First game up for the 30 Mens was the first and second ranked teams, Canterbury and Wellington. Continuing the theme of the day with the 1st vs. 2nd play-off games, a trip straight to the finals means everything, and both teams showed their strengths in attack and defence ensuring a see-saw battle on the field and on the score-line. Canterbury looked in the box seat leading 6-5 with a minute to go, but Wellington has other plans scoring in the corner in the dying seconds to take the game to a drop-off (the second for the morning). However, Canterbury scored first during the drop-off and took the game 7-6
In the second game of the day Bay of Plenty showed they would be tough to beat in the ensuing games, beating Kapiti-Horowhenua Blue 6-3.
That meant a play-off for the second spot in the final would be between Wellington and Bay of Plenty. With plenty to play for, this game promised plenty of drama, and that’s what was delivered. Even with a minor skirmish between the teams in the first half, and a major injury to Wellington player Ben Love during the second half (dislocated Shoulder) the game ended with the score tied at 3-all. Another drop-off ensued and with the injury to Ben Love and inspirational Captain George Albert-Jahnke carrying an injury during the tournament, the toll was too much for Wellington, Bay of Plenty scoring and booking their place in the final against Canterbury
The play-off for 5th and 6th was the only game for teams NZDF and Kapiti-Horowhenua Red. The game was a one-sided affair with the inexperienced Kapiti-Horowhenua red team unable to hold back an uncompromising NZDF team. Final score 9-1
That brought us to the Grand Final between Canterbury and Bay of Plenty.
Again, neither team was prepared to back down, and with similar styles of play from both teams a low scoring game eventuated. The powerful drives of the Canterbury team were repelled by the strong defence of Bay of Plenty, and vice versa.
Bay of Plenty lead 2-0, but with minutes to go in the first half Canterbury scored making the score 2-1at half-time score.
With the Bay of Plenty team playing their third game of the day they finally ran out of steam and Canterbury finally broke through the bay of Plenty defence twice, to take the lead 3-2. The Bay team tried desperately to score and camped down on the Canterbury goal line, but couldn’t break their defence and Canterbury held on to take the game 3-2
Last Modified on 24/02/2010 13:52