Match reports from the Grand Finals of both Fox Memorial competitions played on August 6, 2022.

Crown Lift Trucks Fox Memorial Championship

Northcote Tigers 32 – 28 Pakuranga Jaguars

Kicking off Saturday’s action at Mt Smart Stadium, the Northcote Tigers clashed with the Pakuranga Jaguars in a bid to hoist the Championship trophy. The men from the North got their game off to a good start, putting pressure on early and cracking to defence through Martin Watson to take an early lead in the first five minutes.

Pakuranga got into a rhythm, crossing for their own four pointer a few minutes later and squaring the contest back up, providing life into the contest as the sides began to battle it out. A bit of back and forth on both sides of the half-time break saw the sides squared up again at 16-all heading into the final thirty.

A offensive bombardment saw the Tigers score three straight tries, including Watson picking up a second, as Pakuranga appeared to have run out of steam. Jaguars winger Manu Tukia brought the contest back into balance, setting up Ofa Pulu to score before scoring himself to make it a one possession game with ten to go.

Northcote’s defence held strong as the clock ran down to fulltime and the Tigers had come out as winners in the cat fight. Fittingly, 2022 is the Chinese Year of the Tiger proving true in this final contest to win the Championship Final.

SAS Fox Memorial Premiership

Pt Chevalier Pirates 14 – 12 Glenora Bears

A battle of the titan’s headlined the day as the undefeated Pt Chevalier Pirates took the field facing a Glenora Bears side that hasn’t tasted defeated since the first round. Both coming out of their section on top and having no prior chance to see the two sides face in the season, this final was always going to be anyone’s game.

Both the sides are known for quick offensive starts and sturdy defences throughout the full eighty minute contests. Only one of these held true in this match up, with both teams going scoreless in a tightly contested opening twenty minutes. Ollie Tuimavave eventually cracked the line and set up Harley Maynard under the posts with a grubber in to centre field.

Not long after, captain Francis Leger gave the Pirates a double digit lead as they began to take control of the game. A Chaz Brown try and the sending off of Tevita Latu pulled the Bears back into the contest as the sides headed in for oranges with a 10-6 scoreline.

Following the break, Pt Chevalier quickly regained control through Matthew Whyte as they looked to get their perfect season back on track. A try from Fatani Paea Manukia with thirty to go made it a two point game following the conversion form Mose Esera.

The effort of both sides was on display for the final thirty, with unbreakable defences and battling bodies seen throughout the park. No further points were scored as the Pt Chevalier Pirates finished off their perfect season and continue their 30+ game win streak.

For the first time since 2019, in what has felt like three seasons in the making for the Pirates, a new winner has taken hold of the Fox Memorial Shield. Brody Tamarua was named as the MVP of the Grand Final, taking home the Doug Price Memorial Medal.

SAS Sport is the official sponsor of the SAS Fox Memorial Premiership. Visit sas.co.nz for more information on their products. 

Article added: Saturday 06 August 2022