Season ends at semi final stage for top three teams
In a day that started with so much promise, our sides were left wondering what might have been as they reassembled at the clubrooms on Saturday night.
The day kicked off with our Women's team taking on a dominant Oriental-Rongotai side that has won every game of the season with maximum points. It was always going to be a tough ask but our team put in another effort to be proud of but ultimately fell 5-38. This young team has a lot to be proud of after going unbeaten in the first round in the second division they have shown they can compete with the top teams in division one. We look forward to their development over the next few years.
Next it was out to Porirua Park where our Premier Reserves took on top ranked Old Boys-University. The team had chances to put the game away but a late penalty try to OBU saw them sneak ahead and take the spoils 17-20.
In the Jubilee Cup semi final at Evans Bay Park our Premiers came out firing and held most of the possession and territory in the first half. They made many forays close to the Hutt Old Boys Marist tryline but let themselves down with a number of handling errors that stopped promising plays in their tracks. The highlight was a vintage long range Michael Buckley try.
HOBM didn't have a lot of ball but made the most of their one opportunity deep in the MSP 22 with a try to prop Joe Apikotoa. The home side led 12-10 at the half.
The second half was an arm wrestle largely played in the middle part of the field and while both sides had opportunities, neither could cross the others line. In the end it was penalties that decided the game with HOBM captain Brandyn Laursen kicking his team home with a couple of long distance shots.
We wish our Marist brothers all the best for their Jubilee Cup final date with Old Boys-University next weekend!
Following the semi final at Evans Bay our Under 85kg Reds had a late game on the artificial turf against Upper Hutt. A strong performance resulted in the sides third victory from three games in the second round and the team has a home semi final in their sights!
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