Rugby: Gallaher Shield finalists found

Photo / Mark Mitchell

AUCKLAND
Ponsonby and Grammar Carlton will contest the Gallaher Shield final at Eden Park after they both had clear-cut semifinal wins yesterday.

Frontrunners Grammar Carlton ended Pakuranga's best run at the title with a comfortable 23-7 win, thanks to another stand-out performance from Auckland first-five Ash Moeke.

At Western Springs, Ponsonby and University were evenly matched for most of the game but a superb goalkicking display from first-five Gareth Anscombe and a late try to winger Rocky Khan sealed Ponsonby's deserved 22-6 win.

University had the superior scrum, centered on the power of Auckland loosehead prop Pauliasi Manu, and had more possession to play with in the first half, but they kicked away far too much ball.

Brenton Helleur crossed the line for University but referee Matt Stanish accidently blocked the Ponsonby defence and the try was disallowed. Five penalties to Anscombe gave the Ponies a comfortable lead at the halftime break of 15-6 but University started strongly in the second half.

James Semple, who struggled at first-five, and Brad Linklater both missed crucial penalties for University which would have had them right back in the game.

Samoan international Paul Williams showed his class after 62 minutes with a sharp 40m sprint to be tackled just short of Varsity's line. Quick ruck ball and a clever cross kick by Anscombe saw Khan in for the match winner. Anscombe slotted from the touchline to close out Ponies' 22-6 win.

In the Jubilee Trophy semi-finals, Otahuhu just pipped Te Papapa-Mt Wellington 20-17 and College Rifles upset Waitemata 20-14 away, with centre Jarrod Dunn scoring three tries.

NORTH HARBOUR
North Harbour representative first five-eighth Mike Harris returned from injury with a spectacular solo performance to guide Northcote to the premier club final.

Harris completed a scoring full house with all of Northcote's 31 points in a 31-7 win over Marist in yesterday's semifinal. Northcote will now meet the other dominant club side this year, the Wayne Shelford-coached North Shore, who beat Takapuna yesterday 15-12 to end that side's run of four consecutive premiership titles.

Harris scored a try, converted that and added seven penalties and a dropped goal as Northcote, through a combination of a strong pack and Harris' commanding role in the inside backs, dominated.

Injury kept promising prop Ben Afeaki from the Marist pack and he was sorely missed.

The competition's other outstanding kickers, Shore's Ben Botica and Takapuna's Jon Elrick, were the only scorers in the other semifinal, which was a tense battle in which constructive backplay was seldom seen. Botica landed five of six penalty goal attempts and Elrick all four of his attempts.

Massey were much too strong for Mahurangi in the plate semifinal, winning 24-0, and for the second time this season Silverdale beat East Coast Bays by a single point 22-21 and so meet Massey in the final.