Club Rugby pressure valve turned up a notch this weekend
A number of grades reach the midpoint of their second rounds this weekend, and the pressure just continues to climb.
At the top of that list is the bucqi Jubilee Cup, where the table could either thin out or become quite congested depending on results, and this week's rain may have played into some teams hands more than others.
Elsewhere there's significant top-two clashes in the Hardham Cup, Colts John Kelly Memorial, and under 85kg Paul Potiki Shield grades, as well as the conclusion to the Women's round-robin tonight.
There are a pair of notable milestones being reached tomorrow. Norths' Peato 'Cash' Lafaele brings up 200 games for the Porirua side with that coming on top of his 100 Premier starts for Poneke a decade-and-a-half ago; and OBU big man Jonathan Fuimaono raises 100 games for the Goats.
Two matches will have radio commentary, both by Gordon Noble-Campbell. He will be joined for the Old Boys-University vs Wellington game on RadioSport (1503AM) by Paddy Gough, last year's rep U19 coach and OBU assistant, followed by Wainuiomata vs Tawa on Te Upoko (1161AM) with Chris Stirling, current Hurricanes high performance manager and former CCO of both clubs.
Premier bucqi Jubilee Cup
The city is the place to be for Jubilee Cup action, with all four matches taking place south of the Ngauranga Interchange.
Furthest east, leaders Oriental-Rongotai return to the Polo Ground after last weekend's successful venture to Lyndhurst looking to maintain their unbeaten record when they host the Upper Hutt Rams. While they once again lost at home, the Rams have shown they aren't fazed by road trips including their last when they toppled OBU at the Basin Reserve, but their last meeting with the Magpies was a 25-50 loss.
Max Pearson shifts into centre in Dan Aunese's absence with Tafa Tafa at fullback and Salesi Rayasi to the wing for the Rams, with Eli Hunt restored at hooker. Ories have named a lineup that they advise is likely to change before kick-off, but provisionally doesn't include coach Roy Kinikinilau at this stage.
Just up the road old foes and neighbours Poneke and Marist St Pats renew their rivalry for the first time in the Jubilee Cup since 2013, and at Kilbirnie Park for the first time since 2011, a game Poneke won 44-11. The two last met in the final round of the Swindale and while MSP prevailed 23-22, Poneke did enough to return to this stage and also outscored their opposition four tries to two.
The home side make just three changes to last week's side. Greg Foe returns from international duty at No8 with Jimmy Hewitt moving back to hooker to replace the unavailable Hennie Tui, with Pakai Turia back at fullback. MSP also make three, with Ivan Fepuleai, Pago Haini, and Mike Buckley all in the starting lineup after coming off the bench against OBU.
Just through the Mt Victoria tunnel two more neighbours clash at the Basin Reserve with Wellington making the short journey to face Old Boys-University. The Goats were on the receiving end from MSP of the sort of mauling that they've been dishing out all year last week, and will be keen to put things right in from of their home support. The Axemen have been keeping things entertaining for their supporters, managing to dig themselves out of 17-point halftime deficit against Poneke.
OBU won the sides last meeting, played at Westpac Stadium, by 32-6 on the back of a dominant scrum though the chief beneficiary of that, Teariki Ben Nicholas who scored four tries is now in Tasman. Hugh Renton will be at the back of the scrum tomorrow, with Wes Goosen named at centre. Sam Gard'ner switches back to openside and Tala Kitekei'aho returns at hooker for Wellington, with the only backline change has Paddy Hughes, who went off early last week, replaced on the wing by Matt Goosen who will oppose his younger brother.
All the above matches kick-off at 2.45pm.
The final match of the round is at 5pm, with Wainuiomata and Tawa given the honour of playing the curtainraiser to the Hurricanes vs Blues clash on Westpac Stadium. Wainuiomata, the nominal 'home' side, roared into second place on the ladder after dismantling the Rams last weekend and can stamp their mark as definite contenders with a win here. Their side has a handful of changes with Ben Tupuola returning and John Monu starting at #10, with Josh Robertson-Weepu back to fullback and Tu Umaga-Marshall into midfield.
