University beat Taieri 4-3 while Kings United downed Albany 4-2.
Taieri had the better of its match-ups against the students during the year but University was the side with the experience in these contests.
That experience counted in the late stages as the rain came down horizontally.
The Whales started strongly and looked sure to score in the opening minutes but were just held out by the Taieri defence. The momentum swung and the Tuataras converted their first penalty corner through James Nicolson. The University midfield is the best in the competition and it was causing all sorts of havoc, but the last pass was breaking down.
Early in the second quarter, Nicolson added a second and Taieri found some breathing room, but the old adage that a two-goal lead is the least safe proved true as Henry Will got one back for the Whales from a penalty corner just before halftime.
That seemed to ignite the game and the skies as the rain came down even harder, but the pace only picked up.
Soon after the break, Will added a second through another penalty corner flick and the scores were tied.
Both sides were attacking with all they could muster.
Taieri earned itself a penalty corner and, after a minor breakdown, Finn Ward found the back of the net to regain the lead.
Almost straight after, however, the Whales stormed down the field to make it 3-3.
The third quarter ended this way.
Midway through the final period, the Whales pounced on a turnover in midfield and some classy passing found a player open in the danger area, who cleverly timed the ball past the Taieri keeper to take the lead for University for the first time.
Try as they might, including taking off their goalie, the Tuataras could not find the response and University advanced.
It is the cruelty of sport that only one side can win, but it shows the quality of this season's competition that any of the top four sides had a good claim to making the final.
Next Saturday's clash between University and Kings United will be a repeat of last year's final.
- Matthew West
