2019 OG League Rd 18 Results

The OG League Blog is here to show how it all went down in our league as we reach the end of the regular season. Next week the top 4 will move into a two round semi-final, with a grand final played during the final Super Rugby game of the year!

Meanwhile our bottom two will play their own two week head to head match up to declare our 2019 Draft Rugby Wooden Spooner!

It was all there to play for this week, read on to see how the final regular season match ups unfolded.

Round 18 Final scores:

Match ups:
(3) Marximum Louw Groomed Maddogs V Call Me Big Papali'i (1)
(7) Otere is the new Black V Clan Mckenzie (8)
(4) Burnin' Bridges V Havili's Homophobic Henchmen (2)
(6) White Linen Hides the Sinning V Coles-Royce (5)

(3) Marximum Louw Groomed Maddogs V Call Me Big Papali'i (1)
In what was the first match up of the week with play off ramifications, Wylie needed a win to stay safe, while Harry could finish anywhere between first and third. Wylie's Maddogs front row blitzed his opposition with Malcolm Marx (68), Angus Ta'avao (63) and Lizo Gqoboka(39) all scoring well. Not even that was enough to outshine Wylie's first trade of the week, Lachlan Boshier's (69 points) top performance - one that he knew he'd stolen right out from underneath Harry on trade night. Brad Weber (47) and Dan du Preez (44) were also at their classy bests. Meanwhile Harry's multi-trade with Nabung showed benefit with Julian Montoya (70 points), but both Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (9) and Chris Feauai-Sautia (2) failed to make a positive impact. Melani Nanai (55) was always a bankable 50+ player, and both Tomas Lezana (49) and Domingo Miotti (40) had dominant performances against the Sunwolves. The match up finished with a maximum 5 competition points for Wylie from a 496 score, defeating a two bonus point Harry on 457. Wylie also takes the lead in the head to head 2-1. With both players safe for finals, it's something that could still change come finals time.

(7) Otere is the new Black V Clan Mckenzie (8)
Coming in to the final round Larry was set as the regular season loser, locking in his name as Larry (Loser Harry) for another year, and resigning him to being the feature of the OG League's Sexy Calendar for 2020. Nelson on the other hand had it all to play for, a bonus point win would give him the chance of leap frogging Nsync out of the bottom two play off given his superior total fantasy team points. All eyes were on Larry, as he made 5 trades looking for bragging rights over his likely Wooden Spoon rival. His new men were Alex Nankivell (4), Salesi Rayasi (29), Peter Umaga Jensen (33), Blake Gibson (43), and Du Plessis Kirifi’i (8), so it's fair to stay his best efforts resulted in nothing more than a cluster fuck of wasted talent. Tom Franklin (57 points) was Larry's standout, and Isi Naisarani (50) looked solid in a losing team. On the other side of the ledger Nelson's four trades were topped by Kane Le'aupepe (28 points) showing why these two managers were in a race to the bottom. Anton Lienert-Brown (96 points) was the absolute standout for Otere is the new Black, bagging himself the Fantasy Man of the Week, but Hosea Saumaki (47) was the only other player trying to lift his side from the depths of a two round rematch starting next week. This one finished Otere is the new Black 450 to Clan McKenzie 321. Nelson claiming EXACTLY the required points for an attacking BP, meaning he has done enough to see how Nsync's match up with Cargie unfolded. Their head to head finished as pretty much everyone against Larry's did. Nelson 3 - Larry 0.

