Well where has the season gone, its finals time! Just seemed like it was the pre-season and here we are at the business end of 2017 rugby season. Two mighty battles were fought out in the Premier 1 championship semi-finals with 2 or 3 points just separating the protagonists in the end. The referees and Union staff were scuffling around for the tied team formula as it looked like the scores would be tied up after 80 minutes. "Northcote hosted late charging East Coast Bays on LTC Park with the organised and driven Bays crew showing why they put away Silverdale in the play-offs by going in front 19-18 with 5 to go but a late and successful penalty kick to Northcote carried the day 21-19 and the bus was booked for QBE Stadium. Massey hosted 4th place Takapuna out at Moire Park and were in front at half-time 11-9 (similar to the other semi – 11-10 to ‘Cote) but the prodigious boot of Bryn Gatland was just warming up. The flash new Massey score-board went on the blink as Gatz’ boy started racking up the kicks – 7 in the final analysis. Massey stayed in the running scoring the only two tries of the game and it was tied 18-all at 60 minutes. Just before full time the Takapuna pack toiled into the Westies territory and Gatland manoeuvred into the slot and at 35 metres out on a bit of an angle (estimated by referee Danny Morrison who had a great call and is appointed to the final) put a droppie down the middle for the final score of 21-18 and Mr Ritchie picked up another bus-booking for 22 July, destination QBE Stadium. Massey stalwart and captain Ben Svenson playing his 100th game over 8 seasons did not get the result he wanted but he warmly congratulated Takapuna on their win. Ben is a true servant of North Harbour community rugby and his club with age group through to NPC honours and captaining North Harbour 2nd XV, Massey Premiers and Massey 1st XV along the way.
In the Plate Semi’s much improved and motivated Marist defeated a depleted Silverdale 19-10 on the Desert and North Shore were too good for Kumeu at home winning 28-13 for a North Shore vs Marist Plate Final at Devonport on 22 July. The Bowl final was a high scoring affair at Kaipatiki Park with Glenfield picking up the silverware with a 66-22 win over visitors Mahurangi.
The Colts (U21) grade Semi-finals followed the seedings with Massey way too good at home for Takapuna winning 33-7 in the first championship semi-final. In the other championship semi-final East Coast Bays accounted for North Shore 25-10. In the Plate semi-finals Silverdale pulled away for a 47-8 win over Northcote and Northcote U19’s won by default over Marist whose players bolstered their Premier side. In the Bowl Final Kumeu with their full bench came from behind in the second half to score two tries against the tiring Silverdale U19’s at Riverhead and hoist the Bowl with a 13-7 win. In the Colts(U21) Final at QBES Stadium 22 July Massey will face East Coast Bays – these two sides are only separated by 2 competition points and one win so it will be a great tussle. In the Plate final at Dale Park, Silverdale will host Northcote U19’s.
The Premier 2 grade played their final competition fixtures and booked their places in the Championship, Plate and Bowl semi-finals scheduled for Saturday 29 July with no play on Premier 1/Colts finals day 22 July, and the finals to be held 5 August at the top seed club. Navy defeated Glenfield 60-27 at the strawberry patch, North Shore just edged Kumeu 19-18 at Vauxhall reserve to finish second, Massey beat fellow Westies Helensville 48-21 at home in a high scoring encounter and East Coast Bays likewise over Marist. Silverdale defaulted to front runners Northcote and Takapuna also got default points over the withdrawn Mahurangi side. The fixtures for 29 July are as follows:
Championship semi-finals – Northcote vs Massey and North Shore vs Kumeu
Plate semi-finals – East Coast Bays vs Silverdale and Takapuna vs Navy
Bowl Semi-Finals – Marist vs Glenfield, and Helensville have the bye and play the winner of the semi’ in the final on 5 August.
Two rounds to go and it is all on in the U85 grade with Kumeu remaining at the top with a couple of losses on 56 points with Northcote and Silverdale tied in 2nd place on 51 points. Silverdale will be looking to tie up the other home semi-final against 4th place and improved Massey (45) this Saturday and ‘Cote up against outstanding Kumeu going for a victory as well. In 5th place Takapuna on 40 points will want to win their last two games and hoping a few results on the table above them go their way to qualify for a Championship semi-final. Bays, Shore and Mahurangi will be in the Plate semi-finals. Semis are on 5 August with finals 12 August at the top seed club.
The Womens teams East Coast Bays, Glenfield and Massey are picking their way through the byes in the Womens Wider Auckland grades sitting in the lower end of the tables for Premier and Development.
The Presidents grade takes a breather this Saturday for Premier/U21 finals day and returns to the fray 29 July for the run in to finals day at Massey RFC out west on 19 August.
Main Pic -
Northcote No.8 Murphy Taramai on the charge - Photo by John Rau
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