Linwood win ‘déjà vu’ as top six confirmed in the Bascik Transport Metro Premier

The top six in the Bascik Transport Metro Premier competition is set, following an enthralling weekend of playoff rugby.

All six games on the weekend were close encounters, with the biggest margin just nine points, achieved in High School Old Boys’ 21-12 Qualifying Final win over minor premiers University.

Alongside Marist Albion, who prevailed in the mud at Edgar MacIntosh Park 26-24 over Lincoln University, both victors are gifted a week off, awaiting the winners of this weekend’s Trophy Semi-Finals, with University of Canterbury and Lincoln University hosting Linwood and New Brighton respectively this weekend.

New Brighton reversed their round robin result in a win against Sumner, triumphing 25-21 at Rawhiti Domain to progress, while Linwood played out a repeat of last year’s Elimination Final against Shirley, once again winning by a single point in a thriller, which was decided by a Josh Jennings’ penalty in the 83rd minute to edge it 37-36.

“It was a little bit of déjà vu,” said Linwood Head Coach Sam Jack, “it’s a great rivalry (with Shirley) and anyone can win on the day in finals footy.”

“It was a pretty nailbiting sort of a game, Shirley played really, really well and they took their opportunities, being up by eight points with five minutes to play, anyone could have taken it and we were really lucky for it to be us and to move on.”

The win means Linwood travel to Ilam this weekend looking to go one better than last year, with the goal to celebrate fullback Anthony Tailua’s 100th game by moving on to the preliminary finals in 2023.

“It sets up a different type game for us than last week, they’re a young side who use a lot of width, so it’ll be a game of two different styles.”

“The Finals come with a different pressure, obviously it’s all or nothing, rather than during the round robin where you’ve got next week to work on your mistakes, so on the day, you’ve just got to get the job done.”

Elsewhere in the Plate section, Burnside and Sydenham escaped close Qualifying Finals at home, with both games following the script of the weekend with results that could have gone either way.

Burnside held on under sustained pressure from Christchurch to ensure their passage through to the Plate Semi-Finals with a 20-17 win, while Sydenham relied on a late penalty from Jack MacLeod to see off Belfast 24-23.

Burnside now travel to Burwood Park and Shirley, while Sydenham have the uneviable task of heading to Sumner’s St Leonard’s Square, with spots in the Plate Final on the line. 

The last match of the round sees Christchurch host Belfast in the 11th vs 12th Playoff, as teams begin to look to end their season on a high.