Excelsior win to claim second spot, earn life in upcoming playoffs
The Citizens Shield. Photo: Rugby In North Otago
No surprises were sprung during the final round of the Citizens Shield on Saturday with the three leading teams all claiming wins.
Excelsior beat Old Boys 33-22 to ensure they finish in second place on the ladder and earn a life when the playoffs start next weekend.
However, Old Boys were the ones who started faster on Saturday.
They dominated the opening 20 minutes with consistent pressure deep in Blues territory.
Excelsior's defence hung on, but consistent penalties came to a head when Liam Direen was yellow-carded.
Old Boys made them pay as Lenny Varu scored off a well-executed driving maul.
Blues hit back with a long-range effort.
Off a scrum, No 8 Oli Knopp spied some space on the blindside and took off. He then stabbed a kick ahead and Old Boys made a meal of it before Knopp dove on it to score.
Blues had their second try immediately after.
From the restart, they spun it wide to the left and Tevita Vonotabua found space as he dashed away.
He was eventually brought down just past halfway and Blues went right.
Seeing space, Josh Phipps put in a cross kick which Knopp reeled in, and he drew in the final defender to put winger Etika Qaranivalu in the corner.
Alex Wilson kicked a penalty for Old Boys to stop the bleeding, but Blues scored just before and just after halftime to open up an 18-point lead.
Old Boys needed a spark and got it from Junior Fakatoufifita.
The barnstorming No 8 had been quiet up until this point but off a lineout he charged his way through multiple Blues defenders to score.
Varu scored his second not too long after and Old Boys were back in it.
However, when Malakai Tabiau scored for Blues, it pushed the lead a step too far and his side were able to hold on for the win.
Tabiau was outstanding for Blues at blindside flanker.
He was the busiest player on the field and was rewarded with a five-pointer.
Phipps put in another strong showing in the No 10 jersey as well.
Valley won their eighth straight game and will finish top off the table following their 34-22 win over Maheno.
The green machine were impressive in the first 40 minutes but Valley flexed their muscles in the second half to get the win.
Athletic Marist also had a big second-half effort to beat Kurow 44-21.
The Red Devils led 14-10 at halftime before Athies ran in six tries in the second 40 to run away with the win.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
5 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Excelsior win to claim second spot, earn life in upcoming playoffs
The Citizens Shield. Photo: Rugby In North Otago No surprises were sprung during the final round of the Citizens Shield on Saturday with the three leading teams all claiming wins. Excelsior beat Old Boys 33-22 to ensure they finish in second place on the ladder and earn a life when the playoffs start next weekend. However, Old Boys were the ones who started faster on Saturday. They dominated the opening 20 minutes with consistent pressure deep in Blues territory. Excelsior's defence hung on, but consistent penalties came to a head when Liam Direen was yellow-carded. Old Boys made them pay as Lenny Varu scored off a well-executed driving maul. Blues hit back with a long-range effort. Off a scrum, No 8 Oli Knopp spied some space on the blindside and took off. He then stabbed a kick ahead and Old Boys made a meal of it before Knopp dove on it to score. Blues had their second try immediately after. From the restart, they spun it wide to the left and Tevita Vonotabua found space as he dashed away. He was eventually brought down just past halfway and Blues went right. Seeing space, Josh Phipps put in a cross kick which Knopp reeled in, and he drew in the final defender to put winger Etika Qaranivalu in the corner. Alex Wilson kicked a penalty for Old Boys to stop the bleeding, but Blues scored just before and just after halftime to open up an 18-point lead. Old Boys needed a spark and got it from Junior Fakatoufifita. The barnstorming No 8 had been quiet up until this point but off a lineout he charged his way through multiple Blues defenders to score. Varu scored his second not too long after and Old Boys were back in it. However, when Malakai Tabiau scored for Blues, it pushed the lead a step too far and his side were able to hold on for the win. Tabiau was outstanding for Blues at blindside flanker. He was the busiest player on the field and was rewarded with a five-pointer. Phipps put in another strong showing in the No 10 jersey as well. Valley won their eighth straight game and will finish top off the table following their 34-22 win over Maheno. The green machine were impressive in the first 40 minutes but Valley flexed their muscles in the second half to get the win. Athletic Marist also had a big second-half effort to beat Kurow 44-21. The Red Devils led 14-10 at halftime before Athies ran in six tries in the second 40 to run away with the win.
