Falcons in the decider

CHARGING TO THE FINALS: Seeka Falcons prop Myles Lardelli-Muir (centre) takes on the Paikea Whalers defence in the Gisborne Tairawhiti Rugby League playoffs. The Falcons won 36-20, giving them an automatic spot in the grand final on October 6. Picture by Steve Ria

Seeka Falcons have booked a berth in the grand final of the Gisborne Tairawhiti Rugby League senior competition.

The Falcons are the first team to go through. They beat Paikea Whalers 36-20 in a second-life playoff match at Awapuni Stadium on Saturday.

The Falcons get a rest this week, while the Whalers must beat Waengapu Stallions on Saturday to make the grand final on October 6.

Both teams were quick to score on Saturday, with the Falcons leading 12-10 in the first 10 minutes.

Just before halftime, the Whalers’ Rylan Tuwairua-Brown dotted down in the corner to give his team a 14-12 lead at the break.

The Falcons opened the second half with a try between the posts. With the conversion, they took the lead, 18-14.

That was backed up by a converted try to Falcons prop Myles Lardelli-Muir, who made plenty of metres up the park throughout the game.

The Falcons were opening up a gap, and it was not long before another converted try further stretched their lead . . . 30-14.

Minutes later they added six more points after a linebreak run down the sideline by Nate Miller.

The Whalers scored a late try, with a conversion, to make it 36-20.

The Stallions kept their competition hopes alive by beating Stirling Logging Ltd Ngatapa Stags 24-22 in their elimination match at Awapuni Stadium.

It was a game that went tit-for-tat throughout, but the Stallions edged ahead in the dying seconds of the game.

The Stallions scored first in the opening minutes with a try to winger Maciu Nawaqa. The conversion made it 6-0.

Twice the Stags came up short in their attempts to cross the line, and the Stallions took advantage to score their second four-pointer.

With only 10 minutes gone, the Stallions were leading 10-0.

But the Stags replied in their next set to score a try, which was converted. The Stags started to get their momentum rolling and made a lot of linebreaks.

A turnover by the Stallions 15 metres out from their line led to the Stags scoring off a set play from their scrum, and they took a 12-10 lead into the halftime break.

The second half was an arm-wrestle. The Stallions regained the lead with a converted try, 16-12.

A break by Stallions’ Nesta Turnbull paved the way for Paddy Wharepapa to score a four-pointer to take the score out to 20-12.

In the 65th minute, the Stags intercepted just out from their own goal line and closed the gap to two points with a converted try.

The Stags continued to make big breaks down the field and went ahead with an unconverted try, 22-20.

With only moments left, the Stallions scored in the corner.

They will play the Whalers in the elimination final at Awapuni Stadium at 1pm on Saturday for a grand final spot.