Club Rugby: Last-minute goal steals victory

AUCKLAND

Grammar Carlton edged Ponsonby 20-19 in a thriller at Cornwall Park yesterday to win the Alan McEvoy Memorial Trophy for the first time since 2001.

The clash between Auckland's top two teams drew the biggest crowd of the season and was tense from the start. Auckland first-five Ash Moeke clinched victory with a magnificent 42m drop goal in the dying minutes.

Ponsonby's Gareth Anscombe kicked two penalties for an early 6-0 lead and most of the half Grammar Carlton struggled to break down Ponies' tight defence. Moeke closed the gap to 6-3 before NZ Barbarians winger Bryce Heem made a sizzling break to set up Thomas Timani for the try and an 8-6 lead at the break.

Grammar Carlton ripped into Ponsonby from the re-start but failed to cash in on some good attacking opportunities as their lineout faltered under pressure. Moeke and Anscombe swapped penalties to have Grammar Carlton 17-12 ahead with 10 minutes to play.

Ponsonby then drove from a lineout 10m from the line and replacement hooker Willie Uili crashed over. Anscombe converted to put Ponsonby up 19-17 but the home side won the ball from the kick off to set up a drop goal attempt from Moeke that fell well short. But, with a minute left, he made no mistake with the matchwinner.

Next week in the opening round of the top eight Gallaher Shield, Grammar Carlton host Te Papapa-Mt Wellington, who beat Waitemata 27-22 to clinch eighth spot ahead of Marist. Ponsonby play seventh-placed College Rifles, winners by 32-10 over Waitakere City, while University finished third after thumping fifth-placed Otahuhu 42-15. Pakuranga move into fourth spot and a clash with Otahuhu after beating Marist 26-20.

- Peter White

NORTH HARBOUR

Two former All Blacks who have made infrequent appearances in North Harbour club rugby in recent years, Ron Cribb and Luke McAlister, yesterday showed the value of class by almost taking their sides to upset wins in the final qualifying matches.

Cribb, the veteran No 8, lasted a full 80 minutes for a Massey side which for the most part outplayed North Shore, but was denied victory in the last minute when Shore's superboot Ben Botica landed his seventh penalty goal of the match from halfway to give his side a 28-27 win.

Massey outscored Shore three tries to one but discipline lapses cost them a deserved win. Botica, with 23 of Shore's points, now has 225 points for the season.

McAlister's return to Silverdale boosted a side which have struggled for most of the year and have finished in the bottom four of the competition and able to win nothing more than the plate.

But Northcote, who with Shore have already qualified for the semifinals in a fortnight, managed to hang on for a 19-17 win, gambling a little by spelling some first stringers in the second spell.

In next weekend's matches to decide the final two places for the semifinals, Takapuna will play East Coast Bays and Massey will meet Marist, which slipped into fourth place on the ladder yesterday with an expected easy 62-21 win over bottom side Helensville.

Takapuna ensured their third placing when their outstanding kicker Jon Elrick, who has also exceeded 200 for the season, scored 20 points to help provide a 30-17 win over Glenfield.

Bays, already a winner twice this season over Takapuna, consolidated their top six finish by scoring four tries to secure a bonus point win over Mahurangi 27-13.

- Lindsay Knight