Blues to tackle Tohis in rugby final

Peter Jones

A mouth-watering Marlborough Sub-Union final is in prospect after Waitohi booked a date with defending champions Central in the title decider.

On Saturday, the Tohis produced an irresistible second half effort at Awarua Park to see off a gallant Magpies outfit in what was a virtual semifinal, Central having clinched a final spot with previous wins over both sides.

Despite the 36-11 scoreline, this was no walk in the park for the Tohis. They led just 15-11 at halftime, having weathered a Moutere storm for much of the first spell.

The home side dominated field position but too often spurned chances to establish a meaningful lead when they had the chance.

After goalkickers Corey Bovey (Waitohi) and Jake Pacey (Moutere) traded early penalties, the Magpies opened the try scoring through first five/halfback Ben Finau.

However, five minutes later Waitohi centre Sio Moa touched down to level the scores, Bovey’s conversion pushing them ahead. The visitors moved out to 15-8 just before the break with an unconverted try to skipper Taine Cragg-Love, then Pacey closed the gap once more with a penalty on the stoke of halftime. However, that was to be the end of the scoring for the home side, Waitohi adding three second half tries, all converted by Bovey, to seal the deal.

The energetic Cragg-Love completed a well-deserved hat-trick with two touchdowns on the back of close-range lineout drives, while fullback Patrick SmithKerr scored the other.

Along with their inspirational captain, No 8 Campbell Hart, lock Dylan Burns and hooker Toby McLeod were the pick of the Tohis forwards while halfback Bray Taumoefolau, on his premier debut, Bovey, Moa and Gannon Karena excelled out wide.

Prop Max Morris, loosie Atu Taufa and No 8 Charles Tupouto’a put in strong shifts for the

Magpies pack, while Finau, midfielder Pacey and winger Senetenari Ponesi stood out behind the scrum.

The MRU sub-union final will be played on Saturday, April 29, at Lansdowne Park.

Scores: Waitohi 36 (Taine CraggLove 3, Patrick Smith-Kerr, Sio Moa tries, Bovey 4 con, pen) Moutere 11 (Ben Finau try, Jake Pacey 2 pen). HT: 15-11. Nelson premier results: Kahurangi 36 Nelson 19; Stoke 29 Waimea Old Boys 10. Meanwhile, the Marlborough division two competition saw a couple of upsets, with Central being beaten 24-20 by Marlborough Boys’ College Old Boys on Lansdowne Park 1 and Awatere going down to Harlequins 31-17 in Seddon. The other match was played in Havelock, Renwick’s ‘Mud Dogs’ overcoming Pelorus 29-3.

The Wairau Wāhine women’s side played their second competition game over the hill, going down 47-22 to Waimea Old Boys at Jubilee Park. In the other match Kahurangi downed Marist 21-19 to remain unbeaten.