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Jonty Bird scores a converted try for Ories at the death to lock it up at 20-20 at the Petone Rec. The two teams played 20 minutes of extra time, but the deadlock remained and Ories were the winners because they scored more tries than Petone. Photo: Andy McArthur.
- By Steven White, Scott MacLean & Martyn Bridge
Oriental-Rongotai and Old Boys University have progressed through to next weekend’s Jubilee Cup semi-finals with gripping and gritty knockout wins this afternoon over Petone and the Upper Hutt Rams respectively.
Ories defeated Petone in an extra time thriller, both teams being tied up at 20-20 at the end of the regulation 80 minutes and again after 100 minutes, but Ories progress because they scored more tries (three tries to one). More on this game below.
Meanwhile, OBU left it late to beat the Upper Hutt Rams 16-9 at Rugby League Park. OBU and the Rams had been tied up at 6-6 for a long time, and the Rams then went ahead 9-6 before OBU scored a penalty and a converted try in the later stages of the contest.
OBU will travel to play Hutt Old Boys Marist next Saturday, while Ories will play Tawa at Lyndhurst Park.
The day started with eight Hardham Cup teams in the race, which became four later in the afternoon, with wins to all four home teams and higher qualifiers.
Paremata-Plimmerton beat Avalon 86-12 (more just below), Wainuiomata beat Northern United 62-5, Marist St Pats beat Wellington 42-24, and Johnsonville beat Poneke 23-17 in the closest match of the day.
Next week’s Hardham Cup semi-finals will see Paremata-Plimmerton hosting Johnsonville and Marist St Pat’s hosting Wainuiomata.
At Helston Park, it was 3-3 for a long time, before Johnsonville broke through to score the game’s first try after about half an hour to make it 10-3. Poneke replied to see it 10-10 just before halftime. The Hawks scored their second try right on halftime to go up 15-10 at the break and then several minutes into the second spell scored again to lead 23-10. A wholehearted effort from the boys in blue kept the visitors at bay.
Avalon’s thoroughly miserable 2024 season came to a sorry conclusion as Paremata-Plimmerton blasted them off Ngati Toa Domain, scoring 14 tries in an 86-12 thumping. The home side led 45-0 at the break and there was no respite for the Wolves, and only bare consolation in the form of two tries of their own.
Tries to Ethan Webster-Nonu, Sam Meo, and Sam Clarke – all converted by Clarke put the hosts on their way. Tane McMillan-Parata was next before Webster-Nonu got his second and Clarke twice more for his hattrick. Centurion Alex Hinchliffe made a rare addition to his career tally after the resumption before McMillan-Parata scored his second, Webster-Nonu completed his own hattrick, and then late tries to Peni Taupau, Joe Faleafaga, and a Zeek Fiso double finished the rout.
Ories live to fight another week following their 100-minute semi-final thriller over Petone at the Petone Rec.
In gathering darkness and light drizzle, Ories won a fierce battle of attrition over the final 20-minute period after scores were locked up at 20-20 after regulation fulltime. Neither side could score any points in extra time, despite each having penalty chances and each attacking the other’s line.
Petone went desperately close to winning the game in the 99th minute, from a lineout on the 22, but failed in their effort.
Ories had sensationally scored a try and converted it at the death, at the end of regular time, following 3 minutes of steady possession and numerous pick-and-goes to keep their season alive. Replacement prop Jonty Bird came up with the try just to the right of the posts, converted by centre Alex Ropeti.
Petone had been up 20-13 with with just under 15 minutes to play when bustling No 8 Conner Tuifao scorched up the scoreboard touchline to score what could have been the winning try. Petone defended stoically right up to the end but couldn’t prevent the try at the end.
Several minutes earlier, Petone first five TJ Clarke had kicked his fifth penalty of the match to put Petone up 15-13. This was after Ories had led 13-12 at half time. With the advantage of the deceptive light southerly, Ories had dominated much of the second half up to that point but couldn’t break through for the try they needed in the face of tenacious tackling and fire at the breakdowns.
Ories had also closed up the first half with their second try which had given them the lead, halfback Isaac Bracewell scoring after a long period of steady attack.
Earlier, Clarke had kicked three consecutive penalties to put Petone up 9-0. Ories got on the board just after 20 minutes with a penalty to centre Alex Ropeti. Clarke soon replied with his fourth penalty and Petone led 12-3 after 25 minutes. This was after Petone had to make a hasty backline rearrangement with early injuries including losing attacking centre Losi Filipo after 17 minutes
Petone then missed a golden chance to go further ahead but failed to convert 90 seconds of pressure into points.
The home team then gave Ories an opening when their loosehead prop Alapati Soke was sinbinned for a tackling misdemeanour, and Ories were able to pounce with their first try. Ories had a lineout in the corner, set up some phases in the middle of the field, and then passed out wide to right wing Daniel Tafili who scored in his corner to put Ories ahead by one point.
Premier 2
Petone and HOBM booked their places in next Saturday’s Premier 2 Ed Chaney Cup semifinals after contrasting wins today.
On the south side of the Hutt River the Villagers put Poneke to the sword winning 48-7 and will take on defending champions Tawa, while HOBM will face Harper Lock Shield winners OBU after they survived a torrid arm-wrestle with Pare-Plim to win 41-24.
After conceding early the Eagles put on 29 unanswered points for a healthy half-time lead, but saw most of that disappear as the Hammerheads mounted a stirring comeback to close to 29-24. Two tries in the last 10 eased HOBM’s nerves and their passage to next week.
