National club rugby results: July 18
Northland
Mid Northern 32 Otamatea 0
Wellsford 39 Mid-Western 26
North Harbour
Semifinals
Massey 24 Western Pioneers 8
North Shore 32 Glenfield 15
Plate semifinals
East Coast Bays 28 Silverdale 23 (extra time)
Northcote 36 Takapuna 10
The cream has risen to the top of North Harbour premier club rugby, with Massey and North Shore, as they did in 2014, winning their semifinals and setting up a showdown on finals day.
The first Cup semi saw Massey, the front-runners all season, defeat near neighbours Western Pioneers in a true battle of the west.
On form, Massey looked too strong, but Western stayed in the fight until late into the match. Both sides had a number of opportunities in the first half but it was Massey who had the best conversion rate, taking a 17-8 lead to the break. They added one more try in the second half to finally seal Western's fate. Massey loose forward, 2014 NZ Schools rep and new North Harbour squad member Hapakuki Moala-Liava'a scored one of the four tries, while wing Tevita Li also got amongst the tryscoring action.
In the other Cup semi, North Shore beat Glenfield 32-15 after a season in which both sides have given as good as the other in their three meetings. Shore, the defending champs, scored four tries to two, hooker James Hinchco crossing for a brace, while evergreen No 10 Willie Walker scored 17 points, including a try. Glenfield's Michael Little was in top form, scoring a double. Glenfield presented some staunch defence in the first spell, in which they had a stiff breeze behind them, but Shore led 11-3 at the break and pulled away as their pack took control, before Little's late double.
In the plate semifinals, East Coast Bays traded blows with an ever-improving Silverdale, requiring extra time to defeat them 28-23. Silverdale will wish the season was still alive for them as they have been the big improvers over recent weeks. Northcote easily accounted for Takapuna with a big 36-10 win in the other plate semi. Northcote is another side that is just starting to see reward in recent weeks, and they had three players who scored doubles, Blake and Bryn Hall and Curtis Reid.
Auckland
(Gallaher Shield semifinals)
University 18 Pakuranga 12
Grammar TEC 27 Waitemata 3
(Jubilee Trophy semifinals)
Ponsonby 28 Marist 21
Papatoetoe 39 Manukau 15
(Portola Trophy semifinals)
Suburbs 30 College Rifles 25
Eden 33 East Tamaki 17
(President's Cup semifinal)
Maungarua 46 Waitakere City 38
The Gallaher Shield final will be a repeat of the 2014 Auckland club rugby decider after two relatively comfortable semifinal victories for defending champions University and the in-form Grammar TEC.
In truth, it was shaping that way several weeks ago, though both sides had suffered surprise defeats.
At Colin Maiden Park, University controlled the tactics and most of the field position in the second stanza to shut out Pakuranga 18-12. Ultimately, the scoreline was flattering to the visitors, the home side leading 18-0 with seven minutes to play before Pakuranga rallied with two late tries.
Both teams had lost key loose forwards, Pakuranga's Joe Edwards to the Maori All Blacks, and University's Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray to injury. But Varsity skipper Kurt Eklund turned out on the blindside and played his usual high energy game.
In the first half, Pakuranga, with Sam Prattley at loosehead prop, presented the stronger scrum, but could not make their advantage count. Both sides missed opportunities, losing the ball over the line or knocking on in promising positions, so it was just 3-0 at the break.
But Varsity used the strong crosswind to better effect after the change of ends. Fullback Simon Healy scored after a miscued kick bounced well for Varsity. Hooker Francis Smith and Liam Steel both handled well in the movement. Varsity locks Tim Cleaver and Henry Wheadon started to control the airways, while under-rated second five Kevin Fuavao straightened the attack. When Steel scored off a chargedown, the game was Varsity's, and though Pakuranga scored late via No 8 Sapu Hehea and wing Sam Tupou, they had made too many errors to really threaten Varsity.
Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield winners Grammar TEC scored two tries to none in accounting for Waitemata 27-3 at Orakei Domain. Centre Dave Thomas, who has just signed with Northland for the ITM Cup, and halfback Jono Hickey, scored the five-pointers, while Simon Hickey slotted six goals.
