Kahurangi and Central book finals rematch

Kahruangi have booked a date with Central in the finals of the Tasman Trophy after a convincing win over Waimea Old Boys.

The 38-20 victory at Cooks Reserve sees the Motueka team book a home final next weekend with all the momentum behind them.

While in Blenheim, Stoke couldn't topple the defending champions, Central, in a 38-10 loss.

With Waimea OB coming off a big win against Marist last weekend to secure their semi-final spot, they were hungry to keep the train rolling forward but were repelled by a better side.

Willie Havili, wearing 15 for Kahurangi, was instrumental with his big kicking boot that kept his team marching forward.

Whether from massive 50-22 kicks from inside his own 22 that turned defence into offence or his penalties from within his own half, it was a display of kicking brilliance to get his team over the line.

But it wasn’t a one-man show, with the Kahurangi team banding together into a cohesive unit that will be hard to stop as they march towards the finals.

Waimea OB opened the scoring off the boot of Sam Briggs, who started at second five outside James Lash in 10 and Macca Springer in 15, with Campbell Parata relegated to the sidelines with injury.

Kahurangi would answer back with a converted try to Jack Gray before a penalty of their own from Stewart Cruden as they got stuck into their work.

A penalty from Briggs kept Waimea OB in touch before Kahurangi and Mako halfback Louie Chapman darted through to continue growing the lead for Kahurangi.

A further try to Timothy Sail on the stroke of halftime saw the home side take a 22-6 lead into the break, which they only added to on the other side.

Two massive penalties from Havili in the opening five minutes saw the lead continue to grow, with Waimea OB doing everything they could to peg them back in an unsuccessful attempt to stay in the game.

Waimea OB captain Codey Grimes would score, with his team scoring another in the final play of the game to make it a more respectable scoreline.

But with Kahurangi captain Joshua Te Hira scoring and another long penalty from Havili, the game was well out of touch.

Codey says the result was a tough pill to swallow despite the Waimea OB team exceeding their expectations this season.

“I just feel like we had too many mistakes and let Kahurangi kick us around the park.

“We did our prep well, it was just execution on the day.”

Joshua says he was proud of how his team rose to the occasion.

“It’s unreal for the boys, I couldn’t be more proud.

“To have a penalty in our own half and having my kicker [Willie Havili] come up to me with confidence he can kick it and he ices it, what more can I say.

“That synergy between the back three, boosted by Willie. They’re basically one, they’re working so well together.”

As a prop, he was quick to congratulate the forwards on creating the foundations for the backs to be successful.

“It starts with us, we knew we have to lock their forward pack out.”

He also wanted to thank their wider coaching, managerial and physio staff, who he says provide them the tools to go out there and focus on their job.

With a rematch of last year’s final against Central already booked, the team cannot wait to get stuck into their old foes, Joshua says.

“We were kind of hoping for that. We remember that final last year.”

With a large crowd lining the sidelines, he says the team wouldn’t be what it is without the community.

“Everybody gets behind us. That’s just part of having a great culture.

“Being from a small place like Motueka, our community really gets behind us. We’re not just a team on the field.” 

Central v Stoke

via Peter Jones

Two Marlborough rugby sides will feature in next weekend’s Tasman Trophy rugby finals.

At Lansdowne Park today, Central earned a chance to play for a men’s Tasman Trophy ‘three-peat’ when they overcame what was initially a stern challenge from Stoke to prevail 38-10.

Meanwhile, at Awarua Park, the Moutere women’s side also booked a date at the big show with a 27-15 victory over Kahurangi. Next week they will play top-qualifier Marist in the title-decider on Nelson’s Trafalgar Park.

The women’s game was tied up 5-5 after a scrappy first 40 but the Magpies made most of home advantage, became more composed and pulled away in the second spell.

Number eight Niska Scott scored a try in both halves, with Hannah Gillespie, Bryher Jager and Fiaali'i Solomona bagging the others. Halfback Maddison Reid landed a conversion to complete the scoring.

In the men’s semifinal at rugby HQ, Central were immediately on the back foot as Stoke came out with fire and defensive intensity, hooker Eli Oudenryn charged down an attempted clearance to put the visitors ahead early.

However, it was not long before the Blues’ main men began to stamp their mark on proceedings, player/coach Quentin MacDonald and Highlanders player Timoci Tavatavanawai touching down before the break, the powerhouse winger crossing the line twice.

Ahead 21-10 at halftime, the Blues then flexed their offensive muscle, a brace of tries to livewire loosie Jack Kelly and a third to Tavatavanawai completing a satisfying afternoon. Mitch Smith landed four conversions.

MacDonald said having to travel away for a final would be a new experience for the Blues, and a challenge they welcomed after having the previous two finals at Lansdowne Park.

“It is exciting. We have earned ourselves one more week. Semifinals are always hard games to win because it is hard not to have one eye on the final.

“We know Kahurangi away will be tough but we have a lot of experience … we get excited around this time of the year and just want to do well.

“We will prepare well and go over there and give it a good shot.”

The finalists have shared the honours in their previous two encounters this season, Central winning away 23-20 in April and Kahurangi prevailing 28-19 at Lansdowne Park in May, setting the scene for a memorable decider.