Upset result robs SMOG 2 of league spot

BY PENNY MILES

SMOG 2 are bemused at failing to qualify for the new Regional Super League due to an all-PIC upset at Hataitai on Saturday.

SMOG 2 coach Lena Meinders felt her side was on track for the last qualifying spot until PIC 2 beat their club's top side in the last round. PIC 2 finished two points ahead of SMOG 2.

"You would expect that a first team would beat a second team," Meinders said.

"They've got the points and we haven't, but we had already beaten PIC 2."

PIC 1 manager Margaret Perry said they had to call in cover from PIC's third team because two Samoan internationals including Gene Solia, and the Pulse's Te Amo Amaru- Tibble and Neesha Wieser were missing for PIC 1.

"PIC 2 played really well and kept fighting right until the end," Perry said.

Both PIC teams, SMOG 1, Wellington Girls' College and Wellington East 1, are the five Wellington teams to qualify for the three-month competition which begins this weekend.

Wellington East 2 and a disappointed SMOG 2 will will now focus on a nine-week competition against six premier two teams, and a further two teams from premier three.

Hutt Valley champions Naenae Collegians United White will be joined by their sister team Naenae Blue in division 1 of the Regional Super League after the Blues beat Rimutaka Rugby by two goals at Walter Nash Stadium on Friday.

Rimutaka led 16-13 at the end of the first quarter, but the Blues clawed back with a 12-10 second quarter to trail by just a goal (26-25) at halftime. Naenae went on to take the third 14-9 to make it 39-35 at the break.

Rimutaka rallied in the fourth but Naenae Blue went on to win 48-46 with a top shooting effort from young Kim Will making the difference.

Rimutaka will now play in RSL division 2 with third-placed Taita, who had little trouble beating Manaroa 61-35 (34-17 at halftime).

Spearheaded by the shooting combination of Alicia Colledge and Ava Filipo, together with some outstanding turnover ball from Stephanie Simmons and a strong mid-court performance from Lisa Basford at centre, Naenae White had an easy 74-32 victory over a Maoribank team that seems to have lost its pizazz this season.

Naenae led 41-14 at halftime.

Maidstone United battled it out with an improving Convent for a 47-40 win that was a battle to the last quarter.

Meanwhile, the Wellington under- 21 team had three wins and two losses at the national championships warmup tournament in Auckland at the weekend.

Wellington came from behind to beat Waikato 30-29 yesterday.

Earlier they had beaten North Harbour 33-24 and Counties 50-30 but lost to Canterbury 34-32 and to Auckland 42-38.

- © Fairfax NZ News