Many questions to be asked in club rugby this weekend
Just four rounds remain in the Swindale and Harper Lock Shields and perhaps the picture as to where those two trophies will end up, as well as the teams themselves, will be much clearer at full-time tomorrow. There’s also the cream of the lower North Island’s rugby talent on show with the Tranzit 1st XV at the Petone Rec and Westpac Stadium, with defending Wellington champions St Pat’s Town given the honour of playing the curtainraiser to the Hurricanes vs Reds clash against Hastings Boys’ High School. The winds of the past few days are forecast to be around and that could add a lottery factor into proceedings.
Tomorrow is also a special day on the rugby calendar with Purple Sock Day for the Ruck Cancer cause. All 14 Premier sides, the under 85kg sides of Western Suburbs, Eastbourne, and Stokes Valley, the four Wellington schools in the Tranzit Festival, and the referees on those games will all take to the field wearing purple socks as part of former Poneke player and now manager Evan Belford’s initiative following the passing of friend and teammate Misiluni Moananu last year. Volunteers will be at each of the seven Premier matches collecting for the Cancer Society, or you can donate by texting RUCK to 469.
Its Old Timers’ Day as well at three clubs; Poneke, Wainuiomata and Paremata-Plimmerton.
Radio Sport will cover the Hutt Old Boys Marist vs Oriental-Rongotai match, with Adam Julian having the call.
Premier Swindale Shield
Leaders Old Boys-University go in search of their 19th straight win tomorrow when they welcome Tawa to the back paddock of Nairnville Park. The Goats are already qualified for the Jubilee Cup sitting 20 points ahead of ninth-placed Upper Hutt Rams, who they’ve already beaten, with 20 points remaining on offer; while Tawa sit fifth on the ladder and will be well aware of how OBU have dominated the first half of their most recent matches. The visitors have made a host of changes from the side that went down to MSP, with no fewer than five in the pack and as many again in the backline. OBU make just two changes; Hugh Renton moves to No.8 to accommodate the returning Daven Candy at openside, with Wes Goosen’s elevation to the Hurricanes allowing Luke Harvey to start at centre.
One of the best series of contests recently have been those between Hutt Old Boys Marist and Oriental-Rongotai. Tomorrows ‘Battle of the Birds’ encounter at the Hutt Rec promises to be no different, with each side having quite different motivations for the competition points; the Magpies will be after them to keep pace with OBU, and could potentially secure their Jubilee Cup place, while the Eagles simply have to win to retain a realistic chance of making the top 8. They make a handful of changes including returns for centurion Simon Malaeulu at prop and Ope Peleseuma in midfield. Ories make just two changes; Iopu Iopu starts at No8 in place of Luke Tau’alupe and Paulo Aukuso starts at centre for the first time this year. Both of Ories’ NZ U20 reps, Alex Fidow and Malo Tuitama are named on the bench.
The two will once again battle for the Bondy Memorial Cup. Don Bond was a lifelong Ories man, firstly as a player then as Club Captain, WRFU delegate, President, and Chairman; honoured as a Life Member, and was serving as Patron at the time of his death just weeks before the Magpies lifted the Jubilee Cup in 2011. Ories hold this after their 19-12 win last year, which at the time was HOBM’s first loss of the season.
Two sides around the middle of the table meet at William Jones Park, with the Upper Hutt Rams the visitors for Wainuiomata’ s Old Timers Day. The hosts sit sixth but will want to rebound from their humbling at the hands of OBU last weekend. Their team tomorrow includes the return of both Greg Lealofi and Tu Umaga-Marshall; with Peter Umaga-Jensen back from U20s duty and starting at fullback, with TJ Va’a named to start at #10. The visitors sit in ninth, four points adrift of Norths in 8th, and will be looking to close the gap. Hayden Schrijvers reverts to halfback, with Samoan U20 player Salesi Rayasi making his first Premier start on the wing.
They contest for the Peter Jones/Dave Ritchie Cup, named after former managers of the two sides. It is held by the Rams after their 37-21 win at Maidstone last year.
