The final round game of the Jubilee Cup round for Varsity was a game of two halves.
After racing out to a lead of 24 -0 at halftime. The students thought that this would be good enough, and let FOBO socre 19 points in the second half and add only a penailty to Isaac Thompson to close out the scoring.
A thrilling 19-point, second-half fightback by the Stags was snuffed out near the end by a Varsity penalty, their only points of the second half.
Varsity led 24-0 at halftime, wind-assisted,and had so much ball should have added three more tries to take it out of the Stags' reach. They were turning over FOBO ball and Caleb Kahupukoro and Isaac Thompson were too good for the home team.
But when Thompson went off with a shoulder strain, Varsity lost the plot in the five-eighths, spilled the ball and the Stags blasted through the rush defence, everyone chasing intercepts, to post three tries themselves.
Varsity had a dominant lineout, but they fell off tackles and their scrum was under pressure. Davy Hallett, Glenn Mullany and Jason Cudby starred for the Stags.
While Bush started both halves well with early tries, Freys deserved their second win of the year, colts five-eighth Willie Luivaie scoring two tries and slotting a droppie on fulltime to keep Bush at bay.
In a close, free-flowing game, Freys kept fighting back, had the stronger scrum, lasted better fitness-wise than they had been and only conceded in the lineouts. Freys' backs were also more dangerous and went close to the bonus-point try several times.
The Wihongi brothers again had strong games as did Bush No.8 Tim Roberts. Freys got their third and winning try in the 55th minute, but Bush replied to trail only 17-15.
At Colquhoun Park:
Te Kawau 25, Kia Toa 24
In a Saturday of comebacks, the Real Blokes, in their first visit to Arena Manawatu this season, shot back from 17-3 down to record the boilover of the season.
Jubilee Cup runnersup Kias, with Kurt Baker back, must have felt, when they scored their fourth try soon after halftime to lead 24-10, that Te Kawau were toast.
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But Te Kawau, whose tackling was poor in the first half, looked a different team after halftime, led well by reps Brent Thompson and Doug Tietjens.
They hustled Kias who took things too easily, fell off tackles and had their worst game of the year. Kias couldn't get the ball back nor clear it against Te Kawau's strong scrum.
Te Kawau's forward rumbles produced two tries and four minutes from time they got their third, converted it and won the battle up front.
They bottled up Tevita Taufui at second-five. While Kias were without Scott Curry and Ma'ake Tu'ipulotu, Bryan Matenga was out for Te Kawau.
At FMG Stadium:
Te Kawau 25 (Chris Tapili, Brent Thompson, Nathan Tule, tries; Brett Hesselin 2 con, 2 pen)
Kia Toa 24 (Neitana Lobb, James Solomon, Jarreau Puohotaua, Kurt Baker, tries; Whitiaua Black 2 con)
HT 3-17.
Feilding 30, Dannevirke 24
The Yellows were looking to run away with this one after scoring five tries, but converted only one, took the foot off and Dannevirke came back with plenty of heart to give Feilding a scare. So much so, Gary Simpson potted a goal three minutes from time to stretch the margin to six.
They were glad to see the final whistle after roaring to a three-tries-to-one lead in the first half. Feilding were playing with good structure and the Crosswells were making inroads only for Dannevirke to get an intercept try near halftime.
Two more tries after halftime took Feilding to 27-10, but Dannevirke got their dander up, scored two tries in the last quarter and were back in the game.
Standouts for Dannevirke were flanker J.J. Carberry, Johnny Sweetman, Mark Walshe and Brad Truesdale, while Feilding's were fullback Chris Tunnicliffe, Aaron Smith, Simpson, Glen Hill and lock Todd Johnson.
At Dannevirke:
Feilding 30 (Chris Willoughby, Paula Maisiri, Richard Beazer, Aaron Smith, Chris Tunnicliffe, tries; Smith con; Gary Simpson dg)
Dannevirke 24 (Gareth Watts 2, David Towers, tries; Brad Watson 3 con, pen)
HT 15-7.
OBM vs Linton
Old Boys-Marist coach Brett Davis had endured enough stress to last a season after his team's cliffhanger win over Linton Army on Saturday.
In front of a tense crowd of 300 at the army camp, his team had to win to reach the top six and hope other fixtures went their way.
OB-Marist scraped past a revived Linton Army, 32-29, and the other contenders lost, but only just.
Davis had his heart in his mouth two minutes from time when Linton received a kickable penalty.
They went for the win, tapped it and were held out. Had it been a draw, Feilding Old Boys-Oroua would've gone through at OB-Marist's expense.
The Stags roared back from 24-0 down at halftime to lose 27-19 to Varsity and Dannevirke raced back from 27-10 in arrears to lose 30-2 to Feilding.
So OB-Marist made the top six, welcomed back Turbos lock Paul Rodgers on Saturday, Turbos midfielder Frankie Bryant had his first start in nine weeks and Manawatu hooker Sean O'Connor is due back next week.
It has taken some of the heat off Davis and co-coach Kane Barry. The relief was obvious when green-and-black fans raced on the field at the end to applaud their heroes.
"For me and Kane it's been a tough year," Davis said.
"There's been a lot of pressure, not directly, but you could feel the tension.
"Being in the top six will set us in good stead."
After trailing 29-27, only an OBM try four minutes from time after a Waisea Qoikata break got the win.
OBM scored six tries, to four by the soldiers, but just one was converted.
"Linton were really up for it and we couldn't have made it any more tough for ourselves," Davis said.
Linton's Jamie Makara and co shut down OBM's Manawatu midfield and kept No.8 Peniasi Tokacece in check, even if he got three tries.
It was the OBM mauling and rucking close to the line that proved decisive, hard to defend against.
Linton were missing Matty Oldridge and Paul Davis, so brought in colts coach Tim Kareko at halfback. Casey Lowe and Adaam Ross excelled for the soldiers.
At Linton Camp: OB-Marist 32 (Peniasi Tokakece 3, Waisea Qoikata, Boey Pearce, Stacey Channing, tries; Sean Brown con)
Linton Army 29 (Deejay Waiwai, Lloyd Carter, Jon Adams, Nick Wickham, tries; Adrian Curry pen, 3 con)
HT 17-10.
College Old Boys - Bye
