3rd Division Rugby Nail Biting Final
The Division 3 Rugby Final Marty Holah Cup was won by HBHS 4th XV vs Melville High School 1st XV, in a drama-filled game, with a fairy tale finish.
Hamilton BHS won 24-23, 14-10 to HBHS at halftime. Melville High School have been undefeated all season going into the final. HBHS 4th XV lost one game to Melville in the round robin, 24-17. Both teams won their semi-finals last weekend. The game was played at Melville High School, as Melville were the top qualifiers.
Game progress: Melville scored first with a short-side run away try from the halfway down the touchline. This remained unconverted. The score was 5-0 Melville. HBHS scored a try by Jaden Wallace (hooker), charging over from a ruck 5m out from the line, which was converted by 1st 5 Daley Rata-Makene, making the score 7-5 to HBHS.
Melville scored another unconverted try to take a 10-7 lead mid-way through the first half. At this point, Rome Nonoa (wing) scores in the corner, following a backline movement, converted by Daley Rata-Makene, to take a 14-10 lead into halftime. Melville scored a converted try by their prop to take a 17-14 lead. This was followed soon after by a drop goal by the Melville 1st 5, to take Melville out to a 20-14 lead.
Melville then kicked a penalty out in front to take a commanding 23-14 lead with six minutes left on the clock. Tom Kirkbride (wing) picked up a ball close to the ruck and ran 10m to score a try 15m in from the posts, which was converted by Daley Rata-Makene to give Melville a slim 23 – 21 lead with two minutes to go. With time up on the clock, a penalty was awarded to HBHS 40m from the posts and 10m in from the sideline. The referee informed the players that this would be the final play of the game.
After a lengthy discussion amongst HBHS players, 1st 5 Daley Rata-Makene stepped up to attempt the long range kick to win the game; a kick that was at the absolute limit of his range, on a sodden ground. The Melville supporters totalling close to 400, and were gracious as Daley walked back in his approach to take the kick, so close to the crowd on the sideline. A hush took over the ground, unheard of in the majority of NZ grounds today as he moved in.
The kick went over, and the HBHS players and supporters broke into rapturous displays of joy, leaping over each other, smothering Daley and lifting him high on their shoulders. HBHS won the final 24-23. Alf Daniels presented the Marty Holah Cup to the Captain, fullback, William Devenish on the field. A team photo was taken with the Marty Holah Cup and the Super 15 trophy, which was brought to the ground on display. This was a great final between two even teams. Superior fitness was the only difference in the end, with HBHS coming back from 9 points down to dominate the final six minutes to take the win.
Head Coach, HBHS 4th XV: Jeremy Quigley, Assistant Coach: Murray McKenzie
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