The four HD Morgan Memorial matches went largely to script, but both Ories and MSP were given frights by Wainuiomata and Avalon respectively. The Magpies got home 27-17, while at Evans Bay it was 24-17. The Upper Hutts Rams eased away from Wellington to win 38-20, while the only upset was at Porirua Park where Johnsonville beat Norths 22-10.
Subject to confirmation we make next week’s semi-finals to be Ories against Johnsonville and Upper Hutt at home against MSP.
Action from today’s Premier 2 knockout match between Marist St Pat’s and Avalon at Evans Bay Park. Photos: Mike Lewis Pictures.
Colts
If things largely went to seeding in the Premier 2, that was definitely not the case in the Colts grade.
In the championship John E Kelly Cup seventh seed Tawa tipped over second-ranked Petone 26-17 at the Petone Rec (more on that game below), and defending champions Ories showed they’re not yet done as they cut short the Upper Hutt Rams season with a 29-28 win. Third-seed OBU also got the job done, but only just with a 17-12 win against MSP at Rugby League Park.
Next week’s top division semifinals should see unbeaten top seeds HOBM host Ories, and OBU face Tawa.
In the Division 2 Vic Calcinai Memorial Wellington made the most of their match against Avalon being switched to their home at Hataitai Park to win 28-24, and they’ll move on to face Norths next Saturday.
Poneke will host the other after they beat Wainuiomata 33-15, with Pare-Plim the opposition after they ran in 10 tries in beating Johnsonville 60-17
Tawa held off home side Petone in their Colts quarter-final at Petone Rec. Petone led 12-5 at halftime after Tawa fullback Floyd Nawaqatabu had opened the scoring with a kick-and-chase try.
Petone, with the advantage of the moderate southerly in the second half, extended their lead to 17-5 after a long build-up and a try out wide to flanker Braith Ingram.
When these teams met in the first round back in week 1, Petone hooker Regan Shaw had scored the match-winning try on fulltime. On this occasion, his departure through injury and a couple of key substitutions, including Ingram, worked as a catalyst for Tawa coming back.
Tawa scored their second and third tries in the 48th and 55th minutes to go ahead 19-17.
In the 61st minute Tawa turned down an easy shot at goal and then messed up their lineout in the corner. They also lost their lock to the sinbin, giving Petone an opening. However, the home team couldn’t capitalise and instead Tawa rallied one last time and scored their fourth and winning try with about 10 minutes remaining.
U85kg
Deja vu at the top of the Under 85s grade with the Tawa Ducks and OBU Scallywags to contest this year’s Paul Potiki Shield decider, just as they did last year. The unbeaten Ducks were too good for the Poneke Wanderers, romping to a 73-19 win on the pond at Lyndhurst Park, while the Scallywags had to overcome a slow start to see off Avalon 37-24 at Nairnville.
The two Tony O’Brien Shield semifinals saw Wellington edge out a plucky MSP 20-17 at Hataitai Park, with Pare-Plim running out 31-7 winners over Eastbourne at Ngati Toa Domain.
Both finals are being played at Hataitai Park next weekend. The Division 2 clash is set down for 12pm, with the championship decider at 2pm.
Reserve Grade
Division 1 Reserve Grade semi-finals in Wellington today. The Upper Hutt Rams J8s and the Johnsonville Cripples will meet in next week’s final for the John Davies Cup.
In today’s semi-finals, top qualifier the J8s beat Norths 46-5 and the Cripples defeated the Petone Brotherhood 20-0 at Newlands Park in the 2 v 3 encounter.
The MSP Internationals lead the Dvision 2 competition unbeaten after taking down the UH Rams Thirstys 24-15. There is one round to play in the Alan Seerup Cup.
Elsewhere
Kia Toa completed their unbeaten Manawatu Senior 1 season, but it wasn’t easy as they saw off a gallant College Old Boys 40-30 at the Arena to win the Hankins Shield.
Freyberg took home the Val Holland Trophy in the bottom four consolation after prevailing 29-22 against Linton Army. In the remaining finals the Senior 2 title went the way of Feilding Yellows with a 28-24 win over COB, Bunnythorpe won the Senior 3 grade 20-10 over the Massey Vets, and Te Kawau crushed Bush Sports 52-6 in the Colts decider.
Like Kia Toa, Taradale finished off an undefeated Hawke’s Bay campaign by beating Napier Old Boys Marist 28-15 in the Maddison Trophy. The double eluded Taradale however as their Colts went down 20-23 to Havelock North in a thriller. In the remaining finals Central beat MAC 31-24 in Division 1, Otane beat NOBM 25-16 in the Division 2A decider, and Pirates saw off Eskview 29-7 in the Division 2B final.
Almost an almighty upset in Horowhenua Kapiti, as Rahui scored a death knock try to beat Shannon 24-21 at the Otaki Domain. The defending champions will face Foxton for the Ramsbotham Cup next week after they beat Levin College Old Boys 39-24. Rahui will have the chance at the double as their B’s beat Foxton 60-20 in their semi-final, though it is unknown at this point who’ll they’ll face; either Levin Athletic or COB.
Marist and defending champions Carterton will contest next Saturday’s Wairarapa-Bush Moose Kapene Cup final after surprisingly one-sided semi-finals.
Marist put Pioneer away 53-17, while Carterton used a strong first half to subdue Martinborough en route to a 43-17 win. The subsidiary Hodder-Steffert Cup matches were both much closer with Eketahuna holding out Masterton Red Star 20-15, and East Coast getting the job done away from home 27-22 over Greytown. The Senior Reserve championship for the Ryan Cup will be between Gladstone and Tuhirangi after they both won today over Marist and Pioneer respectively, and Presidents Cup subsidiary final is between Carterton and Greytown.
Stratford-Eltham beat Southern 32-19 in the Taranaki Premier final today.
