Hankins Shield victory for Varsity

Varsity claimed the Hankins Shield in a tight battle with Kia Toa, winning 18-17 on the back of a couple of touches of brilliance from Hamish Northcott.

The Turbos midfielder scored a try and set up another as the Sky Blues came from behind to win at CET Arena on Saturday.

It was the 20th Hankins Shield title for Varsity and the first under head coach Koli Sewabu.

But for Kia Toa, the loss spelt further heartache. It was their third consecutive loss in the Hankins Shield final.

The players’ dejected looks highlighted just how close they came to winning.

With time expired, Kia Toa held the ball inside their own 22.

Jordan Bunce, Newton Tudreu and Valentino Mapapalangi were all heavily involved as they desperately attempted to steal the win. Such has been Kia Toa’s attacking ability this year that it never seemed out of the question that they could do so.

And when Mapapalangi spied a hole and set off up field they looked to be on their way for the win.

But a couple of offloads later 40m out from the tryline, Varsity’s scrambling defence hauled Neal Tudreu into touch to secure the win.

The Varsity players threw their hands in the air, while the Kia Toa players crumbled to the ground.

Sewabu was overcome with emotion after the win.

‘‘We have worked hard all year, so I am a bit lost for words,’’ he said. ‘‘It is special for someone like Bobby [Rob Foreman] who has given so much for the club and the union. It was probably his last game so for him it was special.’’

Northcott believed their rough streak of matches leading into the knockout stages prepared them for the tight games, which included them beating Old Boys-marist with a penalty on fulltime last weekend.

‘‘Coming into the playoffs we lost a few at the end, but we managed to play well and that set us up for the playoffs,’’ he said.

‘‘It was a classic final . . . even at the end when Valentino made the run up the sideline they could have taken it back at the death, but we managed to hold on.’’

Northcott was part of the Hankins Shield champion Varsity side in 2011.

‘‘I said to the boys before we ran out ‘don’t take it for granted and enjoy the occasion’. It is an awesome feeling – we have a good culture and it has paid off.’’

But it was a different feeling for Kia Toa captain Kingsley Teppett.

‘‘It is a cruel game, rugby,’’ he said. ‘‘Sometimes you just do it tough, but I am proud of the boys. [Varsity] deserved the win. They have a lot of good players.’’

The match was messy early on, but Varsity did a better job controlling the ball and territory.

Nick Birchfield opened the scoring with a penalty, but Kia Toa had the first tryscoring opportunity. Wing Daniel Monaghan found space on the left touchline and fired it infield to Atu Henare, but the halfback knocked the ball on.

Birchfield had two more penalty attempts, making one of them. It was not a good day for either kicker. Birchfield was three from six, while Kia Toa’s Taare Ferris was one from five.

Twenty-two minutes into the game, referee Tim Griffiths yellow carded Kia Toa hooker Bryn Templeman for coming in the side of the breakdown too many times.

But Varsity were unable to capitalise on their man advantage.

Kia Toa launched an attacking charge at the line with Henare

scoring from a pick-and-go.

Then in the final minute of the half, Henare spied a hole and fed Monaghan who raced 50m to score. The try turned the match on its head and gave Kia Toa a 12-6 advantage at the break.

Four minutes into the second half, Kia Toa lost Monaghan for the game with what looked to a be a serious leg injury. He was stretchered from the ground, but was later carried back to the sidelines so he could watch the end of the game.

His departure seemed to inspire Kia Toa into their best 10-minute period.

Mapapalangi bumped off a couple of players and flicked an offload to Newton Tudreu, who had too much speed and scored in the right corner.

With a lead of 17-6, the game looked to be slipping away from Varsity.

They were struggling to find holes in the defence. But when they needed someone to step up, Northcott was front and centre.

After a quiet game, he slipped through a couple of tackles and scampered 22m for a try to bring Varsity back into the game.

Not long later he was back in the action racing through a hole in the midfield 20m out from the line and finding Willy Cribb with an offload for the try.

Birchfield converted, which proved to be the telling moment of the match.

Kia Toa’s tiring pack managed to summon the energy for one last attacking charge, but it was not to be.