Kia Toa emphatic Manawatu champions, as Whanganui, Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki winners found

Kia Toa captain Trent Reti with the Hankins Shield and his victorious teammates celebrating today after their win over Varsity in the final.

• By Steven White & Scott MacLean

Kia Toa were emphatic winners of the Hankins Shield for Manawatu club rugby supremacy this afternoon at Arena Manawatu. Kia Toa beat last year’s champions Varsity 59-27 in a one-sided final in fine conditions. They out-scored the students eight tries to three, and brought up their half century with over 15 minutes still to play.

Kia Toa preyed on Varsity in the set-pieces and with their fast line speed and positive defence that rattled their opposites all day, and they were convincing victors over Varsity who made a lot of unforced errors.

Kia Toa’s dominance was to the fore in setting up their first try of the day. Lock Ofa Tauatevalu started and finished the try with a lineout steal on halfway, and following a storming run up the touchline by prop Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 90 seconds later, lock Tauatevalu crossed for the try.

Varsity put themselves on the board with a penalty to second-five Logan Henry but most of the remainder of the first half was all Kia Toa. They scored further two tries and kicked two penalties to lead 25-6 after 33 minutes.

Kia Toa’s third try saw first five Tevita Asi put a cross-kick out to the edge, leading to second five Malua Mauola cutting through to score untouched.

Varsity had a great chance to get back in the game on the stroke of halftime but turned the ball over underneath Kia Toa’s posts and it remained unchanged at the break.

If they weren’t already on top, Kia Toa made sure of it by scoring three consecutive tries inside the first 10 minutes of the second half to extend the score to 42-6. This included a second try to lock Tauatevalu followed by a storming break by the same player who was pinned down in the corner but Kia Toa stretched the defence once more and centre Chance Malu nailed the opportunity for a try.

There was some respite for Varsity who scored their first try to cut the deficit to 42-13, but Kia Toa fullback Tana Faumuina replied with his third penalty to extend the lead.

Kia Toa then ran in their seventh try which brought up the half century. Varsity replied with their second, but that man Tauatevalu put the icing on the cake by intercepting a pass in general play and galloping away to score his third try of the final.

Varsity kept trying as benches were emptied, and they scored a consolation try on full time, but the day belongs to Kia Toa who will be celebrating this win for a long time.

For Kia Toa, Tauatevalu, with three tries and two assists out of eight tries, was a clear Player of the Match, while props Malakai Hala-Ngatai and Darius Mafileo and openside flanker Vili Rongokea-Tupou were three others to stand out in the forwards. Second five Mauola played well and fullback Faumuina was sound and kicked well.

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J.H Hankins Shield Last 10 winners:

• 2017:  Old Boys-Marist
• 2018:  Feilding Old Boys-Ōroua
• 2019:  Feilding Yellows
• 2020:  Feilding Yellows
• 2021:  Feilding Yellows
• 2022:  College Old Boys
• 2023:  Varsity
• 2024: Kia Toa
• 2025: Varsity
• 2026: Kia Toa

In the curtain raiser final inside the stadium, Bulls were also emphatic winners, beating Te Kawau 48-20 to win the Houlihan Cup.

Bulls built a 17-6 lead late in the first half. Te Kawau were held up over the line, but Bulls regrouped and scored again to lead 24-6 at half time.

Bulls extended their lead with a try off an attacking scrum early in the second half, and at 29-6 it seemed to be all over. But Te Kawau came back in the middle stages of the half with two converted tries to trail 29-20.

However, Bulls found their second wind and pulled clear with three storming tries in the next 10 minutes to lead 41-20. They then sealed their win with a popular long-range try on fulltime.

Elsewhere, Palmerston North Old Boys Marist beat Feilding Yellows won the Life Members Cup with a 45-31 win over Feilding Yellows and the College Old Boys Premiers beat Feilding Old Boys Oroua 48-27 to win the Val Holland Final.

On Friday night College Old Boys  beat Kia Toa 44-35 in the Senior 2 final.

Wairarapa-Bush

In the Wairarapa, Heavyweights Greytown and Carterton will meet in next week’s Wairarapa Bush Moose Kapene Cup final, but both needed strong second halves to see off their opponents today.

In Greytown visitors East Coast were on track for a famous upset as they led at halftime, but the home side kicked into gear after the break to win 38-14.

Next stop north on SH2, Carterton took on Marist on a heavy track after the weeks rain. The hosts came out of the blocks strong, but despite dominating territory and possession their only rewards were a pair of Darryl Pickering penalties. It was in fact the visitors who were first across the line when centre Soli Malatai cut his way through, but Carterton restored the margin when veteran utility Inia Katoa, playing on the openside this, crashed over from close range. Marist survived a yellow card to No.8 Marcus Ale, but curiously turned down a point blank penalty. Their attempt to score was rebuffed, and Carterton took a 13-5 lead into the break.

