Strength in reserve

Te Awamutu Premier’s Josh Coffin meets some stern Marist resistance in Saturday’s semifinal. Photo: Jeremy Smith

Hopes for a Waipā derby in the Waikato Draught Breweries Shield Premiership final on Saturday were dashed by Hamilton Marist last weekend – but Te Awamutu Sports still has a final to prepare for.

Te Awamutu Sports Premier – appearing in its first home semifinal in more than 30 years last Saturday – went down 43-19 to a determined, and at times dominant, visiting side.

Marist now faces Hautapu, which accounted for Hamilton Old Boys 33-20 in its semi-final at Cambridge’s Memorial Park last weekend, in this Saturday’s final.

Hautapu midfielder Jason Thomasen, a farrier by day, is disappointed his team are not meeting Te Awamutu in the final. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Among those outside of Te Awamutu hoping for a Waipā final was Hautapu player Jason Thomasen.

The club centurion known as JT said he was disappointed the team isn’t playing Te Awamutu.

“I actually thought that with the young talent Te Awamutu has out there, that we’d see them in the final.”

In the Premier B competition semi-final last weekend, back at Albert Park, Te Awamutu Sports Premier B took the field against Hamilton Old Boys Premier B.

The home side – buoyed on by an enthusiastic crowd – romped into this weekend’s final with a dominant 46-24 display.

Te Awamutu Premier B faces Hamilton Marist Premier B in this weekend’s final.

Meanwhile, in the other derby match last weekend, the Pirongia Colts were also at Albert Park to take on the Te Awamutu Sports Colts.

It was the away side though returning home with a 10-3 win.

The Te Awamutu Sports Colts now head away this weekend to take on the Leamington Colts.

In its semi-final, Te Awamutu Sports Premier started the stronger of the two sides against Marist in front of a packed crowd.

Within a few minutes, Te Awamutu had an early chance to take the lead, before then scored first through a converted Niah Church-Jones try to go up 7-0.

Marist then levelled the scores through a penalty try, before taking the lead 14-7 midway through the first half.

Just before half time, a try to Marist tight head prop Mosese Mafi saw the visitors take a 21-7 lead into the break.

In the second half, the Marist’s side forwards set the platform for four more tries.

On the stroke of full time though, with the side’s 2023 campaign drawing to a close, Te Awamutu captain Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong scored an 80-minute try which went unconverted to see Marist log a 43-19 win.

This Saturday’s Premiership final – a home game for Hautapu – kicks off at Memorial Park at 2.45pm.

Read: Hot and Sharp

Marist had it all over Te Awamutu in the semi final.