The Under 21 and Under 85 Kg grade finals were held at QBE Stadium on Saturday 13 August.
Second seed Kumeu U21 defeated table topping East Coast Bays 20-17 to take the Under 21 championship.
The bigger Kumeu side dominated for much of the game but were just in front 8-3 at half-time, and got out to 20-3 lead but late in the second half East Coast Bays staged a creditable comeback with a couple of converted tries as the Kumeu boys tired and substitutions were made but it was too little too late and the Westies hung on to take the silverware.
The Under 21 Plate was won by the much improved Marist Colts 24-20 over Massey. Scores were tied 10 all at half-time Marist got out to a healthy lead and Massey also staged a comeback late in the game but could not break through and Marist won the day.
The Under 85 Kg championship was a well fought 21-16 win to the experienced and unbeaten North Shore side over the younger Takapuna team. North Shore was 22 competition points ahead of Takapuna on the table after two full rounds with a very solid positive points differential, and despite the much tighter semi-final win over Kumeu, were able to continue their form and win the championship for 5th time in the last 7 years with rivals Takapuna taking the championship on the other two occasions. Evergreen Coach/Manager/Player Travis Keane has been to the fore in all five wins.
Silverdale won the U85 Plate 27-21 over neighbours and higher ranked Mahurangi courtesy of 9 penalty kicks by super boot and full-back Ben Pearce. Mahurangi was ahead 13-9 at half-time having scored two tries and kicked some goals of their own but Pearce kept taking the points from wide-out on the wind-swept Oval to put Silverdale in front and keep Mahu at bay and win the game. It was deja vue for Ben Pearce who performed the same feat in 2013 on the same field to kick 5 penalties and win the Under 20 championship 22-18 for East Coast Bays over higher ranked Helensville!
Pictured - North Shore 85s
Photo by John Rau
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