Rugby: Finalists found in premier rugby

Photo by Shelley Tate

Clifton and Coastal have lined up a mouthwatering final to compete for the Taranaki premier club rugby title at Stadium Taranaki on Saturday after winning their respective semifinals.

Clifton edged defending champions Stratford-Eltham 20-19 in an intense encounter at Tikorangi, while Coastal beat New Plymouth Old Boys 17-7 at Rahotu.

The two teams had been the form sides throughout the competition, with Clifton extending an unbeaten record to 15 matches, while Coastal had remained in the top three for most of the season.

Saturday's decider will be the first time Clifton and Coastal have met in a premier final since the current format was introduced, despite combining for 17 previous grand final appearances.

Clifton had won three of their six previous finals, most recently in 1999, while Coastal have claimed two titles from 11 appearances, with their last championship coming in 2012 despite reaching a further six finals since.

A penalty from Clifton's Juan Tantrum with 10 minutes remaining proved the difference between the two sides at Tikorangi.

Played in front of a large crowd, the semifinal was a high-quality, physical contest.

Both teams had the ability to break out of their own half

Both teams scored twice in the first half, including a double to Stratford-Eltham loose forward Scott Jury, while Rocky Olsen's two conversions helped the defending champions take a 14-12 lead into halftime.

Stratford-Eltham led for much of the second half and added another try through Taranaki wing Vereniki Tikoisolomone.

Clifton responded through Liam Chapman's second try before earning a late penalty inside Stratford-Eltham's 22, with Tantrum calmly slotting what proved to be the match-winning kick.

The visitors launched one final attack in the closing stages, but Clifton's defence held firm to secure their place in the final.

At Rahotu, strong winds prevented a free-flowing contest, but Coastal used the conditions to their advantage.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Coastal built a 12-7 halftime lead by pinning Old Boys deep inside their own territory.

Sustained pressure resulted in first-half tries to brothers Jerram and Jackson Sinclair. Jackson added a superb conversion from the sideline in difficult conditions.

Old Boys stayed in touch with a pushover try late in the first half, with Jacob Hawkins converting.

Trailing by five at the break, Old Boys were unable to make the most of the wind in the second spell and conceded a crucial try to Ben Dufficy 10 minutes after halftime.

Coastal's defence then proved the difference in the final quarter, repeatedly denying Old Boys despite wave after wave of attack with the wind at their backs.

With Old Boys depleted up front, scrums, which the visitors dominated in the first half, went to uncontested with 10 minutes to play.

In the other finals, Old Boys and United will contest the Division 1 title, Old Boys will face Tukapa in the Colts final, Pātea will take on Toko in Division 2, top seeds Kaponga will meet Tukapa in the Division 3 decider and Southern will play Stratford-Eltham for the women's title.

All finals will be played at Stadium Taranaki on Saturday.