Big wins the order of the day in ninth round
Big scores were racked up in the ninth round of the Wellington Premier club rugby Swindale Shield this afternoon, while Wainuiomata defeated Oriental-Rongotai in a notable Fleurs Trophy Women’s result.
In bright, sunny conditions that were conducive for attacking rugby, Old Boys University continued to set a scorching pace in their quest to add the Swindale Shield to the Jubilee Cup in their trophy cabinet in a month’s time.
OBU won their ninth straight match of the season so far and 18th overall in beating Wainuiomata 45-7 at Nairnville Park. With a 20-point lead to ninth placed the Upper Hutt Rams, the Goats have also become the first team to official qualify for the Jubilee Cup.
For OBU, fullback Jodi Ihaka scored a hat-trick and wing Joe Hill two tries. They led 40-0 at halftime, so late arriving fans on the Nairnville Park terraces missed most of the action.
Oriental-Rongotai continues to hold second place, after their comprehensive 52-15 win for the Alby Jack Memorial Cup over the Wellington Axemen at the Polo Ground.
Wellington wing Paddy Hughes chipped over the Ories kick-chase and regathered to score the game's first try which put Wellington up 7-3, though that was the only lead that the Axemen would hold as Ories went on to score seven tries.
Front-rowers Ha'amea Ahio and Hunter Prescott were the key figures in Ories' first two tries, with Ahio assisting Andrew Ellis through a deft offload, and Prescott being the beneficiary of a great line-out set play try.
Wellington flanker Fidel Lamy was sin-binned with a minute left in the first half for not retreating on an Ories quick tap penalty and Wellington were duly punished, conceding 13 points in his 10-minute absence and, with that, a 10-32 deficit early in the second half.
As Ories' backline began to find top gear, centre Aukuso Tuitama, second five-eighth James Proctor and halfback Sean Hay all found their way across the Axemen's try line in the second forty, while flanker Tutasi Masoe also scored a five-pointer.
Marist St Pat’s battled to a scrappy but decisive 31-20 win over Tawa on their Old Timers’ Day, in the only victory of the day that didn’t also include a four-try winning bonus point. There were several cards dished out in this game, including a red card near the end for MSP, and no fewer than four yellow cards against Tawa players. Those, and the late scratching of second five-eighth Shaun Treeby and an early injury to starting flyhalf Paul Bickle proved costly for Tawa in a tight contest.
Poneke were the day’s big winners, both on the scoreboard with the most points of the day, and on the points table, beating Avalon 62-18 and leapfrogging both Wellington and Tawa into third spot. Poneke scored nine tries against Avalon, with first five-eighth Greg Mullany grabbing a double.
Hutt Old Boys Marist remain outside the ‘top 8’ but pulled back valuable competition points on the sides in front of them in beating Northern United 37-16 at home at the Hutt Recreation Ground. With four of their games to come at home on the pristine Hutt Rec, they remain in the Jubilee Cup hunt.
The Eagles made a fast, hungry start today against an equally flat Norths side, skipping out to a 22-0 lead in almost as many minutes, on the back of an early try to left wing Blake McGregor and a series of penalties to Brandyn Laursen who looked adept playing at second five-eighth. Laursen was to score a try himself and score 20 points. Halfback Sheridan Rangihuna was also in good form as the Eagles dominated all the early possession and territory.
Norths came back into the game but HOBM hooker James O’Reilly scored the first of his two tries to give them a 27-9 lead at halftime and then he scored his second on 55 minutes to clinch the win.
Petone were given a fright by Johnsonville, but also grabbed a crucial bonus point win. Petone won the game 44-37; two quickfire tries midway through the second half whilst Johnsonville had a man in the bin proving the difference. A key player for the improving Johnsonville side was Hurricanes halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, aka Triple T, who scored two tries for the Hawks including an individual stunner when he ran 70 metres from a scrum and bamboozled the defence on his way to the line. That score put Johnsonville up 13-10 at halftime. The Hawks grabbed two bonus points for their efforts, lifting themselves off the bottom of the table.
Paremata-Plimmerton now occupies the 14th spot on their lonesome, after going down 18-48 to the Upper Hutt Rams at Maidstone Park. Again, this match was close early on, but a Schrijvers brothers double act in the form of a break and banana kick by centre Hayden for flanker Daniel to collect and score off, proved a big play. Also for the Rams, first five-eighth Tynan Barrett and second five-eighth Joyner Key both scored braces.
Fleurs Trophy
There were two top four clashes today – and one potentially decisive result amongst them.
Northern United remain the only unbeaten side after easing to a 49-7 win over the Old Boys University Impalas, with second five-eighth Helen Collins scoring her second consecutive club rugby hat-trick, Pride lock Sanita Levave and fullback Jamie Mcintosh both scoring braces. Norths led 22-0 at halftime at Te Whaea.
