OBM won the Nash Cup in the Premier first round this season, beating Taradale 70-12 along the way, but it was the reverse when Taradale won their most recent clash 53-27 a fortnight ago.
With a crowd predominantly wearing maroon cheering them on, Taradale wingers CJ Mienie and Majella Tufuga scored unconverted tries in the first 20 minutes, putting their team up 10-0.
Tufuga went over for another converted try five minutes later, before OBM’s Zach Taulapapa scored a converted try, followed by a penalty kick, leaving the score 17-10 at halftime.
Four minutes into the second half, Tufuga had a hat-trick, but OBM charged down the conversion attempt to keep the green machine in the fight.
Two converted OBM tries followed, before the maroons kicked into gear with an almighty finish.
The maroons scored five times in the final 25 minutes as they took the trophy 54-24.
Taradale ran out comfortable winners thanks to five tries in the final 25 minutes. Photo / Emma Rodger
Taradale coach Namatahi Waa credited his forward pack for “going into a dark place and being comfortable”.
“There was a few hands on knees at the end of that game because they went into that place,” he said.
“The score doesn’t determine what the game felt like, so you know there’ll be some sore bodies tomorrow.”
Saturday was Taradale’s seventh Maddison Trophy final in a row.
They beat Hastings Rugby and Sports in the 2021 final, Napier Tech Old Boys in 2022, OBM in 2024 (when ground conditions meant it could not be played at the park), and last year Napier Pirates.
OBM player-coach Ellery Wilson said his team was in it for parts of the game, but errors let Taradale through.
“They’re pretty relentless once they get into our 22.
“A lot of their experience in Maddison finals showed today.”
The seven club finals, which included five at the park, started on Thursday.
In the first results of the long weekend, Napier Pirate won the Division 3 Big Barrel Ron Parker Memorial Trophy at McLean Park, beating Tamatea 36-0.
Taradale edged OBM 30-28 to win the Colts Pat Ryan Memorial Trophy.
On Friday afternoon, there was a Taradale loss as Onga-Tika secured the Division 2A Neil Thimbleby Memorial Trophy with a 32-22 win at Tareha Recreation Reserve.
OBM beat Takapau 27-8 at Tremain Field to win the Division 3A Big Barrel AJ Gardiner Trophy.
On Saturday at McLean Park, Maraenui beat Hastings Rugby and Sports 24-12 to win the Division 2 Tom Mulligan Cup.
Otane came back from two tries down at halftime to win the Division 1 Hepa Paewai Memorial Trophy over Aotea 20-17.
Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand.