Rugby: Coast rivals scrape into final

An East Coast penalty goal in injury time clinched a 21-20 victory over Horowhenua-Kapiti in the NPC third division rugby semifinal at the Levin Domain yesterday.

East Coast first five-eighths Victor Taingahue sealed Horowhenua-Kapiti's fate with the penalty from an easy angle and 20m out.

East Coast will host the final against Poverty Bay next weekend - their first third-division final appearance in what has already been their best season.

Horowhenua-Kapiti, who started the match with former All Black trialist Sam Doyle and the experienced Paul Hirini on the reserves' bench, could not consolidate the seven-point lead they were enjoying late in the second half.

Horowhenua-Kapiti went to the break leading 8-6 after a confident start, particularly by the forwards.

East Coast took the lead for the first time in the match 10 minutes into the second half with a try to hooker Derek Leefe, but trailed by two points with time up.

So they turned to their big pack to rumble their way up before the penalty came when Horowhenua-Kapiti pulled a maul down.

Poverty Bay had a hard-earned 14-12 victory over West Coast in Greymouth on Saturday.

The Bay's captain, Wayne Ensor, dominated the lineouts and his team also had more scrum, ruck and maul ball but the Coasters hung on bravely, and after being down 3-11 at the break, took a 12-11 lead with Michael Foster's fourth penalty after 65 minutes.

Poverty Bay first five-eighths Danny Boyle then missed an easy penalty shot from beside the posts but was gifted an even easier one soon after from which he snatched his team the win. - NZPA