Ponsonby will face Papatoetoe in the second tier Jubilee Trophy final. Ponies beat Marist 28-21, with Auckland centre Vince Aso crossing the line. Papatoetoe turned the tables on Manukau Rovers, dispatching them 39-15 with five tries to three.
Suburbs and Eden will contest the Portola Trophy final after beating, respectively, College Rifles 30-25 and East Tamaki 33-17.
Maungarua won an entertaining Presidents Cup semifinal 46-38 over Waitakere City.
Auckland coach Paul Feeney may have to bring in players from outside his ITM Cup squad for Sunday's hitout against Taranaki, as he will not press any Gallaher Shield final starters into action.
Counties Manukau
(McNamara Cup semifinals)
Karaka 17 Pukekohe 14
Bombay 18 Ardmore-Marist 3
The McNamara Cup semifinals saw two tight, tense, relatively low-scoring fixtures as Karaka and Bombay won through to the decider, as they did last season.
Karaka lowered Pukekohe 17-14 in the 1 v 4 semifinal. In tough conditions, a strong wind proved to be difficult to play into for both sides.
Pukekohe opened the scoring with a successful penalty to Sione Fifita. But Karaka hit back 10 minutes later when Kieron Rollinson collected a wayward ball and set up Sione Molia for the converted try. Pukekohe was then able to use the wind and knocked over a couple of penalties to lead 9-7 at halftime.
In the second half, Karaka got an early penalty and then Hurricanes player Rey Lee-Lo, with his first touch of the ball off the bench, was able to put Steelers squad member Cardiff Vaega across the line.
Pukekohe didn't give up the fight and in the final five minutes scored a try to Chiefs and Steelers No 8 Maama Vaipulu.
Karaka's Mike Lawrenson had a strong game at lock as did Lee-Lo when he came on, standing out on defence and dangerous on attack.
Steelers flanker Sam Henwood was a strong performer for Pukekohe and was prominent at the breakdown.
Bombay booked their finals spot with an 18-3 win over Ardmore Marist and will now attempt to secure back-to-back Championship titles. It wasn't going to be third time unlucky for Bombay who had gone down twice to Ardmore in the round-robin phase.
They came out firing, excited by the occasion, and were able to dominate at set-piece and also territory.
Their victory was built on strong defence, as the side were able to execute their game plan. It was a step up from the regular season.
Bombay put plenty of pressure on Ardmore's lineout and scrum to disrupt their ball, scoring tries through Liam Daniela and Epeli Lotawa, with new Steeler Piers Francis adding the extras. Matiaha Martin celebrated his 50th game for the club with a strong display.
In the women's championship final, Manurewa beat College Rifles 21-8.
Thames Valley
Semifinal
Mercury Bay 13 Te Aroha COBRAS 9
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide premier semifinals)
Tauranga Sports 37 Mount Maunganui Sports 13
Te Puke Sports 40 Whakarewarewa 20
While season-long form prevailed in the Baywide Premier semifinals, top qualifier Te Puke Sports had to come from an 11-point deficit in the first half before defeating Whakarewarewa 40-20.
The Rotorua team came out firing and led 20-9, after Te Rangi Fraser and Whaimotu Craft-Chemis scored touchdowns with Ryubyn Vaipo adding two penalty goals and two conversions. Right on halftime, Dan Goodwin crashed over for Te Puke's first try, which saw Whaka take a 20-16 lead into the break.
Five minutes into the second spell, Te Puke halfback Jono Kitto waltzed over for the first of his two tries, with Jake Paringatai also grabbing a five pointer. Dan Hollinshead finished the match with 17 points, with Matt Cole kicking a field goal. The Te Puke resurgence in the second spell produced 24 unanswered points and propelled them into a home final next weekend.
Te Puke Sports will square off with archrivals Tauranga Sports in the Baywide Premier title decider, after the latter got past 2014 premier champions Mount Maunganui 37-13 at the Tauranga Domain.
Tauranga Sports skipper Carl Axtens opened the scoring with the home side's first try after 18 minutes, with Tauranga Sports' sharp shooter John Dodd adding the conversion. The visitors' first points came from an intercept from Mason Walker, who scampered 30 metres to score. Jesse Acton grabbed the second Tauranga touchdown, before Mount kicker Pera Gibbs kicked a penalty as the clock ticked down to halftime, to give Tauranga Sports a 17-8 lead.
