Tawa grab last-gasp win to topple OBU
Old Boys-University’s unbeaten start to the Jubilee Cup is over after a last-minute drop goal from Tawa second-five James So’oialo.
That secured Tawa a 16-15 win to keep their campaign rolling, after they were docked five points during the week for fielding an ineligible player.
OBU remained in the Jubilee Cup lead thanks to Marist St Pat’s win over Hutt Old Boys Marist, while Oriental-Rongotai beat Wainuiomata and Norths got their first win of the Jubilee Cup when squeaking past Petone.
In the Hardham Cup, the Upper Hutt Rams maintained their perfect bonus-point winning start with a 45-22 win over Avalon. Hot on their heels are Johnsonville after they beat the Wellington Axemen 17-5, while Poneke beat Paremata-Plimmerton 53-7.
TAWA 16 OBU 15 Tawa 16 (James So’oialo, Sharn Robinson tries; So’oialo pen, dg) Old BoysUniversity 15 (Matt Fowler 2 tries; Dale Sabbaragh con, pen). HT: 3-7. Best and fairest: 3 Points: James So’oialo (Tawa second five-eighth); 2 Points: Matt Fowler (OBU halfback); 1 Point: Lotu Nuku (Tawa hooker). Yellow card: Telea Seumanutafa (Tawa).
Venue: Lyndhurst Park. What happened: A last-minute drop goal to Tawa’s James So’oialo ended Old Boys-University’s unbeaten Jubilee Cup run and gave the defending champion’s renewed momentum after losing points midweek.
The game sparked into life just before halftime when OBU centre Patrick Hausman burst through and was finally dragged down metres out. Halfback Matt Fowler was on hand to sneak over from the ensuring ruck to give his side a narrow lead.
Fowler scored again early in the second half, backing up a forward movement to extend OBU’s lead.
So’oialo then took over, first scything through to score himself then setting up Sharn Robinson with a pinpoint crosskick to give Tawa a narrow lead. OBU came back and looked to have won it with a late Dale Sabbaragh penalty. They gave Tawa one last chance, however, and So’oialo made no mistake.
The big play: After a late penalty gave them the lead, OBU looked to wind down the clock but with time up, were guilty of not putting the ball out. The Tawa forwards got the ball into position and So’oialo made no mistake with the drop goal from in front of the posts.
Who stood out: So’oialo scored a try, set up a try and ultimately won his side the game. Loto Nuku added punch when he came on as a second-half substitute. For the Goats, Fowler took his tries well and Daven Candy again impressed. WARWICK SMALL clubs, and enhance their chances of being in the Jubilee Cup final.
With 11 minutes left though they were behind 27-19, and playing into a significant breeze were in danger of being shut out.
However, MSP showed they were not of a mind to accept defeat as they continued to run at the HOBM defence, and they were rewarded with tries after 70 and 76 minutes, both of them finished off by fullback Andrew Wells. He also added the conversions, which took his personal tally to 28 points.
It didn’t help either that HOBM were down to 14 players when Wells scored the first of his tries with second five-eighth Opetera Peleseuma in the sinbin for a high tackle. Not long before, HOBM had survived two wasted opportunities by MSP to score when camped on the home team’s line but in the last 10 minutes, when back to full strength, they offered insufficient to deny MSP victory.
HOBM showed their attacking prowess in scoring five tries to three but they missed the skills of the suspended Sheridan Rangihuna with fullback Brandyn Laursen missing the first five of his six goalkicking attempts.
The big play: Ahead 27-26 into the last four minutes, HOBM looked like they might have just clinched it when Laursen kicked a 70-metre touchfinder that took play to just short of the MSP line. Undeterred, MSP attacked, bursting tackles to surge deep into HOBM territory, and Wells ran away from the last of the defenders to dot down under the posts.
Who stood out: Clearly Wells did. He kicked his seven goals from nine attempts, including three penalties and a conversion in the first half that kept MSP in the game, and he grew in confidence
as he made his runs in the second. Veteran MSP first five-eighth Fa’atonu Fili was a key figure as they preferred to run the ball in the second half, creating opportunities with his elusiveness and well-timed passes, and MSP captain Isaac O’Connor was a dominant figure.
Goalkicking aside, Laursen made an impact on attack, and was a strong influence overall for HOBM, lock David Filipo had a good day in the lineouts, and Peleseuma charged down a clearing kick by his opposite, gathered the ball, and ran 12 metres to start his team’s scoring. PETER BIDWELL
ORIES 13 WAINUI 3 Oriental-Rongotai 13 (Malachai Unasa, Alex Ropeti tries; Ropeti pen) Wainuiomata 3 (Frae Wilson pen). HT 8-3.
Best and fairest: 3 points: Hayden Whelan (Ories first-five); 2 points: Nash Fiso-Vaelei (Wainui winger); 1 point: Ben Tupuola (Wainui No 8).
