Bartercard Jubilee Cup Final Preview
Motivation won’t be difficult to find for Old Boys University or Hutt Old Boys Marist when the clubs clash in Saturday’s Bartercard Jubilee Cup final at the Petone Recreation Ground.
The Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles will draw one more time upon their determination to erase a difficult 2016 season in the Hardham Cup from their collective memories by claiming the club’s Wellington premier club title.
For Old Boys University there is an unspoken point to prove after two weeks of passionate debate about the merits of their top players after none were selected in a Wellington Lions wider training squad.
Results this season suggest the 2017 final will be decided by the smallest of margins and though it’s a cliché it may simply be a matter of who wants it most.
“It’s huge for our club especially after the downs of last year being in the Hardham Cup,” HOBM co-captain and halfback Sheridan Rangihuna said this week. “We’ve built a good culture this year and everyone’s bought into it. That’s a big part of why we are here this weekend.
“In January we talked about [putting 2016 behind us]. Last year was character building for some of us. Hardham Cup makes you question if you really want to play the game, but that’s a big reason why we are here in the final.”
Last season’s campaign proved an exercise in frustration for a HOBM team that looked good on paper, but never got going as they finished with just four wins from 13 games in the Swindale Shield.
They took out their frustration on their opponents to sweep through the second tier Hardham Cup undefeated, then carried the knowledge that they had not fulfilled their potential into summer.
This season the Eagles have soared. They were third in the Swindale Shield, then third again in the second round before tipping out Marist St Pats 19-14 in their semifinal.
“We have good mix of experienced and young players. Buying into our culture and that belief is what’s has made this happen,” Rangihuna said. “We’re excited. It’s been a lot of hard work put in from everyone, the management, the coaching staff and the players to get here. We know OB are the form team through the year, but we are confident in our skills and what we bring to the table and hopefully we can show that in the final.”
Rangihuna could have also mentioned his team’s vast experience. Several of the squad have played 100 or more premier matches including reserve halfback Nick Risdon, who orchestrated the club’s title in 2007.
He could have referenced a front row of Joe Apikotoa, James O’Reilly and Simon Malaeulu which is the envy of most clubs, or the steady hands and boots of the 10-12 combination of Brandyn Laursen and Glen Walters.
But Rangihuna knows not to get carried away because his side are up against Wellington club rugby’s form horse in OBU.
The ‘students’ as many people refer to them, have beaten HOBM twice already this season, 38-36 in the Swindale Shield, then 19-17 on a wet Nairnville Park in the second round.
OBU co-captain Tomasi Palu chose his words carefully in the build up to the match. Social media has been abuzz about the perceived injustice of OBU’s lack of recognition at higher levels, but the OBU premier players have kept their powder dry.
OBU’s results this season speak for themselves. They were Swindale Shield champions losing just twice during the first round, then topped the Jubilee Cup round robin in similarly convincing style before thrashing defending Jubilee Cup champions Tawa 50-22 in the semifinal.
“We’ve worked hard for the last six months and everyone’s excited,” Palu said. “Usually for finals it’s a bit different, but for us it hasn’t been. We’ve tried to keep it the same, but obviously still knowing it’s the last week of the season.
“We have a good mix. There are a majority who are very experience especially at club level. We have three or four centurions, but also some young backs so there is a mix and the young guys are pretty grounded.”
OBU’s formula is no secret. They have a big front row with Jonathan Fuimaono and Finbarr Kerr-Newell a destructive duo at set piece, and a first five who can kick teams into submission in South African Dale Sabbagh.
Throw in No.8 Ben Teariki-Nicholas’ ball playing ability off the back of that scrum and the x-factor of Hurricane Wes Goosen at centre and fullback Jono Ihaka and OBU deserve their favouritism to add the title to the one a similar side won in 2015.
The stage is set for a cracking 2017 final and on Saturday the Wellington rugby community will find out which club wants it more.
12pm Petone #4 Petone v Paremata-Plimmerton (Womens Div Two)
12:05pm Petone #3 Petone v Old Boys University (John E Kelly Colts Div 1)
12:10pm Petone #2 Old Boys Univeristy v Petone (Ed Chaney Cup Premier Reserve)
12:15pm Petone #1 Oriental-Rongotai v Old Boys University (Victoria Tavern Womens Div 1)
2:20pm Petone #4 Upper Hutt Rams v Kapiti (Vic Calcinai Colts Div 2)
2:30pm Petone #1 Old Boys University v Hutt Old Boys Marist (Bartercard Jubilee Cup)