MSP are timing their run nicely again
Might that have been a meaningful dress rehearsal?
Old Boys-University have been nigh-on unbeatable for the entire Wellington club rugby season. They won the Swindale Shield and were top qualifiers for the Jubilee Cup semifinals, heading into Saturday’s clash with Marist St Pats.
MSP emerged from that game 22-21 victors and now host Hutt Old Boys Marist for the right to meet the winner of the OBU and Tawa in the following week’s final. Few clubs know how to win when it counts quite like MSP.
In other Jubilee Cup games, HOBM beat Tawa 13-10, Northern United pipped Wainuiomata 34-33 and Petone ended their campaign win-less after losing 19-12 to Oriental-Rongotai.
MSP 22 OBU 21 Marist St Pats 22 (Nick Harrison 2, Ryan Saunders tries; Fa’atonu Fili pen, con, James Proctor con) Old Boys-University 21 (Teegan Minkley 2 tries; Dale Sabbagh 3 pen, con). HT: 10-12. Best and fairest: 3 points: Nick Harrison (MSP lock); Paterson Carter (OBU lock); 1 point: Valentine Meachen (MSP replacement hooker).
Venue: Evans Bay Park. What happened: Old BoysUniversity controlled the game’s beginning, dominating territory and scrums. This wasn’t translating directly to points, though, with Marist St Pat’s’ defence doing a great job forcing OBU errors.
It took the visitors almost 30 minutes to open the scoring, when wing Teegan Minkley finished well in the right corner.
However, the 5-0 scoreline remained for only a matter of minutes as a Billy Proctor break led to a MSP penalty goal.
With the pace of the match picking up at the first half’s end, Minkley had his time to shine, fielding a Fili clearing kick and beating three MSP defenders on his way to a great individual try.
As they had previously done, though, MSP responded, this time with a try to wing Ryan Saunders.
Halftime brought changes to the home team, helping them steady their scrum and lineout. OBU continued to dominate territory and possession, but could only get two penalty goals for reward.
Down 18-10, the hosts needed a try and Nick Harrison delivered, rumbling over the line from close range.
Dale Sabbagh added another OBU penalty, putting the visitors up 21-17, but Harrison refused to finish the match on the wrong side of the scoreboard, crashing through for his second and matchwinning try.
The big play: There were a couple of influential moments, the first being MSP’s inclusion of hooker Valentine Meachen and prop A’asa Sanerivi at halftime.
In the opening spell the MSP scrum was getting monstered at most engagements and their lineout was often scrappy. Meachen and Sanerivi brought stability, not only to their set piece but to their all-round play.
Also of note was Sabbagh’s 40-metre penalty attempt with one minute left. If successful, the Billy Goats would have gone up 24-22, but the Evans Bay Park gales pushed the difficult attempt to the left.
Who stood out: Nick Harrison not only scored two vital tries for the hosts, he also provided an 80-minute shift of great defence. In a game where OBU were in MSP’s half for long periods, Harrison was an anchor for MSP’s tough defensive line.
Harrison’s opposite, Paterson Carter, also impressed. Carter stole at least four MSP lineouts in the first half and kept busy in open play. Teegan Minkley was the best of a dangerous OBU back three.
Meachen’s importance at setpiece has already been mentioned. Fellow MSP forward James Tuia had a standout second half and Corey Lawrence popped up everywhere. MATT TWORT HOBM 13 TAWA 10 Hutt Old Boys Marist 13 (Tomasi Alosio try; Brandyn Laursen 2 pen, con) Tawa 10 (Kalim Kelemete try; James So’oialo pen, con). HT: 10-10. Best and fairest: 3 points: Brandyn Laursen (HOBM fullback); 2 points: Hemi Fermanis (Tawa lock); 1 point: George Amosa (HOBM flanker). Yellow card: Telea Seumanutafa (Tawa).
Venue: Hutt Recreation Ground. What happened: Hutt Old Boys Marist ground out a useful victory, ahead of Saturday’s away semifinal against Marist St Pats. The testing weather contributed to a lot of scrappy play but HOBM earned good points for holding out against a concerted second-half Tawa effort.
The losers would have been frustrated they did not make more of the plentiful amount of ball they had in HOBM territory over the last 25 minutes, after leading 10-0 in the 16th minute. Tawa’s forwards put the side in positions to score more points, only for the players to let themselves down with faulty finishing. A penalty by Brandyn Laursen from just inside the Tawa half after 49 minutes, with the southerly behind him, was the only second-half scoring.