With three losses so far Tawa's hopes are threadbare at best, and need to win their remaining games to even be a chance of making the semifinals, starting with this one. They get a pair of valuable players back, with Pati Gaualofa restored at lock and a reshuffled three-quarter line to accommodate Shaun Treeby, who is no stranger to the Westpac turf but hoping for better luck than his last outing there when he broke his ankle playing for the provincial side.
Premier 2 Hardham Cup
The feature clash in the Hardham Cup is out at Porirua Park, where Northern United and Hutt Old Boys Marist put their unbeaten records on the line against each other on Jerry Collins Stadium. Norths will undoubtedly be expecting a tougher time than they did in putting up a century last week against Johnsonville, while the Eagles exacted McBain Shield revenge over Petone and will be looking to repeat their 37-16 win in the Swindale from six weeks ago. Norths make a host of changes with skipper Aiden Cains, Johnwhite Silva, Parekura Lalaga, and Siaosi Ananami all named to start after sitting out last week, and Jackson Garden-Bachop continues at #10. Lui Okeamoa-Luamanu, Simon Malaeulu and Jared Woodward all return to HOBM's pack, while in the backline Brandyn Laursen moves back into #10 with Samoan 7s rep Tomasi Alosio at fullback. James O'Reilly is the notable absentee.
The other clash of Premier sides is at Fraser Park where Avalon welcomes Petone. The Wolves are still looking for their first win on home turf this year, as well as their first in the Hardham Cup after their upset loss to MSP B last weekend. More to their liking would be to repeat their 8-6 win over their opponents in the Swindale and their side includes Shane Fawcett, Akuila Alatini, and Ben Peni who all missed the loss to Pare-Plim. Despite last week's loss to HOBM the Villagers are still a comfortable third with their next three games all against sides currently below them on the table. Both James Blackwell and Belgium Tuatagaloa are named in their side tomorrow but Mateaki Kafetolu is absent.
Both games are at 2.45pm.
Before those two games there is a pair of clashes with 1pm kick-offs. Two sides that both got their first wins of the round - OBU B and Paremata-Plimmerton - meet in the early game at the Basin Reserve, while through the Mt Victoria tunnel MSP B and Johnsonville are at Evans Bay.
OBU won the battle of the 'B' sides against MSP, and their side includes openside Daven Candy who turned out for the Premiers last weekend. Pare-Plim are largely unchanged but will be without their regular goalkicker Blake Neve with Matt de Terte switching back to fullback. There is a pair of notable inclusions in the game at Evans Bay, with longtime national 7s rep Lote Raikabula named at fullback for MSP, with Hurricanes halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi listed in Johnsonville's side.
Women's
Perhaps under the radar of many is that the Wellington Women's club rugby competition is rapidly coming to a close, with Friday Night's round under lights the conclusion of the round-robin and only the playoffs to come.
This is mostly due to the early start of the Women's NPC with the Pride's first game, a re-match of last year's final away against the Auckland Storm, taking place on August 6. That's the same day as the Men's bucqui Jubilee and Hardham Cup finals, precluding the Women from playing the opening game on Finals day as they did last year.
In the Victoria Tavern Trophy Premier division, tomorrow night's games pit Wainuiomata against Northern United at Alex Moore Park in Johnsonville at 7.30pm, while Avalon will play their final game of the year when they host Oriental-Rongotai at Fraser Park at 8pm.
All five sides know where they stand - Wainuiomata and Oriental-Rongotai are already guaranteed to host semi-finals and Norths and Old Boys-University (who have this week's bye) know they'll be on the road - but who'll face who is still to be determined, giving plenty to play for.
Of note, several players involved with the inaugural NZ Tertiary Women's Sevens team for their tournament in Wales from 6-9 July won't be available for the playoffs. Wellington players on this tour include Joanah Ngan-Woo (OBU), Sauimoana Solia (OBU), Lizzie Goulden (Ories), Georgia Daals (OBU), Holly McDonald (OBU), Ruby Finau (Avalon) and Amanda Rasch (Ories).
Some of those possibilities for Friday night are:
· If Wainuiomata win then they will take top spot and will play Norths again next weekend, with Ories hosting OBU. The same also applies if Wainuiomata and Norths draw.
· If Norths win, then Wainuiomata will need both close-loss and try-scoring bonus points to ensure they hold onto top spot. Norths will need a bonus point as well to leapfrog OBU on the table.
