Waimea Old Boys is hoping to go two better in this season’s Tasman Trophy finals after qualifying top in round robin.
Last year the side went down to Kahurangi in the semi-finals, this time they host the defending champions at home on Saturday after sweeping aside Stoke 52-19.
Co-captain and halfback Codey Grimes scored back to back tries, either side of half-time, with his second clinching the four try bonus point.
After that the home side pulled away and added three more, all of them converted by co-captain Campbell Parata.
Good going on a muddy Jubilee Park.
“Actually the conditions weren’t too bad despite the heavy rain earlier in the day. The boys had a job to do and they got it done,” says Codey.
One of the “old boys”, James Lash, showed plenty of dash after an interception inside his own half.
“It felt like had 3k’s to run and I thought geez, I am not going to get there,” reveals the 35-year-old fullback.
He made it and pulled off several other big runs on the night, but probably got his biggest cheer for a key defensive turnover as Stoke looked threatening.
“That’s not my forte but Sam Briggs wasn’t there to do it,” declares James, who’s been playing for Waimea since 2015.
“I coached about half a dozen of the boys out there tonight. They are a good bunch so it was great to be out there with them. I wasn’t supposed to be playing this season.”
Instead, the 2014 Heartland Player of the Year is eyeing another honour – the Tasman Trophy.
It won’t be easy though as Kahurangi pushed Waimea close 22-19, three tries each, in their previous clash at Jubilee Park last month.
Kahurangi blew a 21-5 lead to lose 29-24 to Marist last Friday, but still finished fourth ahead of Central.
Marist and Nelson will meet in the other semi.
Marist just missed the top four last year while Nelson’s revival, under new coach Tom Marshall, has been one of the features of the season.
Nelson came from 22-0 down against Central to win 24-22 and clinch third spot and a chance to beat Marist for a third time this season.
Waimea will probably be hoping for that as its only two losses this season came against Marist.
