Club Rugby: Waitemata set up final clash with the Ponies

Auckland
Waitemata have come a long way in a short time this 2006 season. After a disastrous 2005, the West Auckland club started this year in the premier two division before earning promotion to premier one mid-season.

And now after their 12-6 win over University in yesterday's Gallaher Shield semifinal, they will be at Eden Park next Saturday playing Ponsonby in the 2006 shield final.

Waitemata have moulded together a formidable side. They deservedly won their semifinal against a University side depleted through losses to the Auckland representative squad.

Waitemata scored two tries, one converted, to two University penalties

Waitemata last won the Gallaher Shield in 2003 and must be in with a good chance against Ponsonby.

But the Ponies will go in as clear favourites having won both the 2006 premier one first and second round championships.

Yesterday they had too much for surprise semifinalist East Tamaki, winning 35-7. Ponsonby's last try saw the ball move through half-a-dozen players before the touchdown.

In contrast to Ponsonby's 35 points, all other premier one games were low scoring. Waitakere City beat Marist 11-3 in one of the two Portola Trophy semifinals for the premier one teams ranked five to eight, with the other semi going to Pakuranga, an 18-9 winner over Grammar Carlton.

Suburbs beat Te Papapa Onehunga 3-0 in the first round of the premier one, premier two promotion-relegation series. The second game between Otahuhu and Papatoetoe will be the curtain-raiser to today's Auckland-Tasman Air New Zealand Cup match at Eden Park.

North Harbour
The semifinals were dominated by the wet and windy conditions and Glenfield's resurgent pack led the way for them as they continued to upset the form book with a well-deserved 15-6 win over Marist.

The Albany club, looking for their first championship, will be disappointed with their performance at North Harbour Stadium. The Marist backline were effectively cancelled out by the horrible conditions.

Glenfield first-five Jack McPhee had a horror day with the boot and missed several shots at goal. However, he managed to land two vital kicks and scored the try that set his team on course to the final.

The Takapuna and Helensville packs also slogged it out in the other semi. On the back of a typically controlled Takapuna forward effort, first-five Jon Elrick had a strong game and landed the only points of the match. His two penalties, early in the first half, were enough to give Takapuna a 6-0 victory.

Takapuna will hope their greater experience in finals rugby will give them an advantage over Glenfield next week. They have had an edge in earlier clashes between the two clubs this year.