(4) Burnin' Bridges V Havili's Homophobic Henchmen (2)
Another huge game with both managers looking to book their finals place, Harry's loss in the previous match up left the minor premiership there for Blake's taking, while Nabung still needed a win to clinch his finals play off spot. Nabung's Burnin' Bridges drafted in Folau Fainga'a (39) in a disappointing trade night triple trade, but the other man he'd originally offered up, Matt Philip (68 points), was determined to show him why his manager was wrong to ever doubt him. Night 1 was a complete success, with Santiago Carreras (53) at his electric best for the Jaguares, while Tei Walden (47), Jack Debreczini (46) and Solomon Alaimalo (45) weren't far behind. But things weren't as rosy from there, with Filipo Daugunu (-7) and Nick Phipps (-1) having a lot to answer for. Meanwhile Havili's Homophobic Henchmen enjoyed similar success to start the round with newly traded Guido Petti (86 points) leading the way for Sebastian Cancelliere (83), Rob Thompson (55) and Tevita Li (45). The difference in this one was that Blake's morally questionable Henchmen just kept on firing for night 2 as Steven Kitshoff (57), super sub Mzamo Majola (55), Tom Banks (52), Samu Kerevi (47), Lachlan McCaffrey and Liam Wright (both 43) all turned it on. As you've probably guessed, Blake took this one out 665 to 450 with the weeks top score yet again. The bonus point win launching Blake into the minor premiership spot, and number 1 pick for finals, as well as giving him the top overall points scored. Nabung could only manage a solitary attacking bonus point having scored exactly the 450 threshold. The BP means that only a win could save Cargie's season by sending Nabung into the 5th place abyss. This match up finishes with Blake claiming another bitch, Blake 3, Nabung 0.

(6) White Linen Hides the Sinning V Coles-Royce (5)
By the time Nsync took on Cargie the stage had been set, Nsync needed a single bonus point to avoid the wooden spoon finals, and Cargie needed the win to propel himself into 4th place. Usually a game against Nsync would be looked upon favourably considering his two game losing streak, and suspect competition total points. But last weeks loss to Blake had him score the 2nd highest total of the round, and the biggest ever losing score. Nsync took the field with only 14 men courtesy of Alex Hodgman being pulled late and backup Michael Alaalatoa having a bye. But that didn't stop the most under rated man in Fantasy Rugby Semisi Masiwera (57 points) from dragging his team forwards. Damian Fitzpatrick (56) did the job he was drafted in for this week, while Bryce Hegarty (55), Damian de Allende (53), Pita Gus Sowakula and Dillyn Leyds (both 52) all cracked the half century. Rounding out Nsync's fantasy week was Rory Arnold (44). Coles-Royce finally had their namesake Dane Coles (33) back at the steering wheel, but it didn't bring the fruits that were expected, add to that a spluttering front row of Taniela Tupou (-3) and Allan Alaalatoa (17) and Nabung might just have started cheering. Who else but Akira Ioane (54 points) could help right the ship, while Tyler Ardron (45) and Luke Whitelock (43) also chipped in. It wasn't enough! Nsync was the runaway winner on 559 points over Cargie's 438, sealing the match up at Nsync 2, Cargie 1. The win easily keeping Nsync out of the bottom two, leaving Nelson to try to avoid going back to back for the OG League Wooden Spoon. Cue the violins, the king is dead! 2018 was a great year but Cargie is officially a "has been".

Extra Facts:
Best Player: Anton Lienert-Brown 96 points (Nelson)
Worst Player: Filipo Daugunu -7 points (Nabung)
The Best Supersub: Mzamo Majola 55 points (Blake - in for Beast)
The Best free agent: Shaun Stevenson 95 points
Worst Coaching Decision (player left on the bench): Tumua Manu 47 points left on the bench for Reece Hodge 1 point (Wylie)

The Table

Match-ups:

Semi Finals week 1 Draft Order:

The battle for the new 2019 champ is now officially underway, all six remaining teams will redraft in round one of their respective two match head to heads. Here's how the draft order will play out.

Play off Finals:
1st – Blake
2nd – Harry
3rd – Wylie
4th – Nabung

Wooden Spoon Play off:
1st Pick - Nelson
2nd Pick - Larry

This Weeks Fixtures:

Play Off Finals:
(1) Havili's Homophobic Henchmen V Burnin' Bridges (4)
(2) Call Me Big Papali'i V Marximum Louw Groomed Maddogs (3)

Wooden Spoon Play Off:
(7) Otere is the new Black V Clan Mckenzie (8)

This week the Finals Draft will be hosted at location to be desired mid week.

Written by Harrison Dale.