Two of Wellington’s most successful clubs meet at Evans Bay when Marist St Pat’s take on Petone for the Bill Elvy Memorial Trophy, as well as putting the Bill Brien Challenge Cup at stake. Taking the competition points is crucial to both sides; MSP could use the breathing space that they would give, while Petone needs them to retain any realistic chance of getting into the Jubilee Cup. The Villagers get a boost with the return of Mateaki Kafatolu at No.8 and veteran Cam Incledon is recalled at halfback. MSP bring back Gabe Papuni with Nemani Waaka switching to No.8, with Frank Fa’atau starting at tighthead.
Bill Elvy hailed from Canterbury originally, and after arriving at Petone was a 1920’s Wellington representative. His son Norm played for both the St Pats OB and Marist clubs, with grandson Martin later playing for MSP. The trophy is with MSP after last year’s 32-15 win in the Swindale round.
Across the road at Kilbirnie Park two close neighbours take to the field when Poneke welcome Wellington to their Old Timers’ Day in a matchup of top-four sides. The home side come in on the back of comfortable wins over Petone and Avalon, and that sought-after return to the Jubilee Cup for the first time since 2012 is within reach. Conversely the Axemen were well handled by Ories and face a potentially tricky run in to the end of the round. Despite that result Wellington have named an unchanged starting side, while Poneke make just one with Dominic Richbell making his first Premier start at halfback.
The two contest the Ray “Spud” Lindsay Memorial Shield. Lindsay served Poneke as a player, management committee member, and coach until 1958 when having succeeded Vic Calcinai as first-team coach in 1956; he was replaced by him with the club concerned about possible relegation. Lindsay moved to the Axemen where he was involved until his death in 1973. The trophy was donated that year, and his currently held by Wellington from their 22-15 win.
The final two games are both out in Porirua where both local clubs play at home for the first time this year. At Porirua Park Norths hosts Avalon with both sides desperately needing a win to arrest three-game losing runs. The home side face the prospect that a fourth straight loss could have them on the outside of the top 8, while Avalon likewise needs a win to stay in contention, as potentially needing to make up as many as 11 points if they lose over the last three weeks would be a massive ask. The Wolves get their NZ U20 representative – hooker Asafo Aumua – back and have Akuila Alatini and Finauga Segi (the latter for the first time this year) as the locking duo. Norths make a hatful of changes; amongst them Aiden Cains is named for his first start at hooker, Konelio Feaunati and Perry Hayman are restored to midfield, and Jackson Garden-Bachop returns to fullback.
Across the other side of the inlet the two winless teams meet at Ngatitoa when Paremata-Plimmerton, on their Old Timers Day, welcome Johnsonville with both sides looking for their first win of the year and in the knowledge that they are already destined for the Hardham Cup. The Hawks have at last managed to get on the board, taking two bonus points from last weekend’s match against Petone, though defence remains an issue having only held their opposition below 40 points once all year. That has become a problem for the home side as well in recent weeks conceding 40 in four of their last five. Both sides again make several changes from last week’s line-ups.
Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield
Marist St Pat’s continued their unbeaten run in seeing off Tawa last Saturday, and need just nine points from their remaining four matches to ensure they are eligible for promotion to the Hardham Cup. Tomorrow they host fourth-placed Petone at Evans Bay.
The scramble behind MSP for the second Hardham place bears watching however, compounded by the eligibility rules. Poneke remain second despite their loss, followed by Upper Hutt, Petone, Tawa, and Hutt Old Boys Marist, with three of those sides’ fates perhaps more likely to be determined by their Premier teams than their own.
Poneke take on neighbours Wellington at Kilbirnie, Upper Hutt visit Wainuiomata at William Jones, Tawa face Old Boys-University at Nairnville, and HOBM host Ories at the Rec. The remaining matches have Norths hosting Avalon at the JCS, and Paremata-Plimmerton take on winless Johnsonville at Ngatitoa.
