The precious seven-pointer was something tangible for Manukau to take from a match they were behind in almost from the kick-off.
It was a rare offensive opportunity for Manukau; their previous best chance had been when Pulu picked up a loose ball from 30m out, went close to the University try-line and flicked an audacious offload to second-five Samuela Ofanoa, after which the move died. They had virtually zero such chances after the break.
They had the misfortune to be playing a University team under pressure to score as many points as they could in order to maintain their push for a playoff spot. As it happened, despite the scoreline and the fact that University lost only three matches all season, the students just failed in their quest.
They deserved to be in the mix because they played this season with skill and ambition, helped by a mobile forward pack - Church was a standout, but nearly as impressive were locks Jonathan Neary and Richmond Patea Seve, fellow loosies Nathan Harris and Uini Fetalaiga - and a backline containing the speed of Maile Koloto, Nick Lake and Sage Shaw-Tait.
Ponsonby were the top finishers after putting Ōtāhuhu to the sword at Sturges Park by the same scoreline – 99-7 – and will play their semifinal against Eden.
College Rifles will host Grammar Tec in the other and this will perhaps be the most anticipated match of next weekend due to the manner of Grammar Tec's victory over the Rifles at Ōrākei Domain on Saturday.
In a result few would have seen coming, Grammar Tec beat Rifles 42-10, a comprehensive defeat for a high-flying team who previously had lost only one match all season (28-20 to fellow front-runners Ponsonby). The halftime score was 24-3.
Grammar Tec's victory was built on an excellent start and a forward dominance which continued deep into the match. It also sets up a mouth-watering sudden-death rematch at College Rifles.
"We were 21 points up after 18 minutes," Grammar Tec coach Nooroa Tokahere said. "We had to come out firing and get the forwards into the game. We played Papataoetoe last week and they nearly got us. We knew we had to get jerseys 1 to 8 involved early.
"Young Jock McKenzie and Thomas Strachan were very good directing the team and our No6 Nela Matakaiongo, who was on a blazer game, and No8 Zacharius Patai were outstanding with ball in hand.
"The challenge is how do we back it up," Tokahere added. "We knew we were in the semifinal after our fourth try and knew we had to make some statements in the back end of the match. It was a big one for us."
University 99 (Cameron Church 4, Maile Koloto 2, Isileli Aholelei 2, Sage Shaw-Tait 2, Nick Lake, Uini Fetalaiga, Richmond Patea Seve, Jonathan Neary, Junior Passi tries; Brenton Helleur 10, Henry Saker 2 cons)
Manukau Rovers 7 (John Pelesasa try; Mordecai Pulu con)
HT: 52-7
Auckland men's premier semifinals:
Ponsonby (1) v Eden (4)
College Rifles (2) v Grammar Tec (3)
The final will be held at Eden Park on Saturday, July 17
