ANDY MACDONALD/Stuff
New Plymouth Old Boys fullback Adam Smith scores against Tukapa at Sanders Park.
COMMUNITY SPORT: Top seed New Plymouth Old Boys will host Clifton and Stratford-Eltham will meet Southern in Saturday’s semi-finals of the premier club rugby competition.
While three positions in the top four were known heading into the final round on Saturday, Clifton’s 36-14 win against Spotswood United confirmed the final place available.
It was a simple scenario for Clifton – win and they would qualify.
Clifton was bolstered by breakthrough Chiefs midfielder Daniel Rona and prop Jared Proffit. Hurricanes wing Kini Naholo featured again for his club after playing against Coastal last week. Both made an impact in the game.
READ MORE:
* Clifton a realistic chance of making premier rugby playoffs
* Four teams chase final two top four spots in Taranaki premier club rugby
* Fight for top four alive in Taranaki’s CMK premier club rugby competition
But the team suffered a blow before the game with the withdrawal of halfback Liam Blyde.
It was a tight opening period of the match as Spotswood United had a slight edge with a 14-12 lead midway through the first half.
But Clifton found form, helped by some excellent handling and support play.
Naholo scored down his wing after they made the most of a Spotswood United error from a restart.
Clifton led 24-14 at the break and scored immediately after half-time.
Rona then dotted down under the posts from a set-play off the back of a scrum five meters from the line.
The score didn’t change for the next half an hour as Spotswood United showed good intent with ball in hand and defended well.
ANDY MACDONALD/Stuff
New Plymouth Old Boys loose forward Joel Williamson charges up the field against Tukapa at Sanders Park.
Coastal supporters would have been keeping an eye on other results after they beat Inglewood 12-7 at Rahotu.
A Clifton and Tukapa loss would have seen Coastal through.
Highlanders and Inglewood hooker Rhys Marshall played in his first club match for two years. His impact was felt early after he scored inside five minutes from a classic Inglewood driving maul.
That’s all Inglewood could muster despite a couple of late charges towards the line in the second half. Coastal’s defence was excellent throughout the game.
The home team managed to score two second half tries both from driving mauls, one to veteran Jeremy Newell, who played in his last match for the club, and Liam Hurley.
Old Boys go into next weekend’s semi-finals unbeaten after a 34-12 win against cross-town rivals Tukapa at Sanders Park.
The result was a reversal of the last match played at the ground between the two teams, where Tukapa beat Old Boys in last year’s semi-final. This year though, it’s hard to remember semi-finals that didn’t feature Tukapa in the premier division.
Old Boys continued the way they’ve been playing all year scoring six tries to two. Only two conversions were landed but kicker Brayton Northcott-Hill had to contend with gusty conditions.
Stratford-Eltham beat Southern 28-7 in a dead rubber in Hāwera.
The visitors got out to a 14-0 lead at the break.
Old Boys, Southern, Coastal and Stratford-Eltham make up the top four in the division one competition.
Meanwhile, Inglewood will host Tukapa and Old Boys play Stratford-Eltham in the Colts semi-finals.
Kaitake plays Kaponga and Patea host Bell Block in Division two play-offs.
– This content has been brought to you by Sport News Taranaki.
