vs Hurunui 10
Kaiapoi 6 vs Saracens 20 (3T)
Ohoka 0 vs Oxford 33 (5T)
Points: Oxford 19, Glenmark-Cheviot 18, Saracens 17, Ohoka 9, Kaiapoi 7, Hurunui 5
Semis: Oxford v Ohoka
Glenmark-Cheviot v Saracens
Mike Greer Homes North Canterbury Ltd Div 2
Kaiapoi 17 (2T) vs. Saracens 22 (4T)
Ashley 20 (4T) vs. Kaikoura 14
Glenmark-Cheviot 5 (1T) vs. Woodend 18 (3T)
Points: Woodend 17, Saracens 16, Ashley 16, Kaiapoi 12, Glenmark-Cheviot 10, Kaikoura 5
Semis: Woodend v Kaiapoi
Saracens v Ashley
Mid Canterbury
(Watters Cup final)
Postponed until July 23
Luisetti Seeds Watters Cup 2017 Final
Congratulations to Southern on their victory over Rakaia 35 to 21
South Canterbury
(Hamersley Cup semifinals)
Postponed until July 23
North Otago
(Citizens Shield semifinals)
Postponed until July 29
Otago
(Dunedin Metro semifinals)
Postponed until July 23
(Central Otago semifinals)
Wakatipu 25 Cromwell 20
Maniototo v Arrowtown postponed until July 23