· Ories can only take top spot if they win and Wainuiomata doesn't. If Wainuiomata gets one bonus point then Ories would need a try-scoring bonus point as well, which is something they've achieved in every game they've played this year bar one.
· In the event there are ties on points Wainuiomata will be ranked higher than Ories, and OBU over Norths, because of their wins over the other in this round of matches,
Things are rather clearer cut in Division 2. Hutt Old Boys Marist have already assured themselves of top spot and should have few problems in the 6.30pm kickoff at Fraser Park against the winless Upper Hutt Rams, who will end their debut season tomorrow night.
HOBM would then take on Johnsonville-Tawa next week, unless the combined side springs a big surprise and beats MSP with a bonus point and holds their opponents without any in their clash at Te Whaea at 7.30pm. On form though you'd expect MSP to win, which would see them take on Poneke - who have the bye - in the other semi-final.
Colts John E Kelly Memorial
Having prevailed in last week's top-of-the-table clash against Oriental-Rongotai, leaders Tawa face another when they head into the city to face perennial contenders Old Boys-University Green at Te Whaea in what looms as a potential playoffs preview.
There's a second top five clash when Ories, who have slipped to fifth, host third-placed neighbours Poneke at Polo with the streetkids - like Tawa - unbeaten through four rounds so far. Third-placed MSP take on winless Johnsonville, Wellington host bottom-side HOBM at Hataitai, with the remaining game a mid-table clash of the Upper Hutt Rams and Norths at the Maidstone artificial.
All Colts games kick-off at 1pm.
First Grade Johnsonville Centennium Cup
The Petone Brotherhood have skipped clear at the top of the table after wins over both Old Boys-University and Norths, and will look to extend that when they take on Marist St Pats at the St Pats College artificial at 2.45pm. OBU and Norths will be looking to stay in touch when they clash at Nairnville Park, as will Hutt Old Boys Marist when they welcome Poneke to the Hutt Rec, both also at 2.45pm.
There is one early game when Tawa and Avalon meet at Lyndhurst Park at 1pm, with the winless Petone Saxons having this week's bye.
Under 85kg Paul Potiki Shield
The fifth round of the lightweights is highlighted by the clash of the top two, leaders Tawa and second-placed Eastbourne at Redwood Park at 1pm. Both sides are undefeated so far with Tawa four-from-four and Eastbourne having notched three wins following a first-up draw with the Upper Hut Rams.
Also at 1pm mid-table sides Poneke and the OBU Bunnies will be at Kilbirnie Park, while at 2.45pm there is a second top-four match when Wellington and Johnsonville meet at Hataitai while Avalon and the Rams are at Fraser Park. The Kapiti side has the bye this week.
College WelTec Premiership and Premier 2
The feature game of the Premiership is on at Evans Bay, where local rivals St Pat's Town and Rongotai will meet following the earlier Hardham Cup game. Both sides come in on the back of wins with Rongotai having beaten Silverstream, while Town overcame Bishop Viard, and a bye into the semi-finals could be at stake in this one.
Across the other side of the airport Scots take on Wairarapa College. The visitors make the journey down from Masterton for the third time this year having already played Wellington College and Town, but will be buoyed somewhat with getting their first win of the year over St Bernard's. For their part Scots will be looking to get back into the winners circle after their loss to Wellington last week. In the other match on tomorrow Silverstream will be looking for a valuable five points when they travel down the valley to play winless St Bernard's.
All three matches kick-off at 2.30pm
The fourth Premiership match between leaders Wellington College and Bishop Viard has been deferred until after the upcoming school holidays owing to the schedules of both teams, with College playing in their traditional Quad next week being hosted by Christ's College this year.
In Premier 2 leaders Tawa are the only side other than Wellington College that remains unbeaten across the Premier grades following their win over Paraparaumu last weekend; tomorrow they make the short journey to face mid-table Porirua. The other four games are all in the Hutt Valley with third-placed Kapiti heading to winless Hutt International, Taita hosting Aotea in battle of sides in the bottom-four and Wainuiomata face the St Pats Town 2nd XV, all at 2.30pm. The remaining game is a top-four clash at the earlier time of 1pm with second-placed Paraparaumu the visitors against the Silverstream 2nd XV.