Premiership finalists decided

Premiership finalists decided

Saturday, October 10, 2015

STINGRAYS, BULLS BOOK FINAL SHOWDOWN

Counties Manukau and Canterbury will meet in next week’s 2015 NZRL National Premiership final, after cruising to easy wins in the final round of the regular season.

The South Aucklanders finished on top of the competition ladder, with a comfortable points-differential advantage over the South Islanders, overrunning Wellington Orcas 69-8 in Porirua.

The Stingrays never trailed and accelerated quickly away from their rivals, opening a 34-4 margin by half-time and running in 12 tries. Five-eighth Mikaere Beattie converted 10 of them, with Saipani Aiolupo, Uila Aiolupo and Simione Ma’amaloa scoring two tries each.

The Rockcote Canterbury Bulls met some determination from their Northern Swords hosts in Whangarei, conceding the opening try and then another three in the second half.

But the defending champions dominated in between, eventually running away 56-20, with hooker Jordan Kane achieving a try double. For the Swords, half Kyle Hool and winger Israel Tahere also had two apiece.

The result means the Stingrays, Bulls and Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions all finish the season with 5-1 records, but the Stallions miss out on the post-season on a countback.

Meanwhile, Akarana notched up their second win of the season, but didn’t have it all their way against Central Vipers at Waitara.

Leading only 18-14 at the break, the Falcons managed to stretch their advantage to 44-26 by the end of 80 minutes, with prop Trent Schaumkel grabbing a hat-trick of tries.

The victory was enough for the four-time champions to secure a mid-table position, edging the Ocras on countback for fourth.

NZRL NATIONAL PREMIERSHIP
Saturday, October 10

Clifton Park, Waitara
Akarana Falcons 44 (Trent Schaumkel 3, Paul Tapaevalu 2, Morgan Timoti-Cook, Faleapa Rome & Kaleni Fraser tries; Eko Malu 6 goals) Central Vipers 26 (Aaron Whitikea 2, Manaia Osborne 2, Josh Kerr & Jordan Kerr tries; Parekaia Tapiata goal); HT: 18-14

Toll Stadium, Whangarei
Rockcote Canterbury Bulls 56 (Jordan Kane 2, Danny Latu, Matt Sauni, Penitito Ilalio, Jack Mundy, Izic Placid, Paradise Mann, Paul Sauni, Phil Nati & Jiordan Fidow-Kele tries; James Baxendale 5 & Placid goals) Northern Swords 20 (Israel Tahere 2 & Kyle Hool 2 tries; Anaru Thompson 2 goals); HT: 32-6

Porirua Park, Wellington
Counties Manukau Stingrays 69 (Saipani Aiolupo 2, Uila Aiolupo 2, Simione Ma’amaloa 2, Johnny Henry, Reece Charlie, Andrew Tusiane, Mikaere Beattie, Kruz Tupou & Sione Feao tries; Beattie 10 goals & dropped goal) Wellington Orcas 8 (Axton Daniels & David Saumolia tries); HT: 34-4

ends

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