Marist Old Boys have carried their form all the way to the big one. After topping the round robin, they powered through the finals series and into the 2025 Cup Final, the championship decider of the union's season.
It started with a statement. In their Cup quarter-final at Aorere Park on 11 October, Marist Old Boys overwhelmed Nofoali'i 57 points to 10, a performance that put the rest of the competition on notice.
The semi-final, a week later on 18 October, was a tougher night. United Brothers pushed them hard, but Marist Old Boys found a way, winning 42-27 in a Cup semi billed as the Shield Challenge. It was the kind of contest that finals are made of: physical, tight in patches, and decided by the side that held its nerve.
The two wins booked Marist Old Boys a place in the Cup Final against Sale'imoa on 25 October at Aorere Park, the last step in a season-long campaign. They went in unbeaten and as favourites, but finals rugby owes nobody a favour: Sale'imoa produced the performance of the day to take the Cup, leaving Marist Old Boys as runners-up after a season that promised so much.
It was a campaign to be proud of all the same: top of the round robin, a thumping quarter-final, and a hard-earned semi. Marist Old Boys will be back. Mana first, village first.
Tautua mo Sāmoa
