Late heroics give Tawa win
Tawa breathed more life into their Jubilee Cup campaign, with a courageous come-from-behind win over Marist St Pats.
Unbeaten Old Boys-University continue to lead the competition after three rounds, but Tawa are fourth after their 30-29 win at Evans Bay Park.
OBU were 19-17 winners over second-placed Hutt Old Boys Marist, while Wainuiomata beat Petone 10-8 and Oriental-Rongotai ground out a 13-10 victory against Northern United at the Polo Ground.
In the Hardham Cup, Poneke beat Wellington 20-8, Johnsonville had a narrow 25-19 win over Avalon and the Upper Hutt Rams touched Paremata-Plimmerton up 38-5.
TAWA 30 MSP 29 Tawa 30 (James So’oialo 2, Taniela Koroi tries; So’oialo 3 pen, 3 con) Marist St Pats 29 (Valentine Meachen, Isaac O’Connor, Mike Buckley tries; Andrew Wells 4 pen, con). HT: 13-18. Best and fairest: 3 points: Peniasi Tokakece (Tawa No 8); 2 points: Andrew Wells (MSP fullback); 1 point: Tolu Fahamokioa (Tawa prop). Yellow cards: James So’oialo (Tawa), Randall Bishop (Tawa).
Venue: Evans Bay Park What happened: Early field position earned Tawa three points before a couple of quick tries to Marist St Pats got them out to a 12-6 lead.
First to dot down was hooker Valentine Meachen, who was the beneficiary of a strong lineout maul, before Isaac O’Connor regathered a charged Tawa kick and scored in the left corner a few phases later.
A penalty to Andrew Wells extended the host’s lead to nine points, though prop Taniela Koroi scored Tawa’s first try of the day shortly after. Just metres from the line, the frontrow forward snuck in a dummy before charging over the line.
Forty five-metre penalties either side of halftime from Wells had MSP up 21-13, though Tawa fought back to take the lead thanks to a penalty and converted try to second five-eighth James So’oialo.
Mike Buckley scored to give MSP a six-point buffer on his return from the sinbin, but So’oialo scored after a quick tap and nailed the near-sideline conversion to edge Tawa ahead 30-29.
MSP had opportunities to win the match in the final five minutes but ultimately couldn’t capitalise on them as Tawa picked up a vital four points.
The big play: So’oialo and, minutes later, fullback Randall Bishop were given yellow cards for repeated infringements defending their goal line.
This had Tawa down to 13 men for eight minutes and MSP were able to take advantage with a try to Buckley.
That said, Tawa performed admirably and cleverly while undermanned. They were able to keep possession for long periods and scramble well on defence, minimising the impact of the sinbinnings on the scoreboard.
Who stood out: So’oialo had a vintage performance. His kicking was close to flawless – both open-field and off the tee – and he was just as good when carrying and distributing the ball. It’s a shame he picked up a yellow as he’d have been a sure fire threepoint recipient.
Tawa No 8 Peniasi Tokakece had another game full of his trademark bustling runs which are invaluable to his side. Prop Tolu Fahamokioa was also good carrying the ball and put in good work defensively.
Wells’ positioning was perfect at the back for MSP and his goalkicking was tidy. Isaac O’Connor put in some good shots and the midfield combo of Ryan Setefano and Billy Proctor showed glimpses of danger. MATT TWORT
OBU 19 HOBM 17 Old Boys-University 19 (Daven Candy 2, Teariki Ben-Nicholas tries; Dale Sabbaragh 2 con) Hutt Old Boys Marist 17 (Ben Power, Jared Woodward, Brandyn Laursen tries, Sheridan Rangihuna con). HT: 19-7. Best and fairest: 3 points: Daven Candy (OBU flanker); 2 points: Lise Soloa (HOBM No 8); 1 point: Paterson Carter (OBU lock). Yellow card: Sheridan Rangihuna (HOBM). Venue: Nairnville Park. What happened: In the battle of the unbeaten sides, Old Boys-University withstood a furious late comeback to beat Hutt Old Boys Marist.
It was all OBU at the start, getting value for their kicks in behind, and they were soon rewarded when flanker Daven Candy dived over after HOBM made a mess of a kick regather.
Candy was at it again soon later and when Teariki Ben-Nicholas barged over, OBU had a handy lead after 20 minutes. HOBM came back into the match nearer halftime with Ben Power finding space to score and narrow the gap.
The poor conditions started taking their toll in the second half but HOBM slowly gained ascendancy. It took until the last 10 minutes for Jared Woodward to crash over and when Brandyn Laursen finished a break minutes later, the Eagles were within two points. From tough angles, neither try was converted and this proved crucial as OBU withstood a furious final assault to come out the victors.