Marist started the second half the better of the sides, and after fullback Hayden Cooper missed one penalty attempt, he made no mistake with a second to draw his side within two points. The game sat in the balance for the next fifteen minutes, until Marist stand-in captain Sam Siaosi went to the bin for a bit of “lazy running” (copywright Andre Watson) when their line was broken and Carterton were hot on attack.

That was the pivotal moment, and Carterton turned the screw. From an attacking scrum against seven they went for the pushover and it looked certain until Zac Wakefield lost control of it at his feet; fortunately his co-captain Pickering was on hand to snaffle the loose ball and dive over.

That broke Marist’s resolve. Replacement Terongo Tekii was on the end of a sweeping movement minutes later while Siaosi was still standing behind his dead ball line, but his return did little to alter the balance of events as loose forward Matt Gain bashed his way across from close range to complete the scoring.

Pickering, Katia, and midfielder Nikora Ewe were amongst the host’s best, while winger/lineout leaper Sekove Rova ruled that set piece. Openside Rhemus Hallett led the way for Marist, with halfback Oakland Dean-Pene effective at marshalling his side and Malatai aggressive on attack and defence despite his size disadvantage.

Masterton Red Star took home the Hodder-Steffert Cup yesterday, beating Martinborough 29-26. Both sides were well below full strength and it contributed to a disjointed game. MRS led 14-0 early through a try to talismanic hooker Caedman Hawkins, playing against several of his cousins, and a penalty try.

Martinborough would hit back but Hawkins had a second before the break, but Martinborough have the last say before the interval to narrow the margin to 21-12. The second half was back and forth, and with the score locked at 26-apiece extra time loomed, but after MRS fullback Tarquin Karaitiana missed a long-range penalty, flyhalf Quinn Riddell stepped forward with time up to successfully nail another chance and give the Rams a piece of silverware for the summer.

In Senior Reserve, the “A” Ryan Cup final will be contested by Tuhirangi and East Coast after they both pitched shutouts today. “Tuhi” beat Martinborough 19-0 on their Pirinoa mudheap in the Battle of the South, while the Coasties beat Marist 27-0. The “B” final for the Presidents Cup will be contested by former Premier clubs Gladstone and Eketahuna; “Gladdy” didnt have to leave home as Greytown defaulted to them, while “Eke” came from behind to pip Masterton Red Star 24-22.

Horowhenua-Kapiti

Top qualifiers Foxton will meet third placed Paraparaumu in the next week’s Premier Ramsbotham Cup Horowhenua-Kapiti competition.

Foxton were made to work hard by Levin Wanderers in their semi-final today, winning 34-28, while Paraparaumu defeated Waikanae 29-28 in the other semi-final. Paraparaumu won a comeback win in a match that went down to the wire.

In the Bill Muir Cup Premier Reserves semi-finals, Foxton beat Athletic 45-18 so will have two teams in the finals next weekend at Levin Domain, while Shannon beat Levin College Old Boys 8-3 in the other.

Hawke’s Bay

Taradale are again Maddison Trophy champions in Magpie country, defeating rivals Napier Old Boys Marist 54-24 at McLean Park this afternoon. Anchored by former Silverstream captain and HOBM prop Joe ‘Apikatoa at loosehead, Taradale scored eight tries to three with winger Joe Tufaga notching a hattrick. Also pleasing was the return to rugby for Harry Godfrey coming off a ruptured ACL kicking three conversions and two penalties.

In the other finals today, Otane edged out Aotea 20-17 for the Division 1 crown, while the Division 2 title was claimed by Maraenui 21-12 over Hastings.

Taranaki

Clifton completed an unbeaten season at Stadium Taranaki, beating Coastal 40-24 this afternoon. In the preceding matches on the big stage, NPOB bested United 25-19 in Division 1 and Southern topped Stratford-Eltham 26-12 in the Women’s decider.

Patea took Division 2 with a 45-24 win over Toko, and Tukapa produced upset wins in the two finals they were in taking Division 3 38-32 over Kaponga and made it a three-peat of Colts crowns as they came back from 0-18 down against city rivals NPOB to win 28-25

Whanganui

Marist are again champions in the River City, beating Counties 16-15 for the Presidents Rosebowl at Cooks Gardens. Kicking was the difference as Marist were outscored three tries to one, but landed that conversion and three penalties while Counties drew a blank from the tee.

Ruapehi were too good in Division 1, beating Pirates 29-0 in the curtainraiser, while over at Spriggens Park Border beat Kaierau 36-18.