Ories win Victoria Tavern Trophy on red letter finals day for Petone

A hat-trick of tries by Ayesha Leti-I'iga has given Oriental-Rongotai a 63-8 win against Old Boys University in the Victoria Tavern Trophy final.   

OBU created plenty of early opportunities, but were unable to capitalise. After absorbing early pressure and it was Ories who scored first through fullback Timena Tuma'ai.

Tuma'ai gathered a loose ball and sprinted 50 metres to the try line and two penalties to halfback Reijeli Uluinayau gave Ories a commanding 11-0 advantage.

OBU were competitive through the first half, but Ories kept piling on the pressure and scored a critical try just prior to the break. Ories No.8 Joanah Ngan-Woo powered her way across the line and Ories lead became an ominous 16-0 advantage.

OBU kicked an early penalty to make it 16-3 early in the second half, but the Ories points kept coming with openside Lilian Mapu next to score near the posts.

OBU refused to give in and responded with a great set-piece try. After some clever midfield interplay, right-wing Kendall Templeman showed her pace to score in the corner.

But just when it seemed OBU were fighting their way back into the match, Ories responded again when Leti-I'iga got the first of her three tries.

The match burst into life midway through the half, when Ories received quick turnover ball. From inside their own half, centre Fa'asua Makisi broke the line, before offloading to Leti-I'iga. Makisi then received the return pass to score under the bar.

Facing a constant barrage of attack, OBU's defence began to tire. After concerted pressure, Helena Lawrence took an inside ball to score. Shortly after, Leti-I'iga showed great pace once again to power over for her second try.

Ories capped off a great performance, when Leti-I'iga scored her hat-trick. After slicing through the defence, she stepped multiple defenders to dot down. Ories final try came when Ngan-Woo offloaded to Kauna Lopa who scored under the posts.

Scorers:

Oriental-Rongotai 63 (Ayesha Leti-I'iga 3, Timena Tuma'ai, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Fa'asua Makisi, Helena Lawrence tries, Reijeli Uluinayau 2 pens, 5 cons) Old Boys University 8 (Kendall Templeman tries; Tara Horsnell pen.) HT: 16-0

Meanwhile in other finals day results

The Club Finals Day proved a successful one for hosts Petone Rugby Club.

Petone had three teams in the minor finals and each of them delivered on their home ground.

Their premier reserves beat OBU 23-21 to win the title in a match that could have gone to overtime but for a missed conversion in the final minutes.

CAPTION: The Petone Premier Reserves celebrate their finals win over Old Boys University. 

The Petone Colts won the division one title to lift the John E Kelly Cup with a come from behind 36-29 victory, also over OBU.

CAPTION: Petone Colts celebrate winning the Division 1 title. 

And finally, the Petone’s women’s team won the Division 2 title with a 36-27 win over Paremata-Plimmerton in a match that started with a try to the visitor’s sand was not non-stop action throughout.

CAPTION: The Petone Women's team celebrate their Division 2 finals win over Paremata-Plimmerton.

In the Colts Division 2 final for the Vic Calcinai Memorial Cup the Upper Hutt Rams got home with a dramatic 16-14 win over a Kapiti side who will be rueing two late missed penalties.

CAPTION: The Upper Rams celebrate after beating Kapiti in the Colts Division 2 final.