Finals and Semi-Finals this weekend in lower North Island club rugby competitions

Above: Just two points separated Paraparaumu and Waikanae when they met in this match in early May. They play a Ramsbotham Cup semi-final at Waikanae Park tomorrow. Photo: Stewart Baird.

• By Scott MacLean

Whilst Wellington club rugby falls silent this weekend and then has two more weeks to play to take it through to the end of July, there are numerous big club rugby semi-finals and finals elsewhere tomorrow. With it being the middle of school holidays, there is no college rugby.

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Manawatu

Starting at our nearest NPC neighbours, where defending champions Varsity look to retain the Hankins Shield against Kia Toa at the Arena. The pair have split their two meetings this season with Kia Toa’s surprise loss to College Old Boys two weeks ago the only other defeat either have suffered. Kickoff at Central Energy Trust Arena 1 is at 2.45pm.

That’s the main game on Finals Day. In the Premier subsidiary final College Old Boys face Feilding OB-Oroua, with the Senior 1 Houlihan Cup final pitting Bulls against Te Kawau. The fourth final tomorrow is the Life Members Cup between Old Boys Marist and Feilding Yellows, while COB and Kia Toa contest the Senior 2 final under lights tonight.

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Hawke’s Bay

Finals weekend in the Bay as well. The main game is the Maddison Cup final between defending champions Taradale and first-round Nash Cup winners Napier Old Boys Marist at McLean Park. As with Varsity and Kia Toa above, these two have split their meetings and will contest this after beating Napier Tech and Hastings respectively last weekend. Remarkably, it’s Taradale’s seventh final in a row – they haven’t missed one this decade!  The vastly experienced Stu Catley will referee this one, his third final in succession and 150^th Premier outing.

It’s one of three finals at the Magpies home tomorrow. First up is the Division 2 final between Maraenui and Hastings for the Tom Mulligan Cup, followed by the Division 1 Hepa Paewai Memorial Cup contest between Dannevirke club Aotea and fellow country side Otane. Today (Friday) has two subsidiary contests; Division 2A between Taradale and Onga-Tiko, and 3A between Napier OBM and Takapau, while two were played last night. In a prelude to the final between the same clubs Taradale beat NOBM 30-0 in the Colts final, and Pirates beat Tamatea 36-0 for the Division 3 crown

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Horowhenua-Kapiti

Semi-finals weekend up the coast. Defending champions and top qualifiers Foxton host Levin Wanderers at home on Easton Park, while Waikanae lock horns against visitors and great rivals Paraparaumu in the two Ramsbotham Cup clashes. These semi-finals start at the earlier kick-off times of 2.00pm.

In the Senior Reserves Bill Muir Cup, Foxton’s second side are also top qualifiers and they’ll host Levin Athletic, while Levin COB head east to face Shannon.

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Wairarapa Bush

Also semi-finals weekend over the Remutaka’s. Defending champions Greytown are unbeaten in their 150^th season and they will be warm favourites against East Coast, while next stop north Carterton host Marist. The first trophy will be given out this afternoon however, as the Hodder-Steffert final will be played between Martinborough and Masterton Red Star.

The Senior Reserve grade is also at the semi-final stage. There’s a “Battle of the South” as top qualifiers Tuhirangi host Martinborough in the Ryan Cup, with the other pitting East Coast against Marist after they both caused upsets last week. In the subsidiary Presidents Cup the two teams that pair upset – Greytown and Gladstone – clash, with Eketahuna hosting MRS in the other.

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Whanganui

Finals day in the River City. City duo Marist and Counties clash for the Premier Presidents Rosebowl, while preceding them at Cooks Gardens is the Division 2 final between Ruapehu and Pirates. Across at Spriggens Park is the Division 3 decider, with Border facing Kaierau.

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Taranaki

The country comes to the big smoke in amber and black-land as unbeaten Clifton takes on Coastal for the Taranaki crown. Preceding them on the #1 ground at the Stadium is the Division 1 clash between city rivals New Plymouth Old Boys and United, and before that the Women’s match between Southern and Stratford-Eltham.

In the other finals, Tukapa will look to defend their Colts crown against old foes NPOB, Patea and Toko contest the Division 2 final, and Kaponga face Tukapa in Division 3.

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Elsewhere

Working from north to south, here’s what else is happening in the major unions:

Northland: Mid-Northern and Western Sharks will play the championship decider under the lights at Semenoff Stadium

North Harbour: Their championship final will be played out between Massey and Takapuna, after the latter upset unbeaten North Shore last Saturday.

Auckland: This year’s Gallaher Shield final is between Grammar TEC and University after they beat Marist and Ponsonby last week.

Counties-Manukau: Ardmore Marist and Pukekohe are the last two standing for the Division 1 title and bragging rights across the Bombay’s.

Waikato: Semi-finals in the Breweries Shield. Hamilton Marist host Te Awamutu Sports, while in Cambridge Hautapu takes on Fraser Tech.

Bay of Plenty: It’s the penultimate round in Steamers country. Though the semi-finalists have already been found, there’s controversy surrounding a points deduction for Mount Maunganui who have the bye this week. Greerton Marist takes on Te Puna today, followed tomorrow by Tauranga against Whakarewarewa and Opotiki against Te Puke.

Tasman: Premier rugby finished last week, with Nelson Marist beating Nelson for the Tasman Trophy.

Canterbury: The Metro competition is at the same stage Wellington would be at. Tomorrow’s elimination matches have Canterbury University facing New Brighton, while Lincoln University are at home against High School OB. Linwood and Marist Albion lie in wait for the winners.

Otago: Semi-finals in the Dunedin Metro. Top qualifiers Taieri are at home against Kaikorai, while at University Oval the home students take on the Harbour Hawks.

Southland: And in the deep south, the Eastern-Northern Barbarians take on Pirates for the Galbraith Shield.

Kevin McCarthy’s Aisle be Back column is taking a week off, as the All Blacks turn to host Italy in Wellington tomorrow, more below.

The All Blacks will be going for an 18-peat of wins over Italy.

There are three current Wellington players in the side, both in the starting XV, Ardie Savea (Oriental-Rongotai), Billy Proctor (Marist S Pat’s) and Ruben Love (Wainuiomata).

Perhaps disappointing for local fans that neither Asafo Aumua (Avalon), Xavier Numia (Oriental-Rongotai), Peter Lakai (Petone) or Kyle Preston (OBU) are in the side. It goes to show that horses for courses from a local supporters’ perspective means little.

All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets; * denotes debutant)

1.  Ethan de Groot (41)

2. Codie Taylor (107)

3.  Tyrel Lomax (49)

4.   Sam Darry (9)

5. Tupou Vaa’i (45)

6.   Wallace Sititi (20)

7.  Luke Jacobson (25)  

8.  Ardie Savea (107) (Captain)

9.  Cam Roigard (18)

10. Ruben Love (6)

11. Leroy Carter (6)

12. Jordie Barrett (79)

13.  Billy Proctor (12)

14. Will Jordan (55)

15. Damian McKenzie (75)

16.  Samisoni Taukei’aho (43)

17.  George Bower (25)

18.Pasilio Tosi (16)

19. Josh Lord (13)

20.  Anton Segner *

21. Cortez Ratima (22)

22.  Anton Lienert-Brown (88)

23. Josh Moorby *

Unavailable due to injury: Fehi Fineanganofo (shoulder strain)