Previous joint leaders Ories were lowered 15-29 by Wainuiomata at William Jones Park.
In other Fleurs Trophy fixtures this morning, the combined Johnsonville-Tawa side earned its maiden win with a 31-27 victory over the Upper Hutt Rams, Hutt Old Boys Marist beat Marist St Pat’s 43-12 in the battle of the Marist clubs and Avalon defeated Poneke 32-12 at home at Fraser Park.
Harper Lock Shield
The Marist St Pat’s Premier Reserves have all but booked their place inside the top two of the second XV Harper Lock Shield competition and with it a berth in the Hardham Cup in the second round –should their top team qualify for the Jubilee Cup – with an impressive 51-26 win over Tawa.
MSP won their ninth straight win in this competition, pulling clear over the final half hour to win after holding a narrow lead just after the break. They now hold a 10-point advantage over second placed Poneke with four rounds to play.
Poneke lost 36-38 to Avalon in their match today, while the Upper Hutt Rams have snuck up to third outright after accounting or Paremata-Plimmerton 48-14, ahead of fourth placed Petone who smoked Johnsonville 81-0. Elsewhere, the OBU Goats beat Wainuiomata 35-19 and Ories secured their second Premier Reserve win in beating mid-table Wellington 29-23.
At the Hutt Recreation Ground, the HOBM Eagles enjoyed an important mid-table 34-15 win over Northern United’s second team. Norths scored the game’s first try, but the Eagles laid on the points to lead 20-5 at halftime. Consecutive tries late in the third quarter of play sealed victory.
Paris Memorial Trophy
Old Boys University Green made it five from five today in the Paris Memorial Trophy Colts Division 1 grade, beating Petone 46-7.
Tawa have grabbed second spot on the standings with a 46-33 win over Marist St Pat’s, and Ories are fourth after a 36-5 win over Wellington.
In two games in the Hutt Valley today, the HOBM colts tipped over Northern United 22-18 in a replay of last year’s final and the Upper Hutt Rams earned their first win of the season with a 24-13 victory over Poneke.
Wainuiomata leads the Colts Division 2 standings after they beat OBU White 22, with Johnsonville making it four from four (with their bye to come) after defeating MSP Red 47-10.
Thompson Memorial Cup
In sixth round Thompson Memorial Cup First Grade fixtures, Old Boys University have taken a clear lead at the top of the standings, beating the Petone Brotherhood 24-0 for their sixth straight victory.
Northern United, who had the bye today, are 9 points back in second. The HOBM Barbarians accounted for Tawa 59-7, Poneke beat the Petone Saxons 24-0 and MSP knocked over the Avalon Wolves 18-15.
JC Bowl U85kg
Defending champions the Tawa Titans beat the Wellington Light Axemen 14-12 in a top of the table clash today. No quarter was given and none was asked.
After six rounds, Wellington leads the standings on 23 points, ahead of Tawa on 22 and the Avalon Wolves in third on 17, who defeated Poneke 27-7.
The Old Boys University Bunnies and the HOBM Howlers drew 16-16 in their clash, while Johnsonville pipped Stokes Valley 19-18. Eastbourne had the bye and went across the road to the beach.
Meanwhile, the Kapiti side made it six wins from six in the Phillip Wiggins U85kg Division 2 competition. Kapiti crushed Petone 53-3. The Wests Roosters are still second with five wins from six after having their bye this afternoon, ahead of third placed Upper Hutt Rams who beat Wellington B 52-0.
Reserve Grade
Stokes Valley are unbeaten with five straight wins in the Reserve Grade Mike Copeland Trophy Division 1 competition. Stokes Valley defeated the Upper Hutt Rams J8s 15-12.
Defending champions the Poneke Ruffnuts and Johnsonville are second equal. Poneke edged MSP 29-28 whilst Johnsonville had their bye.
The Upper Hutt Rams Pirates have five wins from five on the board in the Division 2 competition, beating the OBU Pink Ginners 36-0.
Tranzit First XV Series
The opening round of the Tranzit Coachlines First XV series between the four leading Wellington schools and their Super 8 competition counterparts was played in Palmerston North today.
There were two wins and two losses for the Wellington teams.
Defending Wellington champions St Pat’s Town battled to a 14-12 win over Gisborne BHS and St St Pat’s Silverstream beat Napier BHS 20-7, but Scots College and Wellington College both suffered heavy defeats. Scots College missed out to Hastings’ BHS 12-53 and Wellington College lost 13-35 to Palmerston North BHS.
In another pre-season First XV match, Rongotai College defeated Paraparaumu College 43-8.