NJC Finals Time

Ericcson Stadium, April 17, sees the finals of the Foundation Cup and the Kiwi Cup in the Lion Foundation National Junior Competition.

The U16's Foundation Cup will be fought out between the Auckland Sea Lions and First National Northland. It must considered something of an "upset" final, given the fact that these two teams were lying third and fourth respectively on the table at the end of the round robin.

The Sea Lions travelled to Wellington and beat them in the knock-out semi and the Northland side came to the smoke and rolled the red hot favourites, Auckland Crowns.

Difficult to pick a winner in this one, but if First National Northland play with the tenacity and the hunger they played with last week, they may well head back up North with the Foundation Cup containing another Auckland scalp.

The U18's Kiwi Cup matches up the unbeaten Auckland Crowns and Canterbury. The Crowns made it look fairly easy in their semi-final victory over the Auckland Sea lions. Canterbury, however, just nudged out, 2004 Cup winners, Wellington, by two points. The last time these two teams met was in Round 4, when the Auckland side came out with a three point win.

It is hard not to see a Crowns victory in this one, but, on the day, anything can happen. Big game nerves and the fact that Canterbury teams(in any grade) just love to beat Auckland, could just provide an upset.

Regardless, it will be a great day of Rugby League. Good luck to all teams. You all deserve to be there.

Ericcson Stadium

$ 5.00 entry (under 15, free)

Foundation Cup 12.00 Noon kick off

FOUNDATION CUP 16?s ? GRAND FINALS Auckland Sea Lions vs First National Northland

Ericsson Stadium No.1, Auckland, New Zealand Sunday 17 April 2005 ? 12.00 Noon Kick Off

AUCKLAND SEA LIONS: 1. Nopoto Tuimaualuga 2. Mika Fa?amausili 3. Harmony Hunt 4. Jerome Leolahi 5. Alvin Matavao 6. Ronnie Va?asa 7. William Stowers 8. Kaipati Nanisena 9. Sonny Taurari?i 10. Jeremy Pelo 10 11. Cameron Collennette 12. Rusty Bristow (C) 13. Vince Craddock 14. Andrew Pongi 15. Moses Tulisa 16. Joshua Aviata 17. Ben Nimmo Mike Penny COACH Jim Larkin Warren Manuel MANAGER Alfred Welsh Brent Corin TRAINER

FIRST NATIONAL NORTHLAND:

1. Karaitiana Vette-Welsh 2. Heremaia McKenzie 3. Lafaele Talosaga 4. Linton Price 5. Opeti Fotu 6. Daley Johnson 7. Shane Pumipi 8. Sam McKendry 9. Rikki Mackey 10. (C) Kene Te Whata 11. Alista Wiki 12. Cruiz Neho 13. Hirini Parata 14. Pele Talosaga 15. Isaiah Matafeo 16. Paula Finau 17. Lincoln Monschau 18th Man Conrad Riley

COACH Jim Larkin MANAGER Alfred Welsh TRAINERS Shane Monschau / Ian Pumipi

Kiwi Cup 1.15 pm kick off

Lion Foundation National Junior Competition 2005

KIWI CUP 18?s ? GRAND FINALS Auckland Crowns vs Canterbury

Ericsson Stadium No.1, Auckland, New Zealand Sunday 17 April 2005 ? 1.15pm Kick Off

AUCKLAND CROWNS 1. James Nathan 2. Nui Talau 3. Cooper Vuna (C) 4. Patrick Ah Van 5. Tu?u Maori 6. Darin Kingi 7. Mataika Vatuvei 8. Alistar Taua?a 9. Arron Pawley 10. Alex Tafili 11. Paki Ormsby 12. Scott Jones 13. Frank-Paul Nuuausala 14. James Blackwell 15. Iuomalo Su?a 16. Tyler Cassidy 17. Hone Tawhai Pona Jack 18th Man

Brent Gemmell COACH John Solomon MANAGER Jamie Cook TRAINER

CANTERBURY:

1. Daniel Bain 2. Christopher Thomas 3. Kahu Wehi 4. Setaimata Sa 5. Tau Arona 6. Brackin Karauria-Henry 7. Quincy To?o To?o 8. Roger Tafua 9. Antonio Tuitaupe 10. Setima Pua?avase 11. Louis Fanene 12. Mananui Te Heu Heu 13. (C) Mikaere October 14. Nikos Cummings-Toone 15. Robert Butler 16. Vinnie Wihare 18th Man Christopher Nicholson

COACH Terry Hermansson MANAGER Duane Fyfe TRAINER Steven Bishop / Dana Arcus