Whalers and Falcons in grand final

OFF TO THE GRAND FINAL: Tharin Cox Peratiaki dots down for the Paikea Whalers as Maciu Nawaqa of Waengapu Stallions tries to stop him during last Saturday’s sudden-death semifinal at Awapuni Stadium. The Whalers will meet the Seeka Falcons in the grand final tomorrow.Picture by Paul Rickard

Paikea Whalers will meet old foes the Seeka Falcons in the Gisborne Tairawhiti Rugby League grand final tomorrow.

The Whalers beat the Waengapu Stallions 44-28 in a sudden-death semifinal at Awapuni Stadium last Saturday to book their place in the final.

The final score did not reflect how hard the teams fought for the upper hand. It was close up until the last 20 minutes of the game.

It was tit-for-tat scoring throughout the first half, the Stallions sneaking in a converted try before the halftime whistle to go to the break six points behind at 24-18.

The momentum stayed with the Stallions at the start of the second half. Their centre, Moana Kentworthy, made a line-break and scooted up the field.

Three tackles after his run, he finished the play he started by dotting down for four points.

With the conversion attempt unsuccessful, the Stallions were now two points behind, at 24-22.

Minutes later they dotted down again and added the conversion to go ahead, 28-24.

The Whalers hit back but were denied a try close to the line.

Kentworthy continued to be threatening for the Stallions, making line-breaks around the park.

Mistakes and uncompleted sets by both sides meant possesion went back and forth, before the Whalers bagged a try to level the scores at 28-all.

The key moment came when — from a Whalers scrum at halfway — Paikea veteran Chris Brown broke the line and scored between the posts.

Maru Leach kicked the conversion to put the Whalers ahead, 34-28.

With 15 minutes to go, the Whalers dotted down again . . . 38-28.

They scored another try and Leach kicked the conversion to seal the victory, 44-28.

Now defending champions Paikea Whalers turn their attention to the Falcons, who beat them 36-20 in their last meeting two weeks ago in a semifinal playoff. They meet in the grand final at Awapuni Stadium at 1pm tomorrow.