4 teams ready for Marlborough Semi Finals

Marlborough Express

The four semifinalists were confirmed on a day of high excitment and thrilling rugby action in the Wadsco Marlborough premier club rugby competition on Saturday.

BNZ Partners Harlequins lost a nail-biting classic 39-40 to Awatere at Seddon, the winning try and conversion coming in injury time for a very relieved home team.

It's the second match in a row the Quins have succumbed in injury time following their previous loss to Moutere, but the two points gained from scoring five tries and finishing within seven points, were enough to take them seven points clear of fifth-placed Quantum Diving Renwick.

Biddy Kate's Central, on the back of a fine kicking display by first five-eighth Gareth Smith who bagged 31 points including six penalties and four conversions, did enough to beat a fired-up Renwick 46-35 at Renwick, while at Picton, Waitohi were too good for Moutere, winning 44-0 to keep their unbeaten record this season.

In next Saturday's final round-robin matches, Moutere and Renwick clash and Harlequins take on Waitohi, Awatere and Central having the byes.

Waitohi just need a point to win the second round and qualify top which would mean in the semifinals, they would take on Harlequins and Central would play Awatere.

AWATERE 40 HARLEQUINS 39

Awatere's forward power just got them home in an absolute cracking game at Car Horn Valley in Seddon, the best game of footie many regulars had seen out there for years.

A try in injury time to replacement No8 Jordan Judge, on the back of an unstoppable lineout drive, and a pressure conversion from wide out by wing David Pope broke Harlequins hearts and delighted hometown fans.

Hulking prop Nicholai Heard drew first blood for Awatere, who were playing into a cool southerly, when he bulldozed over early on, Pope converting.

Halfback Matt Duggan replied with a penalty for Harlequins and then prop Tim Perry bolted away from a lineout to score, Duggan converting for a 10-7 lead.

Wing Richie Tau'alupe increased the lead, running onto a perfectly-placed kick by halfback Duggan and the conversion had the visitors 17-7 up in the 25th minute.

A long bounce pass by Glenn Blackmore put David Pope over, then his brother Nick Pope scored after halfback Hamish Murray took a quick tap penalty.

Centre Tom Mueli scored off a break by Keiran Hickman for Awatere, but near halftime the Quins took the lead when fullback Andrew Miller went over, first five-eighth Greg Knowles making the break.

Awatere went back in front 25-24 from a Pope penalty and he repeated the dose shortly afterwards from 45 metres to make it 28-24. When Heard crashed over for his second try, Harlequins looked down and out but that only sparked them back into action.

Knowles dummied through for a brilliant try, Duggan converting, and the Quins were rampant, centre Cedric Hiller racing 40 metres after a break by Fetu Ieremia. A Duggan penalty gave the Quins a 39-33 lead with two minutes to play before Judge and Pope had the final say.

Harlequins played with great courage and enthusiasm against the odds and missing regular halfback Daniel MacDonald because of injury, while Perry went off injured before halftime.

Locks Tom Cretney and Brodie Logan, Iere and inspirational hooker Simon Muir led a committed forward effort. In the backs, Knowles was all class at first five-eighth, and Miller had a fine game at fullback.

For Awatere, Kurt Lindsay, Matt Crockett, Heard and Gareth Archer had big games and in the backs, halfback Hamish Murray, Blackmore, fullback Sam Clouston and Hickman impressed.

CENTRAL 46 RENWICK 35

Renwick coach Matt MacDougall was cursing his team's luck and inability to win a match and felt his side dominated for long periods.

"We gave away 18 points in penalty kicks and two intercept tries. We scored five tries. I think our team outplayed Central everywhere except on the scoreboard," MacDougall said.

"This was our best performance of the season by far. We are absolutely gutted at the outcome."

McDougall was confused by many of the rulings against his side from referee Mark Andrell but also conceded that mistakes cost his team dearly.

Central coach Neville Saul had no complaints about the refereeing.

"It was a good hit out. Hard fought, entertaining. They (Renwick) were right in it until the end," he said.

No8 Ryan McQuillan was Renwick's standout, carting the ball up strongly, tackling like a demon and scoring a try.

Prop Anaru Norton turned in a powerful display in a dominant scrum, scoring a try and halfback Ryan Schollum impressed, also scoring a try and kicking four goals.

Renwick's five tries were well constructed, wing Anthony Steibel's coming near full-time.

Smith was Central's hero. Not only did he contribute 31 points in a superb display of goal-kicking but he ran the cutter well with some nifty touches.

Hooker Jesse MacDonald, wing Simi Volavola and Onolevu Temo were the other try-scorers in an action-packed encounter played in wet underfoot conditions.

Wings Volavola and Taylor Wilson impressed in the backs for Central with Adam Goldsworthy, Dan McPherson and Matt Gibson leading the forwards' efforts.

Others to shine for Renwick were midfielder Rikki Winitana and first five-eighth Hayden Marfell who formed a good partnership with Schollum.

WAITOHI 44 MOUTERE 0

The build-up to this match summed up Moutere's season.

Prior to kick-off, five players withdrew from the side settled on at training on Thursday through illness and work commitments and Moutere manager Laurin Gane conceded his team were simply outclassed by a better organised and structured Waitohi outfit in wet conditions at Picton.

Waitohi player/coach Troy Looms was pleased his side gained momentum heading towards the semfinals.

Looms, who scored one of his team's seven tries, said, "We retained the Challenge Cup. Everyone got a run. Our set-pieces went very well. A pleasing result."

First five-eighth Daniel Hawkins and wing Hayden Gaudin scored two tries each for Waitohi who, with Hawkins running the cutter, had plenty of variations in their play.

Looms was pleased they were able to build pressure and take their scoring opportunities which was made easier by dominating possession and territory.

Lock Rory Wright, flanker Les Ivamy, centre Scott Ivamy, fullback Hayden Woolley and No8 Manu Mataele had good games for Waitohi.

Moutere's best were Stu Campbell, James Pigou and Joe O'Sullivan in the forwards.

Chris Murphy played well and wing Dan Saville was enthusiastic in defence.