Marist & Massey into Championship Semi-Finals

13 July 2009

Marist and Massey won close semi-final fixtures on Saturday 11 July in very wet conditions to take on Northcote and Takapuna fresh from the bye, respectively in the 18 July Championship semi-finals. Marist beat East Coast Bays 14-3 and Massey defeated North Shore in an even closer encounter 17-13. North Shore was in front at half-time at Moire Park with Ben Botica’s boot dictating play but as they went to uncontested scrums Shore lost the advantage and Massey took the win.  The weather stymied Massey’s potent backline including Junior AB’s Chris Smylie and Anthony Tuitavake - Massey scored only two tries but it was sufficient to carry the day. Marist played to the conditions, kept it tight with the Saints pack going well effectively shutting Bays out of the game –and, big Ben Afeaki is back for the Semi’s next week. 

Silverdale comfortably beat Helensville 26-3 for the third time this season to hold the Country Cup for the summer with 12 successful defences and make the Plate semi’s. Glenfield beat Mahurangi equally well 22-5 for a place in the Plate semi’s. The results of the qualifying round did not change the pecking order from the end of second round.  All the Semi-finals will be great encounters to decide the finalists –  if the weather is kind Massey will be taking Takapuna to the wire with the Westies back division at full strength but they haven’t achieved a win against the Blue and Golds’ this season, yet.  Northcote should have the fire-power to edge Marist and will want to repeat the close win over Marist in the first round, but the Saints will be keen to clean up at Harvey Wright park with their strong pack.  North Shore will not want the young Silverdale side leaving Vauxhall Reserve with their scalp in the Plate Semi’s having beaten them twice in ’09 and Bays will want to top off a great come-back season to date by defeating the feisty Glenfield boys for the third time but it could be the Rust’s day next Saturday. Helensville host Mahurangi in the Bowl final at the ‘Ville and improving Mahu will be hunting for their first win of the season, but a loss will not be in the ‘Villes game-plan.

The fixtures for Saturday 18 July are:

All games are at 2.45pm.
Championship Semi-Finals
Takapuna vs Massey at Onewa 1
Northcote vs Marist at Harvey Wright 1

Plate Semi-Finals
North Shore vs Silverdale at Vauxhall 1
East Coast Bays vs Glenfield at Windsor 1

Bowl Final
Helensville vs Mahurangi at Helensville 1