Rugby: Semifinalists found after final round

Photo: Clifton hooker Josh Tate-Iwikau tries to bust through the New Plymouth Old Boys defence of Mitch O'Neill (3) at Vogeltown Park on Saturday. Photo by Shelley Tate. 

New Plymouth Old Boys will host Coastal and defending champions Stratford-Eltham play Tukapa in next weekend’s semifinals of Taranaki premier club rugby.

The makeup of the top four was determined after the final round was played on Saturday.

Because of the tightness of the competition, Clifton, who entered the final round at the top of the table, lost to Old Boys 59-14, meant they dropped to fourth equal with Coastal.

Coastal snuck through to the playoffs because of a better points differential, which was only found out after their 57-0 win against Inglewood at Ōkato.

After the match at Vogeltown Park, Old Boys coach Hamish Mitchell said the performance was the best he had seen all season.  

“The boys rolled their sleeves up and played solid wet weather rugby,” he said.

“I’m super proud of a good team effort from one to 23. There’s still plenty to work on going into a tough semi against a quality Coastal team.”  

Old Boys were always in control of the match with a 28-7 lead at the break.

The home team had most of the possession and territory in the second half and appeared to have dominance in the forwards.

Clifton would be disappointed with the result, given they beat then-table toppers Coastal last week.

Old Boys’ Jack Parker kicked seven out of nine conversions.

At Victoria Park, Stratford-Eltham wing Vereniki Tikoisolomone continued his try-scoring record as he crossed over twice in the 49-7 win against Southern.

Stratford-Eltham prop Marika Parker also scored twice in the match.

Loose forward Daniel Hornby scored Southern’s only try and the team finished the season with two wins and a draw.

It was a bit tighter at Sanders Park, where Tukapa beat United 26-15.

United scored first and led at halftime 10-7 and pounced on mistakes that Tukapa made, including the first try early in the match.

Tukapa found momentum in the second half to run in four tries to two, including a double to Waata Wharewhare for the home team.

Coastal were all over Inglewood at the Ōkato Domain as the club celebrated 50 years since the Ōkato team won the senior championship.

Coastal were electric as they played with plenty of confidence including a number of their nine tries developed from inside their own half.

Despite the puggy conditions, scrums held up well and at times Inglewood managed to hold their own.

Coastal players and supporters were glued to their phones after the game to watch the end of the other matches in the final round to determine whether they made it through to the semifinals.

The semifinals were also confirmed for other grades.

Southern, Old Boys, Stratford-Eltham and Clifton form the top four in division 1.

Coastal, Inglewood, Tukapa and Stratford-Eltham are through to the playoffs in the colts grade.

Inglewood, Southern, Tukapa and Okaiawa are the semifinalists in the women’s competition.

In division 2, Bell Block, Patea, Clifton and Southern make up the top four, while the bottom four teams in division 2 are Kaponga, Toko, Okaiawa and Tukapa will play off for the division 3 title.

The premier men’s points table after the final round is; Old Boys 41, Stratford-Eltham 39, Tukapa 38, Coastal 37, Clifton 37, United 16, Southern 14, Inglewood 7.