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
15 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Old Boys stay alive, Excelsior into final
The Citizens Shield. Photo: Rugby In North Otago Never count out Old Boys. Despite being a step behind the top three teams in the competition all season, they are now just one win away from a spot in the Citizens Shield final after an impressive 36-24 win over Athletic Marist in the 3v4 quarterfinal on Saturday. The match started in an exciting back-and-forth manner as Athies opened the scoring before Old Boys ran in two of their own to go up 14-5. Athies then really kicked into gear. A line break from Osea Qamasea got them into the 22m, where they won a penalty. It was taken quickly and Posiano Kamoto crashed over. Captain Savenaca Rabaka crossed for a a try minutes later to put them in front. Blake James added a penalty to extend the lead to six. However, momentum swung back in Old Boys' favour as halfback Tini Feke completed a first-half hat-trick. His third try just before halftime coupled with Alex Wilson's tough conversion had Old Boys leading by one at the break. The second half was an old-fashioned arm wrestle with neither side being able to break through the other's defence. Wilson kicked three penalties for Old Boys and Qamasea kicked one for Athies to make it a seven-point game with only a few minutes to play. Off an Athies 22m dropout, Old Boys No 8 Junior Fakatoufifita ran through a wide open gap before he was brought down inside the 22m. Old Boys quickly recycled the ball and spun it wide to winger Hopoate Finau, who stepped inside one defender and burst through another to score and seal the win. It was a massive defensive effort from Old Boys to keep a dangerous Athies side try-less in the second half. Their entire forward back fronted up physically and worked incredibly hard on both attack and defence. Defending champions Excelsior booked their spot in the final following their 31-15 win over Valley in the 1v2 quarterfinal. Liam Direen scored two tries for Excelsior, while Josh Phipps added 16 points. Valley front-rower Jake Greenslade scored two tries for the beaten team. It is not over for Valley, however, as they earned a life by being top qualifier and will play Old Boys on Saturday in a do-or-die clash.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Rivalry set for latest chapter
Excelsior back Matia Qiolevu. PHOTO: ODT FILES And so they meet again. Excelsior v Valley has become arguably the biggest rivalry in Citizens Shield rugby, and another chapter will play out tomorrow. The clubs meet in the 1v2 quarterfinal, with the winners progressing straight to the final and the losers getting a life. It is a repeat of both the 2023 (Valley won 26-23) and 2024 (Excelsior won 20-19) Citizens Shield finals, and the sides split their regular-season clashes this year, Blues winning 28-16 in the first round and Valley triumphing 20-13 in the second. "Last year, down to the wire in the final, and the year before, down to the wire in the final," Excelsior coach Jason Forrest said. "Even this year, we're 1-1 again, so it's back to the drawing board. "We know each other well. And we know exactly how difficult it's going to be for us to get the result we're after this weekend." Excelsior had qualified second but been a mixed bag this season, Forrest felt. "Apart from a couple of really good performances, we probably haven't played the sort of rugby we would like to be playing at times this year. "We've been inconsistent at times, but in saying that, we've got a lot of motivation to go back to back and we're staying pretty positive around where we're heading." Blues winger Seva Druma leads the competition with 11 tries, and experienced first five Josh Phipps has the most points (136). Oli Knopp — who has made the rare move from fullback to No 8 — has been a revelation in recent weeks, veteran Tom Shields has shored up the front row, and youngster Liam Direen has impressed at fullback. Forrest said he had huge respect for a Valley team buoyant after eight straight wins. Valley have their relentless veteran core of Cameron Rowland, Jake Greenslade, Jake Matthews and Matt Vocea, and have also got some oomph from visiting Japanese players Gaku Shmizu and Kippei Taninaka. "They're just a well-drilled, disciplined, well-coached side that do everything well," Forrest said. "They're hard to break down, and they play for each other, and they're fit. "You've got to be patient against them and hopefully a couple of things go your way." Athletic Marist and Old Boys clash in the sudden-death game.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Highlanders trio picked to play for Māori ABs
