Seven teams chase semi-finals

• Published date: 08 July 2021
• Date: 08 July 2021

With semi-final berths beckoning, only four points separate five teams who are looking to fill the final two positions behind Kaiapoi and Saracens.

Leading this group is Oxford, which came from behind to beat Ashley, and Glenmark-Cheviot, which took on leaders Kaiapoi.After five rounds, the championship table is:

Kaiapoi 24, Saracens 22, Oxford 14, Ashley 11, Hurunui 10, Glenmark-Cheviot 10, Ohoka 10, Woodend 1.

Game of two halves

Oxford and Ashley fought out the classic game of two halves.

Ashley completely dominated the first half, with Korbyn Gray landing two penalties and converting an excellent try by Louis James.

Ashley could have had a 20 point lead at half-time, but half-back Blake Walesby had a try ruled out as his foot was adjudged to be on the dead ball line before he grounded the ball.

Oxford then came to life, reducing Ashley’s lead to just six points at half-time with a try to Danny Brooker.

Prop Josh Duckworth and five-eighth Leon Hingston impressed for Ashley, especially in this first half.

The second half was a different story.

Oxford made some personnel changes, injecting the fresh legs of Jesse Bowring at centre and Logan Telfer in the forwards, with both making an immediate impact.

A Matt Roberts penalty closed the game right up, but Ashley fullback Luke Gold snared an intercept try.

From that point on it was all Oxford.

Roberts at half-back masterminded play with ruthless efficiency, putting five-eighth Gus Mowat into a gap for a the blind side try, before another bit of Brooker brilliance split the defence for a try under the posts.

A chip kick by Roberts, which regathered and drew the last line of defence before off-loading to winger, Luke Nabulagi who scored the try that not only sealed this match but also earned Oxford an invaluable bonus point.

Scoreboard: Oxford 32 (Danny Brooker 2, Gus Mowat and Luke Nabulagi tries. Matt Roberts 2 penalties, 3 conversions) beat Ashley 18 (Louis James and Luke Gold tries. Korbyn Gray 2 penalties, 1 conversion).

Hurunui falters

Hurunui had Saracens in its sights going into the final quarter, only to falter in the closing stages.With Saracens ahead 11-7 approaching half-time, fullback Harry Murray entered the line and ripped through several defenders in a brilliant forty-metre dash to score.

Ricky Allin extended Saracens’ lead to 14 points with a penalty early in the second-half, but Hurunui stormed back, with first-five Digby Heard scoring a try from 10 meters out.

Heard followed this up 10...