Old Boys do Hora Hora favour with upset triumph

Hora Hora are the surprise package of next weekend's playoffs, after sneaking in on the back of a 85-17 mauling of Marist, while Old Boys provided the upset of the round to defeat the other contenders Mid Western 19-17.
Mid Western were in the box seat in the match until fullback Harry Darkins regathered his chip over the defence in the dying moments of the game to run 20m and score in the corner to level the scores.
He then converted his try from the sideline to sink any hopes 2009 beaten finalist Mid Western had of going one better this season.
It was a brave performance by Old Boys, who went into the match with instructions to enjoy themselves, and managed to overturn a 17-5 deficit at halftime.
Old Boys coach Pat Stevens said the side went into the match without some of their key players and then lost captain Matt Harrison with a knee injury in the first spell.
"The boys stood up and proved they could do it without their superstars in the squad. They got a bit of belief in themselves and got stuck in and did it ... finally," he said.
There was a big crowd at their Okara Park base, drawn to the game to watch what may be the last home match at the ground with the park sold by the council for development, and they played a big part in encouraging the young side.
"You would have thought our boys had won the championship by the way they celebrated afterwards," Stevens said.
Hora Hora coach Mark Seymour said Marist seemed to be struggling for numbers and his side had already sewn up their four-try bonus point within 12 minutes of the match kicking off.
"It wasn't really playoff type football, but Old Boys have done us a favour and we have to make the most of that opportunity now," he said.
Seymour said the team had  focused on controlling their own destiny in the competition but losing to Mid Northern two weeks ago had meant they needed a little luck to make the playoffs. "Instead of planning our post-season we've now got another week of training ahead of us and a chance to make the final," he said.
Mid Northern finished second  with a comprehensive 41-15 win over Kamo . But the team needed a rev-up at halftime by their coaching staff after the scores were locked at 10-all at the break.
No8 Andrew Ritchie was the hero of the day for the visitors with a hat-trick of tries, with Brad Miller - again filling in for David Holwell at first five-eighth eighth - another of Mid Northern's  performers.