Otago Daily Times
5 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Pair lock in playoff spots
Marist and the Eastern Northern Barbarians locked in their spots in the Galbraith Shield semifinals after winning their penultimate round-robin games on Saturday afternoon. The Barbarians beat competition leaders Pirates Old Boys 29-25 in Te Anau, while Marist had a 29-24 win on their home ground against Blues. Woodlands had already booked a home semifinal before beating Star 56-22 on Wednesday night. Woodlands had lost their previous three games but with Marty McKenzie slotting in at first five in the rare midweek game, they bounced back in style to knock the defending champions out of finals contention. Second five Fletcher Morgan scored four of Woodlands' eight tries and landed all eight conversions. Morgan has been one of the competition's best players this season. The Barbarians scored a try in the last play of the game to claim victory over POB. The Barbarians had dominated the opening 20 minutes in Te Anau and scored the first two tries. During the 10 minutes before halftime, POB front-rowers Alex Fraito and Levi Gage barged over for tries. The Barbarian forwards then scored from a lineout drive on the stroke of halftime to lead 19-12. Fraito scored again in the second half and a couple of penalty goals to Kaea Nikora had the visitors ahead 25-22 with 10 minutes to go. The Barbarians scored in the last play of the game to secure the five competition points. The Baabaas will determine whether they finish third or fourth after their 13th and last game this Saturday against Star. Marist earned a 29-24 over Blues on a heavy surface at Miller Street. Blues started the game well and led 24-12 at halftime. Halfback Connor McLeod and Stags team-mate Faletoi Peni, at second five, took the field in the second half. Marist coach Derek Manson said the two Stags had been a welcome addition in recent weeks, but the whole team were improving. "Our fullback, Aiden Harrington, was out with a broken thumb for the first half of the season but he's been very good for us in recent weeks,'' Manson said. ''Xavier Wright is going good on the blindside. He'd been coming off the bench for first half of the season but he has been nailing the starting role." Manson said the coaching team were happy with how their team ground out a victory on Saturday. "It wasn't pretty but the boys had belief and knew how to win. They (Blues) made us work hard for it." Marist No 8 Ben Fotheringham was man of the match. Marist scored five tries to three, backline players Keanu Kahukura and Riley Hika scoring two tries each in the second half. By John Langford
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Super Rugby Pacific final live updates: Crusaders and Chiefs clash for the title
Live updates of the Super Rugby Pacific final in Christchurch as the Crusaders and Chiefs battle it out for the title. Crusaders team to face the Chiefs All Black Tamaiti Williams will return to his usual role as loosehead prop after missing out on last week's semifinal because of a knee injury. They will, however, be without winger Chay Fihaki, who has been ruled out after failing a head injury assessment. Macca Springer has been named to start on the left wing, with Sevu Reece shifting to the right. With Williams' return, George Bower moves back to the bench. They're the only changes to the side that beat the Blues last week to book a place in the final. While the Crusaders are yet to lose a playoff game at home in 31 fixtures, head coach Rob Penney said the team was focused on what awaited them on Saturday night. 'History is history, it is what it is and we're not even thinking about that, we're just thinking about the contest ahead of us, which is really exciting. 'We're at home in front of our people and it's going to be such a magic occasion.' Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams 2. Codie Taylor 3. Fletcher Newell 4. Scott Barrett 5. Antonio Shalfoon 6. Ethan Blackadder 7. Tom Christie 8. Christian Lio-Willie 9. Noah Hotham 10. Rivez Reihana 11. Macca Springer 12. David Havili (c) 13. Braydon Ennor 14. Sevu Reece 15. Will Jordan. Bench: 16. George Bell 17. George Bower 18. Seb Calder 19. Jamie Hannah 20. Cullen Grace 21. Kyle Preston 22. James O'Connor 23. Dallas McLeod. Unavailable: Chay Fihaki (concussion), Taha Kemara (knee, season), Dom Gardner (foot, season), Finlay Brewis (shoulder, season). Chiefs team to face the Crusaders The Chiefs will run out with the same starting XV who beat the Brumbies last weekend, but have made two changes on the bench for the final. Aidan Ross, who will join the Queensland Reds next season, has been named as cover at loosehead prop, while Etene Nanai-Seturo joins the reserves as backline cover. 'We've built real continuity across the season and that will serve us well in Christchurch,' Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan said. 'The Crusaders have proven time and again that they know how to lift in finals footy. They're clinical, composed and proud of their home record. We're ready for a good final fight.' It's the Chiefs' third Super Rugby Pacific final in a row, and will be the last under McMillan's watch as he departs to join Irish club Munster. Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho 3. George Dyer 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi 5. Tupou Vaa'i 6. Samipeni Finau 7. Luke Jacobson (c) 8. Wallace Sititi 9. Cortez Ratima 10. Damian McKenzie 11. Leroy Carter 12. Quinn Tupaea 13. Daniel Rona 14. Emoni Narawa 15. Shaun Stevenson. Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister 17. Aidan Ross 18. Reuben O'Neill 19. Jimmy Tupou 20. Kaylum Boshier 21. Xavier Roe 22. Josh Jacomb 23. Etene Nanai-Seturo. Unavailable: Anton Lienert-Brown (collarbone), Simon Parker (ankle), Liam Coombes-Fabling (hamstring), Rameka Poihipi (knee, season), Malachi Wrampling (hamstring), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (shoulder), Sione Ahio (ankle).
