Fraser-Tech upset Hamilton Old Boys in premier final
8th August 2011 10:58AM
Fraser-Tech 17 - Hamilton Old Boys 14
By Hamish Forsman
A try right on full time secured Fraser-Tech the Waikato Breweries Shield in a dramatic finish to the Waikato premier division club rugby final at Fred Jones Park.
With time expired and down by four points, Tech pressured the Old Boys goal line for several minutes before replacement hooker Johnny Mason barged his way over for the match winning try.
The match was a true final with drama from start to finish as top-seeded Old Boys lost their first match since round one back in March to extend their title drought to six years. While third-seeded Tech claimed Waikato club rugby supremacy for the second year in a row.
Both teams started the match tentatively, keeping the ball in tight and using tactical kicking to work field position, and it took until midway through the first half for the first scoring play of the final.
An intercept near halfway from Old Boys centre Hayden Wolfsbauer sent his side deep into Tech territory, and after stringing several phases together near the goal line the ball was spun wide to fullback Kane Adams who crossed over in the corner.
Tech responded shortly after when a good period on attack inside Old Boys territory was rewarded with a try to lock Adrian Hall, converted by fullback Nathan Lamb from the sideline to give Tech a 7-5 lead at the break.
Early in the second spell Tech extended their lead with another penalty kick from Lamb, and the visitors looked to have all the momentum.
However three Old Boys penalty kicks in 15 minutes soon changed that as the red and blacks finally got hold of more of the ball and Tech began to lose their discipline.
Adams kicked the first from right in front and then first five Thomas Bird, who kicked intelligently all day, struck two huge penalties from the halfway mark to give the hosts a four point buffer with just five minutes remaining.
Tech then launched one last attack, working their way down the field on the back of a couple of penalties. After more than 10 phases of pressure hard on the Old Boys goal line, several minutes into stoppage time, the defence was finally cracked and Mason squeezed over the line right in front of the Tech fans and the celebrations began.
Fraser-Tech 17 (Adrian Hall, Johnny Mason tries; Nathan Lamb 2 cons, pen) Hamilton Old Boys 14 (Kane Adams try; Thomas Bird 2, Adams pens). HT: 7-5.
