MRSU Wadsco Premier Div Club Final match report [Marl Express]
Waitohi captain James Giles receives the winning trophy
Yes!
Mates
Hayden Cripps presented with the cup for player of the year
Celebrating with the fans
Waitohi supporters Zoe Heath, Amanda Morris, Rhiannon Little, Mason McCormack, Rachel Forbes (at front) Suzanne Griffiths, Gemma Thomas and Graham Thomas.
Cheerful winners
Harlequin supporters Mark Elkington nad Tanya Marfell, Leo Marfell, 6, Gus Marfell, 8.
Waitohi celebrate after the final whistle
At the back of the stands AJ McGolerick, 11, Armani Love, 11, Mark-Anthony Love, 8, Harry Hutchinson-Durdey, 11, William Macdonald, 11, Tyler McKendrick, 11 and Aiden Gane, 11.
No. 10 Harlequins Hayden Cripps.
The crowd along the embankment
Brother and sister Jonty, 6 and Anna Frisken, 10.
Waitohi supporters Alex Aldridge, 10 and Jack Schumacher, 10.
No. 10 Harlequins Hayden Cripps
Waitohi supporters Heidi Cleveland, Taylor Burgess, 2, Kirsty Burgess and Allanah Burgess.
Harlequins no. 1 Tim Perry is tackled by Waitohi
No. 6 Harlequins Joe Wheeler.
Kaiyah Tapoki, 4, swings on the railings.
A late penalty goal by Daniel Hawkins proved the difference as Crafar Crouch Waitohi edged out BNZ Harlequins 18-15 in a thrilling Wadsco Marlborough premier club rugby grand final at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim on Saturday.
Hawkins had an off day with his boot, missing a couple of shots earlier which could easily have put the match beyond reach when they held a 15-0 lead at half-time.
However the brilliant play-maker landed the one that counted from 25 metres out with just four minutes to play and earlier slotted a fine field-goal from 30 metres midway through the first half during a match which had the respective fans from each camp extremely anxious, especially during a tense and tight final quarter.
Playing their fourth successive grand final, it's the first time Waitohi have won back-to-back titles since 1986-87 and they had to work very hard for it against a Harlequins team which took most of the first half to get into gear.
Playing with a light northerly behind them, Waitohi made the most of the play in the first half, their forwards impressive, led by outstanding Tasman Makos flanker Vernon Fredericks. With Hawkins orchestrating play and slipping short passes to the big flanker, Harlequins had to work overtime to contain him, while fellow loose-forwards Manu Mataele and Joe Stewart added to the defensive challenge.
Fredericks scored the opening try, bursting onto a short ball and, although initially stopped, he wasn't held and dived over the score, Hawkins converting in the 11th minute.
Hawkins landed his field goal then on the stroke of halftime came the try of the match. Stewart sparked it with an audacious chip kick out of defence. Winger Mike Hillgrove did well to pick the ball up and continue the move and when Hawkins passed to Mataele 30 metres out, the big number eight had a free run to the line.
Waitohi had played with more urgency and cohesion and were well worth their 15-0 halftime lead, but Quins came out firing after the break. Millar looked to be on his way to a try only to be brought back for a knock-on when the ball appeared to come off his knee. Lock Pierre Vienings lost the ball with the goal-line beckoning then Millar used his pace and finishing power to score a well worked try at a five metre scrum, No 8 Stu Dalzell and halfback Daniel MacDonald working the ball to Millar down the short side.
With 20 minutes remaining, Harlequins lock Joe Wheeler was sin-binned by referee Dean Bishop for infringing. Wheeler, released by the Crusaders for the match, was one of several late changes to the team supplied for the programme before the match.
Hayden Cripps closed the gap to 8-15 with a close range penalty and despite Wheeler still being in the bin, the Quins forwards ramped up the pressure and their outstanding hooker and captain Simon Muir charged over in the corner, Cripps levelling the scores with a brilliant conversion.
With eight minutes to play it was anyone's match and it took a piece of brilliance from Fredericks to set up the match-winning penalty to Hawkins. The powerhouse flanker ran on the angle into a gap and looked to be heading for a try only to be cut down in his tracks by a superb Millar tackle.
Cripps had one last opportunity to level the scores with a couple of minutes to play but his attempted penalty shot from 50 metres just fell short. Winger Jason Sekai threatened to score but a Stewart tackle saved the day and Waitohi emerged triumphant much to the delight of their large, colourful and vocal supporters.
Over 1200 fans turned out to watch the match, both camps well supported, adding to an outstanding rugby occasion and if anyone doubted what it meant to win the title, Waitohi's post-match delight and celebrations clearly illustrated the passion involved in such an occasion.
As expected, the Waitohi loose-forward trio of Mataele, Stewart and Fredericks, all strong ball carriers, were influential in the outcome. Locks Daniel Karena and Mark Hodren also got through a power of work.
The halfback/first five-eighth combination of captain James Giles and Hawkins were also pivotal while their Harlequins opposites, Cripps and MacDonald, also had top games, although goal-kickers Cripps and Hawkins missed shots they would normally expect to land.
Millar proved what a dangerman he is out wide with his pace and finishing power as well as the try-saving tackle on Fredericks. In the Quins forward pack, none played better than feisty hooker Muir while props Tim Perry and Fetu Ieremia came to life in the second spell, anchoring a dominant scrum which regularly had Waitohi back-pedalling.
Harlequins lost, but can take heart from the huge improvement. Not only from their flagship team but also the club in general this season under an enthusiastic committee and they deservedly had something to celebrate with their second team taking out the division two title.
FINALS DAY FACTS
Scorers:
Waitohi 18 (Vernon Fredericks, Manu Mataele tries, Daniel Hawkins con, pen, field goal)
Harlequins 15 (George Millar, Simon Muir tries, Hayden Cripps con, pen).
Half-time: Waitohi 15-0
Man of the match: Waitohi first five-eighth Daniel Hawkins
What they said
Waitohi captain James Giles who has played in the last four grand finals. "Bloody awesome. Highlight of my career so far. Obviously going back to back as well. First time last year was great but winning it this year as captain is just unbelievable. I'm lost for words. I'm so proud of the boys."
Waitohi coach Nathan Peipi: "The minutes weren't going quick enough in that second half but we got there and I'm stoked about the efforts of the guys. This is a very special moment. Last year I lived on a few coat tails (as assistant coach to Troy Looms) but this year I've been lucky enough to grab the bull by the horns and grab hold of it [the title]. This is the payback for all the days you think about the game and plan. The rewards are massive."
Harlequins captain Simon Muir: "At least we showed a bit of ticker. Big turn around from last year and that's committee-driven. They were huge. Having our prems and division two side in the final as well. Something is going right. Waitohi deserved to win. They played great footie. A good game, a good final."
Referee Dean Bishop after his last game in Marlborough before being transferred out with the RNZAF: "It was a cracker. Pretty full on and up front all day. I was standing there watching Hawkins kick for goal near the end and I was thinking I would actually like this to miss then we could have extra time and that would have been good fun. Waitohi were very good, but Harlequins, give them credit, they came back from 0-15 down."
Victorious Harlequins division two captain and coach Lee Mason after taking out his third title in the last four years: "We were too anxious. Just short passes not sticking and pushing 50/50 passes. Stoked to win. We worked hard all year and only lost one game, to Moutere. Probably go another round next year."
