Utiku into finals after Kaierau's withdrawal

Wanganui Rugby

Once again the Tasman Tanning Premier consolation play-offs will be a disjointed affair as bottom-of-the-table Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau have withdrawn from today's game with Utiku Old Boys at Memorial Park.

As fifth on the table, Utiku will now go automatically into finals day next weekend, waiting on the winner out of Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist and Harvey Round Motors Ratana in the sole consolation semifinal at Spriggens Park today at 1pm.

Kaierau pulled out of the post-season games after enduring a horror end to the season where they were well beaten in their last three games by Integrity Motors Pirates (74-19), PGG Wrightsons-Ballance Taihape (49-12) and embarrassingly last weekend by McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu (87-5).

While missing the game is disappointing, WRFU club liaison officer Paul Kenny said Marist and Ratana are fronting today with the strongest squads they can muster.

All players will be on deck as the final premier round robin weekend was completed without anyone making trips to the judiciary.

However, the WRFU and Manawatu Rugby Union did look into last Saturday's Wanganui High School vs Te Kawau game in the McDonald's Manawatu Colts rugby division, which was ended five minutes early due to a large fight.

Referee Neville Hopkins said after a clean game, a Te Kawau player lifted his WHS opponent above the horizontal in the tackle, although he did lower the player to the ground rather than dropping or driving him.

A number of WHS players rushed in, which quickly escalated the situation between the sides.

When order was restored, it was agreed by the captains to end the match early at that point. WHS well ahead 34-5.

Hopkins said it was the first game he has called off in 50 years of refereeing, and WHS will need better discipline for their home semifinal today with the Linton Colts.

The WRFU also confirmed that finals day next weekend will be moved from its traditional home at Spriggens Park, over to Wanganui's main rugby ground at Cooks Gardens.

Spriggens Park has been in a poor state this year due to a black beetle invasion leaving the grass bare in patches, while the flooding on the June 20-21 weekend turned the park into a lake, with Premier games in subsequent rounds being moved to the Wanganui Racecourse fields.

At Cooks Gardens next Saturday, the Premier consolation final will be played at 11am, followed by the Senior championship final at 12.45pm, and then the Premier championship finale at 2.30pm.

Kenny said this year there will be a 15-minute window after the early games to award prizes, rather than the victorious teams having to wait until the end of the day to receive their trophies.