Waitemata add crown jewel

By GRAHAM REDDAWAY

Waitemata weathered an early storm from a fired-up University at Eden Park and finished much too strongly to take the Gallaher Shield for the first time since 1975.

The West Auckland side, who went into the match as the favourites, led 15-14 at the break. They added 11 unanswered points in the second spell to win 26-14 and complete the full set of premier trophies on offer during the season.

The club already has the Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield for first-round supremacy and the Auckland Supporters Club Cup for winning the second round safely locked away.

The victory credited coach Greg Aldous with achieving the top prize in his first season in charge of a premier side.

And for the team's oldest player, 32-year-old first five-eighths Lee Stensness, it was also the first championship he had won in many years playing in Manawatu and Auckland, just as it was for every other member of the side.

Even Waitemata's greatest player, Michael Jones, who was on hand to give inspiration before they took the field, never managed the feat.

Waitemata skipper and halfback Craig McGrath, brilliant No 8 Sione Lauaki and lock Michael Vondincklage played key roles in the victory, especially Vondincklage, who deservedly won the man-of-the-match award for his lineout mastery and rampaging runs up the middle that had the Varsity defence scrambling on several occasions.

The Waitemata pack, as it has been all season, was a strong unit and several times turned University's ball over to good effect, especially in the second spell, when University struggled to even get into Waitemata's half.

On each of the three or four occasions they made it across the halfway line, either they missed a penalty shot at goal, or there was an unforced error and back came Waitemata on hot attack.

University coach Gary Braid lamented the number of errors his side made and was far from happy with the display of referee Chris Morgan.

He said there were too many little mistakes. But even more frustrating was the referee's rulings, especially in the tackle-ball area.

Waitemata opened the scoring three minutes after kickoff when nippy right-wing Misi Taulapapa darted over after a Stensness' grubber that bobbled and left the defence stranded.

Three minutes later Matt Liavaa ended a brilliant University backline move to dot down, and Andrew Whiteman's conversion gave his side the lead.

Waitemata regained the lead through a Nick White penalty.

Varsity scored their second try when Iliesa Tanivula fed off a good break by first five-eighths Eliota Fuimaono to go over between the posts.

But by halftime, Waitemata had regained the lead after McGrath burrowed over for their second try.

In the second spell, Waitemata flanker Patrick Segi scored a try and Nick White's boot added the icing.

On the Outer Oval of Eden Park, Grammar Carlton took the Jubilee Trophy from Otahuhu 34-14, scoring six tries to just one by Otahuhu.

After two rounds of the promotion-relegation series, East Tamaki lead by two points from Te Papapa Onehunga.