Pukekohe will face Karaka in the McNamara Cup final after both sides won through from the semi-finals on Saturday.
Pukekohe finally broke through to a decider – they had gone out in the semi-finals in each of the past four seasons – after they snatched a narrow 11-10 win over Patumahoe at Patumahoe after the 80 minutes had expired.
First-five Blair Butchart calmly slotted a penalty goal that would determine the winner of the game.
The visitors were the better side through the first half but defending champions Patumahoe dominated the second spell and looked to have the game sewn up with a couple of minutes to play as they attacked the line.
But Pukekohe got their hands on the ball and got into penalty goal range before Butchart’s heroics.
“I wasn’t watching – I was facing the tennis courts – I couldn’t watch. I heard all the cheering and turned around and started celebrating,” Porter told Counties Sports Hub.
“It has been four years that we have gone out in the semi-finals so we had plenty of motivation.
“Full credit to the lads, we were on it today.
“Physically in the first half we were pretty good. Patty are a class side and they were always going to come back in the second half, and they did.”
Top seeds Karaka controlled their semi-final against Ardmore Marist throughout and claimed a 56-24 victory.
It means Craig Hill’s side make the competition decider for the fourth time in five years.
“A physical game,” Hill said of the contest. “Really pleased with the boys’ intent.
“Our set piece did a good job, which allowed the attack to get some go-forward.”
Karaka enjoyed a successful weekend on the back a dominant season as a club. Their Bob Chandler Cup Premier 2 side fired an ominous warning to the competition as they hammered Ardmore Marist 82-5 and advance to another final.
Pukekohe had to work hard in the second semi-final as they were taken to extra time against Patumahoe at Colin Lawrie Fields. The second seeds prevailed in extra time 32-24 to set up a showdown with Karaka.
The Manurewa women were unable to knock over Marist in the semi-finals of the Coleman Shield Premier competition – going down to the Auckland outfit 31-26.
It ends the season for the local side, one game short of the final.
Pukekohe warmed up for the knockout stage of the Women’s Development competition with an 88-0 thrashing of Papakura.
Karaka collected a fourth successive Massey Cup U21 title in emphatic fashion at Navigation Homes Stadium.
They triumphed over Pukekohe 55-8.
Pukekohe claimed the U85kg final in a narrow 20-19 win over Waiuku at Navigation Homes Stadium.
The top seeds dominated the early exchanges, but Waiuku fought back to get within touching distance midway through the second half, but they couldn’t find the go-ahead score.
Waiuku warmed up for the Bright Cup U19 finals with a 19-5 win over Patumahoe on Friday night while Rua North went down to College Rifles 19-17 in a classic game of footy.
Onewhero booked a home semi-final in the Sid Marshall Shield as they beat Weymouth 18-15 at Laurie Gibbons Reserve.
Maramarua edged Drury 12-10 in the other game.
Manurewa finished the consolation bracket in style, claiming a 31-12 win at home against Puni, while Te Kohanga fought back to beat Waiuku 29-25.