Three Highlanders have been named in the Māori All Blacks squad for a short international campaign. Loose forwards TK Howden (Tūhoe) and Nikora Broughton (Ngārauru, Ngāti Ruanui) and winger Jonah Lowe (Ngāti Pikiao) have all previously worn the Māori jersey. Howden and Broughton are part of a strong loose forward crew that includes Crusaders No 8 Cullen Grace, Hurricanes utility man Caleb Delany and Chiefs wrecking ball Jahrome Brown. Lowe, who can also play centre, is part of a small group officially listed as outside backs and containing Blues players Zarn Sullivan and Cole Forbes, though others like Corey Evans and Bailyn Sullivan can play further out. Rivez Reihana will be favoured to wear the No 10 jersey after guiding the Crusaders to the Super Rugby Pacific title, while solid Blues hooker Kurt Eklund is awarded the captaincy. There are 11 uncapped players in the 29-strong squad for games against the Japan XV (Tokyo, Saturday) and Scotland (Whangārei, July 5). Māori All Blacks head coach Ross Filipo said he had selected a highly experienced squad led by 32-year-old Aucklander Eklund. "This team demands a strong leader with mana, and Kurt has shown that quality and more over a long period of time, for the Māori All Blacks, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and the Blues," Filipo said. "He has a lot of experience throughout the squad and that will be a strength for what will be two tough matches." New caps range from 20-year-old Blues midfielder Xavi Taele, the youngest member of the squad, to 31-year-old Taranaki prop Jared Proffit. "It's a proud moment for all the new caps and their whānau," Filipo said. "This is a special team, and these players know they are here to are represent something bigger than themselves — their whakapapa, their language, the jersey and Aotearoa." The Māori All Blacks have assembled in Auckland and will head to Japan today. Meanwhile, Highlanders fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has flown to Cape Town to play for the Barbarians against the Springboks this weekend. Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, an outside contender for the All Blacks, will join former Highlanders flanker Shannon Frizell, Blues players Mark Tele'a and Hoskins Sotutu, former All Blacks captain Sam Cane and Irish veterans Conor Murray, Peter O'Mahony and Cian Healy, among others. It is the first time the Barbarians, coached by former Crusaders and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans and All Blacks great Sam Whitelock, have played in South Africa. "It's definitely a different challenge to that which we've faced in the past because they have toppled some top teams, so it will be an ideal test for us at the start of the season," Springboks assistant and former Highlanders coach Tony Brown said. "For us, this is like a test match, and this means we need to perform to the best of our ability, and our coaching structures have to be right, so that we can live up to the standards we would like to see from our team." Māori All Blacks The squad Props: Benet Kumeroa (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs), Jared Proffit (Taranaki/Chiefs), Pouri Rakete-Stones (Hawke's Bay/Hurricanes), Kershawl Sykes-Martin (Tasman/Crusaders), Mason Tupaea (Waikato/Blues). Hookers: Jacob Devery (Hawke's Bay/Hurricanes), Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty/Blues). Locks: Zach Gallagher (Canterbury/Hurricanes), Laghlan McWhannell (Waikato/Blues), Antonio Shalfoon (Tasman/Crusaders), Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hawke's Bay/Hurricanes). Loose forwards: Nikora Broughton (Bay of Plenty/Highlanders), Jahrome Brown (Waikato/Chiefs), Caleb Delany (Wellington/Hurricanes), Cullen Grace (Canterbury/Crusaders), TK Howden (Manawatū/Highlanders). Halfbacks: Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Auckland), Sam Nock (Northland/Blues). First fives: Rivez Reihana (Northland/Crusaders), Kaleb Trask (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs). Midfielders: Corey Evans (Northland/Blues), Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato/Hurricanes), Daniel Rona (Taranaki/Chiefs), Xavi Taele (Auckland/Blues), Gideon Wrampling (Waikato/Chiefs). Outside backs: Cole Forbes (Bay of Plenty/Blues), Jonah Lowe (Hawke's Bay/Highlanders), Zarn Sullivan (Hawke's Bay/Blues).