The big play: It occurred in injury time when Tawa had a chance to at least draw the game, and maybe even win it, when they received a penalty on the HOBM 22, near the touchline. Tawa preferred to take a tap penalty rather than go for goal, and play drifted across field in front of the HOBM posts. However, Tawa fluffed their last chance when the ball was lost forward.
Who stood out: Laursen was a steadying influence, and his long penalty proved to be a matchwinner. He failed with two later attempts closer to the posts. Flanker George Amosa and lock Lui Okeamoa-Luamanu were hard workers among the HOBM forwards, and Tawa lock Hemi Fermanis continued to be a consistent performer in a strong pack. PETER BIDWELL ORIES 19 PETONE 12 Oriental Rongotai 19 (Declan Hay, Luca Rees, Hayden Whelan tries; Trent Renata 2 con) Petone 12 ( Lester Maulolo, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa tries; Dan Kirkpatrick con) HT: 7-0. Best and fairest: 3 points: Luca Rees (Ories No 8); 2 points: Kaliopasi Uluilakepa (Petone prop); 1 point: Declan Hay (Ories halfback). Yellow card: Whetu Henry (Ories). Venue: Polo Ground. What happened: The season drew to a close for these two teams with a tight match played on a very heavy field.
The scoring in the first half was restricted to a try to Ories halfback Declan Hay, who scampered over under the posts after the home side finally breached Petone’s stout defence.
Petone started the second half strongly and got on the board with a Kaliopasi Uluilakepa try. The impressive youngster carried several defenders across the line from a quick tap penalty.
Ories extended their lead when first five-eighth Trent Renata crossed kicked into the Petone dead-ball area and fullback Hayden Whelan won the race for the ball. Ories’ third try went to No 8 Luca Rees, who intercepted a dangerous Petone attack 40 metres out and outpaced the defence.
Petone centre Lester Maulolo crossed for a last-minute try.
The big play: The try to Luca Rees provided a timely halt to a promising Petone comeback.
Who stood out: Luca Rees was everywhere and his mobility in the mud was outstanding. Halfbacks Declan Hay and Carlos Price had a good tussle while opposing first-fives Trent Renata and Dan Kirkpatrick showed glimpses of the talents they both possess.
On a dull day, completely suited to tight forward play, Petone’s big 18-year-old prop Kalipasi Uluilakepa stood out like a beacon. His strength in the tight exchanges and his ball carrying were features of the match. DOUG SMITH
NORTHS 34 WAINUI 33 Northern United 34 (Esi Komaisavai 2, Perry Hayman, Denny To’o, Gerard Faitotoa, Norman Fatialofa tries; Perry Hayman 2 con) Wainuiomata 33 (John Monu 2, Henry Smith, Teru Time, Ben Tupuola tries; Matt Jacobs 4 con). HT: 17-12. Best and fairest: 3 points: Ben Tupuola (Wainui No 8); 2 points: Esi Komaisavai (Norths first five-eighth); 1 point: Gerard Faitotoa (Norths prop).
Venue: Jerry Collins Stadium. What happened: After a scrappy opening, Northern United centre Perry Hayman broke the deadlock, bustling his way over the line.
Immediately afterwards, Norths halfback Tom Finai ran through a hole and set up Esi Komaisavai for a brilliant longrange try.
Throughout much of the first half it was end-to-end rugby. This included a great individual try by Norths second five-eighth Denny To’o.
Momentum fluctuated for Wainui and after a slow start they began to show some promise, scoring tries through Henry Smith and Teru Time. On the cusp of half time, Wainui should’ve taken the lead but a trysaving tackle by Antony Fox proved the difference.
After the break, Norths regained the momentum, scoring successive tries to Gerard Faitotoa and Norman Fatialofa.
However, it wasn’t long before Wainui returned the favour. Led by No 8 Ben Rupuola, they scored two quick tries, taking the lead late in the second half before Komaisavai a fantastic individual try to win the match for Norths.
The big play: This came through Komaisavai. Showing plenty of pace, he scythed through a hole in the defence before executing a chip and chase and scoring under the sticks. Hayman converted to seal victory for the home side.
Who stood out: Norths prop Gerard Faitotoa managing plenty of mileage and scored a wellearned try. Wainui No 8 Tupuola caused plenty of difficulties for the defence, while Norths wing Likisone Siliga was another performer of note thanks to his strong running.