Netani leads Nelson into final

Nelson College is into the Miles Toyota Championship final after defeating Timaru Boys High 22-10 in a tense semi-final at home this afternoon.

Fijian powerhouse Netani Baleisomosomo led the way for the hosts with three tries while the Sauira brothers were again outstanding.

Nelson will need to wait until later this afternoon to find out whether they will host Christ College at home next weekend or head south to meet St Bedes.

Netani says the side was highly motivated for what could prove a final outing at home for many of the players.

"We thought about that it might be the last game for us if we lost so we needed to give it all today."

With his family back home in Fiji, Netani says he plays to make them proud.

Should college win next week's final, they will take on the winner of Southland vs Otago boys the following week for a spot in the national Top Four.

"We will keep working hard, keep the momentum up and if we win next week and then the South Island's, anything can happen."

The try scoring machine says he has lost track of the number of tries he has scored in Nelson jersey but is quick to deflect credit.

"We have had a very good season."

The home side made an early statement with a powerful scrum, winning a penalty which Cooper Grant duly converted.

It was an emotional occasion for Timaru who were wearing black armbands in honour of the five students tragically lost in a horror car crash last weekend.

Light rain fell intermittently throughout the 70 minutes and in tricky conditions kicking was always going to be crucial.

Timaru opted for a shot at goal 42 metres out but Taine Cordell-Hunt’s effort was short.

The visitors then lost number eight Ben Goldingham to a shoulder injury.

Cordell-Hunt would put first points on the board for Timaru with a simple shot in front of the sticks.

Mistakes were costing both sides and while each had its moments, the sides struggled to maintain possession.

Nelson was getting the better of Timaru at set piece and another scrum penalty led to the first try right on the stroke of halftime.

Netani Baleisomosomo took a quick tap just five out and the Fijian flanker was too strong for the Timaru defence, powering over to give his side an 8-3 lead.

Netani struck again immediately after the break, a stray kick to Timoci Sauira     who expertly sent his flanker away to score.

Grant nailed a tough conversion from wide out to give Nelson a healthy lead.

The game was beginning to open up in the second with both teams playing more enterprising rugby.

Netani was proving a nightmare for Timaru as he went in for his hat-trick again from close range, giving the visitors a tall task in the final twenty.

Timaru was still up for the challenge though as replacement Toby Clemett pulled on back for his side to reduce the margin to 12.

Injuries began to mount for Timaru as Nelson increased the physicality dealing out some monstrous hits.

The match ended on a sour note as Tai Pangai was sent to the pin for throwing a punch but it wasn't able to take the gloss off a dominant Nelson performance.

St Bedes will meet Christs College at 2:45 this afternoon.

Scorers:

Nelson 22 (Baleisomosomo 3, tries, Grant 1 pen 1 con)

Timaru 10 (Clemett tries Cordell-Hunt 1 con, 1 pen)