Much to play for in women’s, college, lower grades this weekend
While the focus is on the events in the Premier grade’s Swindale Shield there’s still plenty happening across the other club grades; potentially several first-round trophies could be decided tomorrow. At the college level it’s the last round of the grading qualification matches, and the fields for the various divisions will be set.
Women’s Fleurs Trophy
Barring an unexpected result tomorrow, the destination of the trophy will come down to next weekend’s clash between leaders Norths and Oriental-Rongotai. After last Friday nights contrasting results the two both take on Hutt Valley opposition tomorrow; coming off their arm-wrestle with Wainuiomata Norths head to Fraser Park to face Avalon while Ories, who steamrolled the Upper Hutt Rams, host Hutt Old Boys Marist at Polo.
At the very least Wainuiomata has served notice over the past two weeks that they’ll be a serious factor in the second round; they host Marist St Pats at Mary Crowther. Old Boys-University should join the top three in the championship round when they take on Johnsonville-Tawa at Nairnville, while the current bottom two, Poneke and the Upper Hutt Rams, meet at Kilbirnie.
All Fleurs Trophy matches kickoff at 11.30am.
Colts Paris Memorial Trophy
There’s a new leader at the top of the Colts standings, with Marist St Pat’s Blue now at the head of the field after Upper Hutt’s upset win over Old Boys-University Green on Wednesday night. It’s a congested board however, with MSP on 29 points, OBU on 28, Ories on 27 and Tawa on 26.
The round starts tonight with the bottom two sides, Norths and Wellington, clashing at Te Whaea at 7.45pm. Tomorrow has some key matches (all 1pm kickoffs) in the context of determining where the trophy may go; MSP head to Polo to take on Ories in a top-four clash, OBU are at Kilbirnie to face Poneke, and Tawa visit Petone. The fifth match has midtable sides HOBM and the Rams meeting on the Hutt Rec.
First Grade Thompson Memorial Trophy
Old Boys-University’s bye week couldn’t have gone any better as nearest pursuers Norths lost to the Petone Brotherhood, meaning that the Goats thirds only need to beat bottom side the Petone Saxons on the Petone Rec at 2.45pm to claim the title. At the same time and the same place two sides that will be hoping for a Saxons win, the Brotherhood and Hutt Old Boys Marist, meet in a local derby.
The other two matches are both 1pm kickoffs. Norths will look to keep their now-slim hopes intact against Tawa at the JCS, while midtable neighbours MSP and Poneke exchange pleasantries at the St Patrick’s turf.
Under 85kg JC Bowl
It’s a somewhat unusual situation in the lightweight grade, as the current top two – Wellington and Tawa – are both yet to have their byes. Wellington will sit this weekend, which will allow Tawa to go top should they win at bottom-placed Stokes Valley, but if they don’t then Wellington could claim the title from their couches.
Avalon are the only other side that could sneak in, but need maximum points from their last two outings – starting with tonight’s 6.30pm kickoff against the OBU Bunnies at Fraser Park – and other results to go their way. The other matches, both tomorrow, are Johnsonville hosting Poneke at Helston and Eastbourne heading to the Hutt Rec to take on HOBM.
All three Saturday matches kickoff at 2.45pm.
College
The Tranzit Festival makes the long haul north to Gisborne this weekend for the last set of matches being played at Gisborne Boys’ High. Wellington College were the only side to win in the Wellington round of matches (over Napier), and they take on the hosts in a televised match on the #1 ground.
Winless Scots have the earlier TV game, taking on Napier Boys, while Silverstream and St Pat’s Town will take to the #2 ground. Silverstream face Hastings Boys who were rampant in beating Town on Westpac Stadium in the early game, with Town looking to rebound from that when they take on the only side to have gone two-from-two, Palmerston North Boys, in the later game. The early matches are 11.30am kickoffs, the later ones are at 1.30pm.
Locally, the final round of grading games will sort out where teams will play in 2016. In Pool A Rongotai should have little problem claiming the Premiership place at Aotea, who lost to Paraparaumu last Saturday. Paraparaumu hosts Hutt Valley High, who needs to win to avoid dropping down to Premier 3.
It’s slightly simpler in Pool B, where Wairarapa College will return to the Premiership if they beat winless Onslow at home in Masterton. Porirua and Kapiti face off at Porirua in the other game with both set to return to Premier 2, unless Onslow pulls off a surprise. Pool C is also straightforward as Hutt International and St Bernard’s clash for the Premiership place at St Bernard’s, while Taita will return to Premier 2 for the first time in three years if they beat Upper Hutt at home.
Pool D is similar to Pool A; Bishop Viard can secure a place in the top flight, but need to beat or draw away at neighbours Tawa College to do that. For their part Tawa must win, and ideally need four tries and to deny Viard bonus points if they are to return. Wainuiomata, who beat Tawa last weekend, only need the same away against Newlands to play in Premier 2 this year.
All of these matches kickoff at 2.30pm, with the exception of the Wairarapa vs Onslow game which is at 1pm.