Wellsford burst into semis

Symon Atkins was the game-breaker as Wellsford beat Hikurangi - their rivals for the final Southern Districts Premier semifinal spot - 24-13.
With Saturday's game hanging in the balance early in the second spell, the blindside flanker sped through a gap in the Hikurangi midfield defence and ran the best part of 40m before the cover finally caught him, but not before he had passed to the ever-present John Cocker to score.
It was a defining moment in a competitive and highly entertaining match.
The try proved to be a morale-crushing moment for Hikurangi, who had led 8-5 at the break and two minutes later Matt Wright cruised over for Wellsford's third try, after the visitors had made the mistake of giving Rene Ranger too much space down their right-hand touchline.
Ranger brushed off an attempted tackle before drawing fullback Mark Southee to deliver a perfect pass to Wright to open up a 17-8 lead that became 19-8 after the fullback converted his own try.
Atkins then delivered the knockout punch in the 65th minute of the game. Wellsford had been under the kosh, with Hikurangi launching several attacks on their line trying to get back in the game, when an attempted clearance from Johnny Moimoi saw the ball bounce favourably and back into his arms.
Several passes later, the ball once again reached the blindside flanker, who made no mistake to score the bonus-point try.
The 21-year-old, who's work has kept him out of the team for the majority of the season, has been in sparkling form since his return four weeks ago.
"His hands have let him down in the past, but that wasn't the case today and he had a great game," captain and  No8 Stu Oldfield said. He also praised Cocker, in great form this season, but surprisingly not wanted by Northland.
"There are 14 of us who think it's a bonus that he wasn't selected, but it was unlucky for him," he added.
Cocker has secured a contract in England, but has made himself available for Northland B for the NPC season and could be an option for the senior squad if there are further injuries among the loose forwards.
Oldfield said the win meant they were still alive in the competition and if they can beat cellar-dwellers Waipu next week, then they would be aiming at causing an upset in the semifinals.
"We had to be hungrier than they were today and we were in the end. It's  a matter of momentum, we got this one under our belt so we've got a chance at Hora Hora or Mid Northern," he said.
The visitors were beaten but they earned respect from the Wellsford crowd for the way they finished the game.
They refused to give up and it was another questionable Northland discard - No.8 Brad Christensen - who finished off the scoring after Cass Walding had wrong-footed the defence.
Christensen had a good game, setting up the first try for Eric Abraham in the opening spell after Wellsford started the game off with a bang with lock Des Tepa scoring a try in the corner in the opening moments of the game.
Christensen said it was a disappointing end to the season for his side, who had started the game well enough.
"We sort of let it slip and fell asleep a little bit, and let them back creep into it, then they brought on a few key players and ran away with it," he said.
Wellsford waited until the second half to introduce Ranger and Moimoi, who is back after an injury layoff, and that gave them some momentum, but it was their depth that won them the game, with young and emerging players like Atkins, Tepa and promising second-five eighth Sonny Hohipa leading the way.