At the end of Week 14 and round-robin play, Hikurangi added the Jury Harrison Memorial Trophy for the second round to the Kath McLean Memorial Trophy for the first round.
Last month they reclaimed the Charlie Keelan Memorial Shield in Tolaga Bay, beating Uawa 23-20 after Uawa had lifted that coveted prize 17-15 on April 21.
In Week 6, they took the Pirika Huriwai-Jones Memorial Trophy, 36-0 from Hicks Bay at Wharekahika, and defended it, 41-12, on July 7.
On May 26, they beat City 22-8 in the derby match at Ruatoria, the prize for which is the Tanara “Dunn” Kaiwai Trophy.
Hikurangi, with 12 wins and two losses from 14 games, will now host Tokararangi in 1 v 4 at Whakarua Park, while in the other semifinal, second-placed Uawa await Tokararangi. The scene is set for this coming weekend.
Barbarich should be pleased with how City went out winnersCity captain and No.8 Tim Barbarich has every reason to be pleased with the way his hard-working team went out winners on Saturday.
Both halfback CJ Fox-Campbell and second five-eighth Taiaho White scored twice, while lock Codey Ellis, centre Nathaniel Fox, replacement lock Rex Mangu and reserve right wing Aomuri Parata scored one try apiece.
Fox produced a sensational kicking performance, converting all of the home team’s tries.
Openside flanker-cum-lock Curtis Walker was City’s player of the day.
“It was a win for us today but full credit to Waiapu — the game was played in good spirit and they gave us a real run for our money,” Barbarich said.
“Their big boys got a lot of ball — so we were forced to tackle — but we went well at scrum and lineout with our backs scoring some good tries. It was a nice way to end it.”
Centre Richard Tupou claimed the player-of-the-day award for Waiapu. Captain and tighthead prop Frank Manuel is immensely proud of his committed, loyal orange-and-black unit.
“It was a great game to finish the season, although we didn’t have the numbers I wanted — started off with only 14 players, had 16 at the end.”
They fired firstHicks Bay halfback Tamati Delamere scored the opening try at Wharekahika against defending champions Tihirau Victory Club.
Fullback Sean Murtagh and reserve Weihana Delamere also dotted down for the home team, Murtagh and right wing Leyth Delamere each kicking one conversion.
TVC No.8 Hoani Te Moana scored twice, with tries also to lock-cum-loosehead prop Hirini Delamere, lock Codey Wheeler, halfback Rapata Haerewa, first-five Verdon Bartlett, centre Anthony Heal, left wing Benny Haerewa, right wing Joe Waenga, and fullback Peti Delamere.
Peti Delamere kicked seven conversions and Haerewa, two conversions in the 68-19 scoreline.
The visitors led 40-7 at halftime and their player of the day, tighthead prop Josh McDonald, was outstanding in all parts of play.
TVC player-coach and hooker Whetu Haerewa said: “We’d learned our lessons against Hicks Bay previously — they came hard up the middle, so this time we moved it away from them before we went forward.
“If we hadn’t had this game, we would have been underdone come the semi against Uawa. It was imperative to have a hard workout. Hicks Bay certainly gave us that.”
Hicks Bay player-coach and second-five Warren Henderson was pleased that his club saw the season out on the field.
“As a club, we’re happy to have kept going and we take plenty of positives for next year, from this season,” he said.
“The TVC backs punished us for missing tackles but we did return kicks, make yards and score some points.”
