The reigning champions can at least approach their preliminary final in a positive mindset after eliminating Linwood with a comprehensive 36-14 sudden death victory last Saturday.
Locked 14-all at the break, Marist Albion then dominated in spite of appalling conditions at Edgar McIntosh Park.
Lincoln University, who had last weekend off after beating top qualifiers Sydenham in the opening round of the finals series, beat Marist Albion comfortably during the regular season, an emphatic 45-17 margin on April 23.
Should Marist Albion repeat last season’s heroics and eliminate Lincoln University a game before the decider, they will face either New Brighton or Sydenham in next Saturday’s final at Rugby Park.
Sydenham won 41-24 on May 24 while New Brighton edged the champions 30-29 a fortnight later.
“If we put in a performance similar to last weekend we’ll give ourselves a shot against anyone. Last year we had to win four in a row, this year three in a row. We’re in the same boat as everyone,” he said.
New Brighton are also refreshed following a bye heading into their preliminary final with regular season front-runner Sydenham, who also stayed alive through another low-scoring encounter.
The top qualifiers rebounded from a loss to Lincoln University by ending HSOB’s season with a 15-8 victory after extra time at Sydenham Park.
In the second-tier plate competition, Canterbury University and Sumner will wrestle for consolation prize after convincing semi-final performances.
In the play-off for 11th and 12th, Belfast avoided the wooden spoon thanks to a 22-18 triumph over winless Burnside, last season’s runners-up.
Rugby League
The Canterbury Rugby League premiership could be heading to a nail-biting conclusion if a potential preview to the grand final is replicated in the decider.
Leaders Linwood and second-placed Halswell could not be separated during a dogged 12th round clash at Linwood Park, where Hornets’ playmaker Jamie Nuttridge’s 75th-minute penalty squared the ledger at 10 points apiece.
Nuttridge’s accuracy off the tee - after Linwood was pinged for offside - was the only points of a tense second half slog.
The Keas led by two points at halftime through tries to Fabricus Sua and veteran Daniel Hartley while Jacob Nyman crossed for Halswell’s solitary four-pointer.
The match was the second tight tussle in a row between the clubs, with Linwood claiming their previous meeting in April’s round one, 19-18.
Premiers Hornby kept their top four hopes alive with a potentially vital 16-10 victory over the Northern Bulldogs, although the latter maintained fourth spot on points differential over the Panthers.
Hornby, who now have 6-win 6-loss record, appear to face the easier run-in as they finish up with Papanui after this Saturday’s clash with the in-form Hornets.
The Bulldogs face the third-placed Eastern Eagles this weekend, presumably a must-win as Linwood is their final regular season opponent.
The Eagles solidified their top-four place with a narrow 10-8 win over the Riccarton Knights, who could still sneak into the play-offs with big wins over Papanui and Celebration Lions and other results fall their way.
Papanui’s winless campaign continued with a 60-6 loss to the Lions, inflating their points differential to -716 from 12 games.
Football
Cashmere Technical’s Chatham Cup defence remains on track after they dashed the hopes of another Southern League rival to advance to the quarter-finals of the domestic knockout competition.
Dunedin’s Green Island are currently bottom of the league standings and performed accordingly as reigning champions Cashmere Technical romped to a 9-0 fourth round victory at Garrick Memorial Park on Saturday.
The tie was effectively over once Cashmere Technical led 4-0 after just 18 minutes, with Lachie McIssac, Lyle Matthysen, Garbhan Coughlan – who recorded his 100th goal for the club last week – and Andrew Storer striking in quick succession to be the contest out of reach.
Fraser Angus added a double during a similarly one-sided second spell.
Dunedin City Royals beat Nelson Suburbs 3-1 in the other all Southern League fixture.
Southern League leaders Christchurch United are back in action on Sunday at Nelson Suburbs after a handy break following their 3-0 win over Selwyn United in the English Cup quarter-finals.
In the women’s equivalent of the Chatham Cup, Cashmere Technical’s quest for the Kate Sheppard Cup was thwarted at the quarter-final stage by Football South Premier League champions Dunedin City Royals, who prevailed 3-1 after extra time on Sunday.
Hockey
Canterbury Hockey men’s premier league champions HSOB/Burnside narrowed the gap on the competition pacesetters with a 4-0 victory over third placed Harewood giving them breathing space in fourth.
HSOB/Burnside trail Harewood by a point while Carlton Redcliffs are outright leaders with a 4-0 win over Hornby pushing them clear of an inactive Marist and Harewood.
In the women’s premier league Carlton Redcliffs and Marist continue to set the standard with 8-win 1-loss records following ninth round victories over Hornby (3-0) and Avon (2-0) respectively.
Marist can assume top spot with a win over Hornby on Saturday, as Carlton Redcliffs have the bye.
Weekend match-ups
Christchurch Metro Premier rugby finals series (all Saturday 3pm):
Preliminary finals: Lincoln University v Marist Albion, Lincoln University; New Brighton v Sydenham, Rawhiti Domain.
Plate final: University of Canterbury v Sumner, Ilam Fields.
Canterbury Rugby League premiership round 13 fixtures (all Saturday 2.45pm):
Riccarton Knights v Papanui Tigers, Crosbie Park; Linwood Keas v Celebration Lions, Linwood Park; Hornby Panthers v Halswell Hornets, Leslie Park; Eastern Eagles v Northern Bulldogs, Wainoni Park.
Southern League football round 13 fixtures:
Ferrymead Bays v Dunedin City Royals, Ferrymead Park, noon Saturday; Green Island v Coastal Spirit, Sunnyvale 1, 12.30pm Saturday; Nomads United v Mosgiel AFC, Tulett Park, 2pm Saturday; Selwyn United v Cashmere Technical, Foster Park, 2.45pm Saturday; Nelson Suburbs v Christchurch United, Saxton Field, noon Sunday.
Canterbury Hockey premier League round 11 fixtures (all Saturday):
Men: Southern v HSOB/Burnside, Nga Puna Wai 1.30pm; Avon v Harewood, Nga Puna Wai 3pm; Carlton Redcliffs v University, Nga Puna Wai 3pm; Hornby v Marist, Marist Park 7.30pm (July 26).
Women: HSOB/Burnside v Southern, Nga Puna Wai noon; Marist v Hornby Marist Park 3pm; Avon v Harewood, Nga Puna Wai 4.30pm; Carlton Redcliffs bye.