The big play: In the last minute, HOBM had a final chance to win the match with the ball inside OBU’s half. The hosts showed discipline however and eventually, under their own goal posts, the turnover came for them to clear for victory.
Who stood out: Candy was a standout, even showing safe hands at the lineout. Paterson Carter stole four lineouts in the first half alone in an action-packed display. For HOBM, their fightback started with some strong charges from Lise Soloa, while Ben Power got better as the game went on. WARWICK SMALL ORIES 13 NORTHS 10 Oriental-Rongotai 13 (Aukuso Tuitama try; Alex Ropeti pen, con, Adam Deck pen) Northern United 10 (Parekura Lalaga, Johnwhite Silva tries). HT: 3-5. Best and fairest: 3 points: Leon Ellison (Norths halfback); 2 points: Whetu Henry (Ories prop); 1 point: Aukuso Tuitama (Ories centre). Yellow card: Hayden Whelan (Ories). Venue: Polo Ground: What happened: While Oriental-Rongotai kept alive their Jubilee Cup aspirations, Northern United’s defeat might have ended any prospects they had.
Ories were not entirely convincing. Norths were generally more dominant and assertive on attack, only to be left frustrated by repeated mistakes.
With the surface muddy the game was often reduced to scrappy trench warfare, punctuated by the halves largely resorting to kicking for territory.
Ories probably finished the better team even when some of their optiontaking in the closing minutes threatened to give the game to Norths.
The losers had the chance to go ahead 12-10 early in the fourth quarter but fullback Esi Komaisavai missed a conversion attempt from almost in front of the posts. It was Ories second five-eighth Alex Ropeti who broke the deadlock with a successful penalty kick after 68 minutes from a similarly handy position.
The big play: Centre Aukuso Tuitama provided it after 56 minutes when Ories executed a smart backline move, and Tuitama cut through Norths’ defence, and ran 25 metres to score near the posts. With Ropeti’s conversion Ories led 10-5, and they raised their game even when first five-eighth Hayden Whelan was in the sinbin from the 60th minute for what referee Tim Baker called ‘‘repeated infringements’’.
Who stood out: Norths halfback Leon Ellison was a controlling figure with his intelligent kicking, and he
was forever tidying up. Blue-haired prop Johnwhite Silva kept striving, and capped his performance with a close-range try after 63 minutes which levelled the score at 10-10.
Ories captain Whetu Henry was at the heart of their forward effort, Tuitama’s try was special, and halfback Adam Deck had a strong first half before being injured midway through the second. PETER BIDWELL
WAINUI 10 PETONE 8 Wainuiomata 10 (Tutasi Masoe try; Frae Wilson pen, con) Petone 8 ( Michael Vaeno try; Logan Henry pen). HT: 0-3. Best and fairest: 3 points: Jalan Farris (Wainui lock); 2 points: Tyral Vigne (Petone prop); 1 point: Villiami Vaka (Petone flanker). Yellow cards: Tutasi Masoe and Anthony Mamea (both Wainui).
Venue: Petone Recreation Ground. What happened: The first half belonged to Petone; they created a number of chances but couldn’t finish any of them off.
For all their territory and possession a penalty to Logan Henry was all they had to show for their efforts.
A Frae Wilson penalty from in front tied the scores up shortly after the break.
The intense forward battle continued with the visitors enjoying a far bigger share of territory.
A forward drive to the line appeared to be stopped well short but, to the surprise of both teams, a try was awarded to Wainui flanker Tuasi Masoe. Frae Wilson added the conversion.
Petone got themselves back into the match with a long range try which started deep in their own 22 and was finished off by wing Michael Vaeno. The conversion attempt to tie the game missed and the arm wrestle continued until four minutes from the end of the match when Petone were presented with a kickable penalty. The kick missed and Wainui held on for the win.
The big play: The result came down to a penalty kick late in the game. With the score 10-8 to Wainui the referee Jamie Fairmaid first awarded a penalty, then marched Wainui a further 10 metres for backchat.
This made it a very kickable shot at goal. As the ball sailed wide of the uprights the Petone faithful could not believe that for the second time in this year’s Jubilee Cup they had the kicks to win close games, only for them to miss.
Who stood out: Wainui lock Jalan Farris had a good all-round game. David Va’a and Henry Smith revelled in the tight exchanges that were a feature of this match. John Monu directed play well.
Likewise Petone frontrowers Tyral Vigne and Eugene Smith toiled away all day with good support from Villiami Vaka and Bruce KauikaPetersen.