Two minutes after the restart, Axtens grabbed his second try with a Dodd conversion pushing the home side out to a 24-8 advantage. Marnus Handley picked up the Mount's second touchdown, with his side's second intercept of the match, before Nic Evemy crossed for the Tauranga side's fourth try of the encounter. A notable achievement was that the Dodd final conversion was the Tauranga kicker's 12th successive successful kick at goal, in the last two games, with the majority coming from near the sideline.
Waikato
(Waikato Breweries Shield final)
Hamilton Marist 10 University 8
(Promotion-relegation)
Te Awamutu Sports 42 Leamington 5
United Matamata Sports 19 Southern United 11
King Country
Taupo Sports 36 Coast 3
Waitomo 11 Waitete 6
East Coast
(Rangiora Keelan Memorial Shield final)
Tokararangi beat Hicks Bay
Poverty Bay
Semifinals
HSOB 18 OBM 16
Ngatapa 23 YMP 12
Hawke's Bay
Napier Old Boys-Marist 23 Taradale 14
Havelock North 14 Central 5
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 35 MAC 12
Hastings Rugby and Sports 33 Clive 3
Napier Technical 47 Tamatea 0
Taranaki
Final
New Plymouth Old Boys 17 Inglewood 15
Wanganui
Ruapehu 87 Kaierau 5
Border 30 Taihape 13
Pirates 22 Utiku OB 16
Ratana 24 Marist 0
Manawatu
(Hankins Shield final)
College Old Boys 32 Kia Toa 21
(Val Holland Memorial Trophy final)
Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 18 Te Kawau 13
Wairarapa-Bush
Carterton 17 Pioneer 0
Gladstone 10 East Coast 3
Greytown 41 Eketahuna 3
Martinborough 27 Marist 23
Horowhenua Kapiti
Paraparaumu 16 Foxton 10
Levin College Old Boys 37 Athletic 12
Wellington
(Jubilee Cup)
MSP 44 Tawa 38
Hutt Old Boys Marist 37 Wellington 21
Old Boys University 21 Oriental Rongotai 13
Petone 29 Wainuiomata 28
Tasman
(Nelson Bays)
Final
Wanderers 21 Kahurangi 12
(Marlborough)
Final
Moutere 22 Central 11
Buller
Semifinals
Ngakawau 9 Westport 3
Old Boys 20 Reefton 17
West Coast
(Taylorville Wallsend Cup final)
Blaketown 20 Kiwi 3
Canterbury
(Metro, Hawkins Cup)
Lincoln University 17 New Brighton 14
Christchurch 24 Marist Albion 22
HSOB 22 Sydenham 7
Sumner 5 University 3
Linwood 12 Belfast 12 (extra time)
Burnside 30 Shirley 8
(Ellesmere)
Southbridge 23 Waihora 17
Lincoln 25 Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 12
Darfield 42 Prebbleton 14
Rolleston 20 West Melton 5
(North Canterbury)
Ashley 12 Saracens 10
Glenmark 35 Ohoka 6
Oxford 26 Kaiapoi 0
Mid Canterbury
(Watters Cup)
Rakaia 58 Hampstead 7
Southern 26 Celtic 22
South Canterbury
Celtic 40 Waimate 3
Mackenzie 22 Pleasant Point 12
North Otago
(Citizens Shield semifinals)
Excelsior 34 Athletic Marist 25
Old Boys 48 Kurow 12
Otago
(Metro)
Semifinals
Taieri 25 Southern 21
University A 35 Harbour 33
Other games
Alhambra-Union 15 Green Island 12
Kaikorai 19 Zingari-Richmond 17
Dunedin beat Pirates by default
(Central Otago)
Semifinals
Maniototo 38 Wakatipu 5
Alexandra 22 Arrowtown 19
Other games
Cromwell 37 Upper Clutha B 7
Matakanui Combined 66 Wakatipu Wanderers 0
Southland
(Galbraith Shield final)
Star 25 Marist 21