Waikato are first-time champions of the Jock Hobbs Memorial national Under 19 tournament in Taupo.
After the disappointment of losing the 2015 Premiership final to Canterbury in a high octane affair, Waikato defeated Auckland A 25-22 to win the Graham Mourie Cup. Though Auckland A scored three tries to one, Waikato deserved the victory for a strong first spell, the platform laid by the boot of first five Matt Lansdown, who will push hard for the starting NZ Under 20 No 10 berth in 2017, and some effective forward play. The likes of hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho, lock Sam Caird, openside flanker Du Plessis Kirifi and No 8 Luke Jacobson were all prominent either in the lineout or in the collisions.
The latter, also the skipper, as he was in 2015, finished a superb early team try by Waikato, and his allround efforts over the three days of the tournament saw the New Zealand Under 20 loose forward pick up the DJ Graham award as the MVP. Unsurprisingly, all three winners since 2014 have been loose forwards.
Vice-captain Lansdown, who has already played for the senior Waikato team, was most influential in the decider, dictating play and slotting seven from eight, including six penalty goals, from the tee.
Auckland took a while to get into their work, and their first stanza ill-discipline was costly, but they scored two fine tries from lineout drives, via front-rowers Jerry Samania and Charles Napa'a. Wiseguy Faiane should have started at No 10, his second spell grubber setting up his Auckland Grammar First XV teammate Loketi Manu for Auckland's second five-pointer.