Suburbs will have the opportunity to become back-to-back Gallaher Shield champions after securing a 16-9 semi final victory over College Rifles in wet conditions this afternoon.

It was a gutsy performance from the home side who were forced to defend for long periods of the match and had few opportunities on attack.

College Rifles will be disappointed, having dominated several facets of the game only to make poor decisions with ball in hand.

It was the visitors that set the tone early, a thumping tackle from loose forward Sione Havili forcing a Suburbs knock on and giving his side the ball.

College Rifles capitalized with a penalty from Otu Mausia for the 3-0 lead.

They kept the intensity up as they forced break down turn overs and stole line out ball, another Mausia penalty just reward for the early pressure.

Suburbs found themselves in handy field position with an attacking five metre line out but stout defence from College Rifles forced a penalty and the ball was cleared.

The home team did get on the board through the boot of captain Carl Perry with a penalty midway through the half.

College Rifles continued to heap the pressure on the home team, but for everything they attempted, Suburbs had an answer.

A dominant scrum gave College Rifles a good platform to attack but wide passes in wet conditions saw the ball dropped or spilled on more than one occasion.

Perry slotted another penalty on the stroke of halftime to even the ledger 6 all going into the break.

A yellow card to Suburbs early in the second gave College Rifles the numerical advantage, and Mausia immediately capitalized with a penalty.

But with a man down, Suburbs went up a gear and with new found vigor managed to go over for the first try of the match. Halfback Brad Moyer darting over from close range.

Perry was unable to slot the sideline conversion, but it wasn’t long before his team were in again.

This time, with College Rifles a man down, Suburbs stretched the defence and a pin point cross field kick from Perry to teenage sensation Caleb Clarke saw the winger stretch out over the line.

The try gave Suburbs a 16-9 lead which the managed to defend for the remaining 25 minutes. It wasn’t an easy task as College rifles never stopped and had good field position in closing stages.

Suburbs will return to Eden Park next weekend for the Gallaher Shield final, where they will meet University who today beat Ponsonby 27-22 in the other semi final.