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He said he hoped for third time lucky in this year’s final. Lock Micaiah Torrance-Read, who missed the semifinal with an Achilles problem, could be back for the final. COB coach Bryan Matenga said it was disappointing to miss out, but Varsity were clinical. He said they didn’t execute their game plan in a poor first half, but he was proud of his side falling just short. Varsity were slow to start and after conceding two early tries, one a 50-metre intercept by COB flanker Elyjah Crosswell, looked off the pace. But Varsity wing TamaToa Ropati scored an intercept try of his own before ...

Feilding will be missing Maraku, as well as loosie TK Howden who is with the New Zealand under-20s, and prop Tietie Tuimauga, who is in the Samoa team to play the Māori All Blacks. Dangerous fullback Drew Wild is back in the side though and even with the three key losses, coach Nathan Williams was confident he had enough depth in the rest of the team. He said it had taken them years to build the experienced core of players who had helped them win the last two championships. “We’re experienced in one-off games and knockout games. We’ve got clarity around our game plan and how we wan...

Te Kawau appear to have a Hankins Shield semifinal in their gunsights after comfortably beating Kia Toa.

COB may be starting to find some form, but coach Bryan Matenga is wary of other sides doing the same.

Johnny Galloway passes from the scrum. He had a strong game on his return from injury. They foraged voraciously at breakdowns in the second half even when Varsity commanded most of the ball and ground away with their hefty scrum. Varsity's backline had only wing Korie Winters lively on attack and their defence, badly missing injured midfielder Hamish Northcott, was breached too easily by Turbos Stewart Cruden, James Tofa and Andre Taylor to set up two early tries. COB's only failing was average line kicking. COB coach Bryan Matenga said when he heard there had been a falling out at Feildi...