Venue: Polo Ground. What happened: Great scrambling defence and a powerful kicking game earned Ories their second consecutive victory.
After absorbing a huge amount of pressure, fullback Alex Ropeti scored in the corner to secure the win. Wainuiomata were left to rue missed opportunities, particularly in the second half.
Ories opened the scoring, after centre Malo Tuitama broke the line, showing impressive pace before offloading to Malachai Unasa who dotted down near the posts.
Wainuiomata had the run of play late in the half although staunch Ories defence ensured they held an 8-3 advantage at halftime.
The second half started in a similar fashion, with Wainui continuing to put pressure on the defence. Time after time they looked like scoring, before a handling error or penalty halted their momentum. Ories deserved credit for excellent scrambling defence.
After absorbing pressure, Ories started to gain the ascendancy. First-five Hayden Whelan powerful kicking game was crucial in getting his side out of the danger zone. Finally, after bashing away at the line, Ropeti’s try gave his side another important victory.
The big play: Late in the first half, Ories staunch defence prevented Wainui from scoring. This gave them the self-belief to hold on amid a Wainui onslaught in the second half.
Who stood out: For Wainui, Ben Tupuola was immense with ball-in-hand and openside Cameron Ross worked hard. Nash Fiso-Vaelei showed plenty of pace and power out wide. For Ories, No 8 Luca Rees was industrious
MSP 33 HOBM 27 Marist St Pats 33 (Andrew Wells 2, Isaac O’Connor tries; Wells 4 pen, 3 con) Hutt Old Boys Marist 27 (Brandyn Laursen, Opetera Peleseuma, Lisa Soloa, Tasi Fidow, David Filipo tries; Laursen con). HT: 16-15. Best and fairest: 3 points: Andrew Wells (MSP fullback); 2 points: Isaac O’Connor (MSP flanker); 1 point: Brandyn Laursen (HOBM fullback). Yellow cards: Vince Sakaria (MSP), Opetera Peleseuma (HOBM).
Venue: Hutt Recreation Ground. What happened: Marist St Pats produced a storming finish to snatch the battle of the Marist
and centre Malo Tuitama was dangerous on attack. However, it’s hard to go past Hayden Whelan whose kicking and tough tackling was crucial for his side. RORY MILNE
NORTHS 28 PETONE 25 Northern United 28 (Cameron Craig, Perry Hayman, Te Kahui Bishop, Johnwhite Silva tries; Cameron Craig pen, con, Perry Hayman pen) Petone 25 (Jarrod Adams, Michael Vaeno, Bruce Kauika-Petersen tries; Piri Paraone 2 pen, 2 con). HT: 3-8.
Yellow card: Chris Middleton (Norths lock); Kaliopasi Uluilakepa (Petone prop)
Best and fairest: 3 points: Cameron Craig (Norths fullback); 2 points: Jarrod Adams (Petone wing); 1 point: Eugene Smith (Petone hooker).
Venue: Petone Recreation Ground. What happened: In front of a Petone Rec Grandstand boosted by a large contingent of Lions supporters in red, the two teams in Blue battled out in a match that went down to the final kick.
The match was an even affair played to a level that impressed the crowd.
Petone opened the scoring with a 23rd-minute penalty and held the lead until the 30th minute when Norths caught Petone short out wide and Te Kahui Bishop dived over in the corner. The visitors built on their lead with a penalty and went into the break with an 8-3 lead.
Petone retook the lead straight after the break when winger Michael Vaeno picked up a loose ball and sprinted from halfway to score in the corner, Piri Paraone converted from the sideline.
Norths replied immediately from the restart when the Villagers failed to secure the kick off and three passes later were back in front.
The seesaw nature of the match continued when Jarrod Adams was on the end of a Lester Maulolo break and then when big Norths prop Johnwhite Silve swan dived over under the posts to give Cameron Craig an easy conversion.
Norths stretched the lead out to 25-17 with a further try to Perry Hayman.
Petone then rallied with Paraone kicking a penalty then tied up the scores when Bruce Kauika-Petersen was first to a bobbling ball in the dead ball area.
The big play: With time up on the clock and the scores locked at 25 all Norths were awarded a penalty 35 metres out and into the wind. Cameron Craig stepped up and slotted the kick.
Who stood out: Cameron Craig struggled all day with his kicking until it counted but his play around the field was outstanding, Props Jerome Vaai and Johnwhite Silva were rock solid and Parekura Lalaga was busy all day for Norths. Petone wing Jarrod Adams looked dangerous all day as did Lester Maulolo and Michael Vaeno. Hooker Eugene Smith along with loose forwards Bruce Kauika-Petersen and Villiami Vake were the pick of the Villagers’ pack.