Women’s Fleurs Trophy
Perhaps the biggest result across all grades last Saturday came at William Jones Park where Wainuiomata toppled Oriental-Rongotai. That makes tonight’s match between Wainuiomata and leaders Norths at Ascot Park a top-two affair, and could go a long way to determining where the Fleurs Trophy winds up.
Ories should comfortably rebound from that setback when they make the journey out to Maidstone to face the winless Upper Hutt Rams, who despite losing to Johnsonville-Tawa managed to not only get their first points on the scoreboard for the year, but also two competition points as well. Avalon and Old Boys-University meet at Fraser Park, HOBM heads to Alex Moore to take on the Johnsonville-Tawa combined side, while neighbours Marist St Pat’s and Poneke are up at Te Whaea.
All Women’s matches kick-off tonight at 7.30pm
Colts Paris Memorial
The feature clash of the round is the top two clash at Te Whaea between the two unbeaten sides; Tawa and Old Boys University. Tawa presently top the table, having beaten Norths in their midweek game Wednesday, though OBU has played a game less.
Marist St Pat’s – who are yet to play OBU – will look to stay in touch when they take on midtable Petone at the St Pats’ artificial.
The remaining matches have Poneke taking on bottom-side Wellington at Kilbirnie, Hutt Old Boys Marist and Oriental-Rongotai meet at the Rec, and Norths and Upper Hutt Rams go looking for their second wins on the year when they clash at Porirua Park.
All matches are 1pm kick-offs, except MSP vs Petone which is at 1.30pm. Next Wednesday sees the second set of games in the midweek round with OBU taking on the Rams and Petone facing Ories.
First Grade Thompson Memorial
Old Boys-University continue atop of the First Grade standings, and will remain there no matter what as they enjoy their bye week. Norths can close the gap some, but face a test against the Petone Brotherhood at the Rec, while third-placed HOBM take on the other Petone team, the bottom-placed Saxons, across the river. Further north again Avalon welcome Poneke to Fraser Park, while Tawa and MSP clash at Lyndhurst.
All four matches kick-off at 2.45pm
Under 85kg JC Bowl
After last weekend’s arm wrestle that saw Tawa take the win but Wellington stay on top courtesy of the bonus point they took both have 1pm assignments this week. Tawa hit the road to face Poneke at Kilbirnie Park in a repeat of last year’s championship final, while just up the road Wellington host Stokes Valley at Hataitai. The other two matches are both at 2.45pm with third-placed Avalon heading to take on Eastbourne at HW Shortt, and mid-table pair the OBU Bunnies and Johnsonville clash at Te Whaea.
College
Saturday’s second round of the Tranzit Coachlines series sees three of the four matches played at the Petone Recreation Ground. St Pat’s Silverstream face Gisborne BHS in the 11.30 game, with Wellington College taking on Napier BHS (the two schools will also play a 2nd XV match) and Scots College against Palmerston North BHS at 1pm.
The fourth game is the 5pm curtain-raiser to the Hurricanes vs Reds clash at Westpac Stadium, between St Pat’s Town and Hastings BHS. As well as being a clash between two teams that won last week, this is a replay of last year’s Hurricanes region Secondary School semi-final, won 20-13 by St Pat’s Town. This game will be called live on Te Upoko radio on 1161AM in Wellington and on 765AM and 94.3FM in the Hawke’s Bay, with Gordon Noble-Campbell and WRFU Academy Manager Darren Larsen with the comments.
In the local qualifying series for the remaining Premiership places in Wellington all four incumbents recorded wins last weekend, while Aotea College was the only side that recorded a win against a higher-seeded opponent. Tomorrow’s round of matches are (home team first, 2.30pm kick-off unless noted, and HVHS has defaulted to Rongotai College and Newlands has defaulted to Bishop Viard):
Pool A: Rongotai vs Hutt Valley HS (defaulted), Aotea vs Paraparaumu
Pool B: Porirua vs Wairarapa (1pm), Onslow vs Kapiti
Pool C: HIBS vs Upper Hutt, St Bernard’s vs Upper Hutt
Pool D: Wainuiomata vs Tawa, Bishop Viard vs Newlands (defaulted)