Stakes high in second round on Saturday
After last weekend's tense and tight opening round to the bucqi Jubilee Cup you'd get good odds on another tomorrow as the eight teams already know how tough it will be to just make the playoff stage. Things are little different in the Hardham Cup either, while there are significant clashes in most of the lower grades as well.
One thing to note is that with the second All Blacks vs Wales Test match at Westpac Stadium most club kickoff times are 30 minutes earlier, with the Jubilee and Hardham Cup games all starting at 2.15pm.
RadioSport (1503AM) will be at the Upper Hutt Rams vs Wellington clash at Maidstone Park with Adam Julian having the call, along with regular updates from around the grounds.
Premier bucqi Jubilee Cup
As we covered off on Monday, not since 1997 has the eventual bucqi Jubilee Cup winner lost their opening match of the round-robin and gone on to lift the trophy. That bodes well for last week's winners, and a challenge for the four sides that came out on the losing side of the ledger.
Two of those winning sides meet in another Eastern Suburbs derby when Oriental-Rongotai host neighbours Marist St Pats at the Polo Ground. Both ground out wins in the opening round, and the likelihood is that it will be a torrid battle, with each also facing the issue of their second-sides playing elsewhere in their respective competitions. The Magpies are somewhat shorthanded but make just two changes from last week's starting XV with Tuakana Metuarau and Tutasi Masoe returning to the side of the scrum, while MSP make a host up front, including the returns of Matt Peni and Pago Haini to the starting lineup, and Frankie Bryant comes into midfield for Lawrence Lotovale.
MSP hold the longest current winning streak in the top flight at seven, but their last loss came at the hands of the Magpies back in the second of the midweek rounds when Ories prevailed 54-21.
Across the water at Kilbirnie Park is the clash between the two sides that were beaten by those playing at the Polo Ground. For both Poneke and Tawa a win is vital as no side in the last dozen years has dropped both of their opening Cup-round matches and even made the semi-finals. After three losses on the trot the home side has made several changes; a new front row with Jimmy Hewitt moving from flanker to hooker and the ageless Misipalauni Moananu making his first Premier start in other two years at lock. Tawa also make a handful of changes; amongst them James Coburn at prop, Pati Gaualofa returning at lock with Joketani Koroi returning to the blindside, and Sharn Robinson replacing Shaun Treeby in midfield. These two also met back in the second of the night rounds, where Tawa prevailed in a hard fought but dour match by 10-9
The Upper Hutt Rams' rich vein of form continued with their last-minute win over Old Boys-University, and they have announced themselves as real contenders. They welcome Wellington to Maidstone Park tomorrow, with the Axemen left ruing missed opportunities in their loss at home to Wainuiomata.
Only MSP has a longer unbeaten streak than the Rams do at present and will be looking to continue that, even if curiously they've been more successful away from home than at it. They'll be without last week's hero Jason Woodward with Dan Aunese returning at centre, but the only other change is upfront with Api Heemi replacing Yuuki Kawano. Wellington are aslo largely unchanged, but neither Vaea Fifita nor James So'oialo are in the lineup as named on Friday morning, with Tobias Allen and Dale Sabbaragh named in their places. When the two met in the Swindale Wellington prevailed at Hataitai in a 40-32 points feast.
The final game of the round is at William Jones Park, where Old Boys-University venture over the Hill road to take on Wainuiomata. The home side was able to reverse the result from the previous week against Wellington, while the Goats were stunned late by Upper Hutt after fighting back from a half-time deficit into the wind, and suffered their first bucqi Jubilee Cup loss since 2014. Wainuiomata will be keen to atone for what happened when the sides met in the Swindale Shield, when OBU made a mockery of the fact that at the time it was a 1v2 matchup, blowing their opposition away in the first half and coasting to a 45-7 win.
Anthony Mamea joins twin brother Andrew in the front row for Wainuiomata, with a reshuffled backline including Frae Wilson at second-five, but without Peter Umaga-Jensen at fullback. OBU's only change to the pack is Daven Candy returning at openside, while in the backline Jack Cooke has the job of filling Wes Goosen's shoes and Joe Hill returns to the wing with Teegan Minkley at fullback.
All bucqi Jubilee Cup matches kick off at the earlier time of 2.15pm.
Premier 2 Hardham Cup
The only clash between first-up winners is at the Petone Rec where Petone and Johnsonville meet. Both sides triumphed over the two promoted B-sides (MSP and OBU respectively), so potentially each will face a sterner examination tomorrow. Both of Johnsonville's Hurricanes - Chris Eves and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi - drop out with Hemi Remuera and Warren De Souza restored to the lineup amongst those made by Logan Ili. Ben Brooking comes in at halfback for the Villagers with Jacob Gooch and Ta'amilo Va'a returning for their professional players Brad Shields and James Blackwell.
The two sides met at Helston six weeks ago in the Swindale Shield. Petone prevailed 44-37 on that occasion, with Johnsonville scoring both of their only competition points in that match.
Further up the valley Avalon take on MSP B at Fraser Park. The Wolves pushed HOBM hard last weekend and were unlucky to come away without any competition points when they could have managed a win, while MSP battled against both Petone and the northerly in the first half, but struggled to make any headway with the wind at their backs in the second. Tomorrow's game returns to the artificial after last week's match was played on the adjacent grass pitch. Avalon coaches Aaron Falloon and Jason Aiken have been forced into some changes in key areas with neither Sefo Aumua or Cameron Cross named, while MSP roll out a side that will lean heavily on the experience of James Zino, Tovio Apollo, and Tyler Tane.
After their opening win, Hutt Old Boys Marist makes the journey over to Ngatitoa Domain to face Paremata-Plimmerton. The Eagles had to work hard to subdue Avalon while Pare-Plim endured a trying afternoon against Norths, unable to take advantage of the breeze in the first half then withstand Norths' pressure in the second. They make a handful of changes, with season skipper Grant Robson back and Apirana McMillan-Parata returning to the front row. Sheridan Rangihuna, Kava Vulu, and LA Moemoi all return for HOBM.
The fourth match of the day is slightly south, where OBU B make the journey up State Highway 1 to Porirua Park and a tilt with Norths. The hosts will be looking for an improvement over their last two outings at home, both losses that ultimately cost them a bucqi Jubilee Cup place, and in contrast to most of the season Norths make just three changes; Va'a Kirisome comes into midfield and Mike Ioapo at tighthead with Gerard Faitotoa switching to No.8. OBU face yet another step up from last week's loss to Johnsonville, but have a handful of players who were part of the side that upset Norths 25-24 in the Hardham Cup only two years ago.
All four Hardham Cup matches are also 2.15pm kickoffs this week.
Premier Reserve Ed Chaney & HD Morgan Cups
As with last week, there is only one match between teams in the same division along with four crossover games. In the Ed Chaney competition first-up winners Poneke and Tawa meet in the early game at Kilbirnie Park, while the sole HD Morgan matchup is between Avalon and Wainuiomata at Fraser Park.
The crossover matches have Upper Hutt hosting Wellington at Maidstone, Johnsonville head to face Petone at the Rec, Norths and Oriental-Rongotai meet at Porirua Park, and Paremata-Plimmerton take on Hutt Old Boys Marist at Ngatitoa.
All six Premier Reserve matches kickoff at 12.30pm this week.
Women's
Last weekend's results in the Premier Victoria Tavern Trophy division shook up the hierarchy that's been established in recent seasons, and the first time in many years both of the previous year's finalists lost on the same day.
Wainuiomata top the table after their stirring late comeback to pip Oriental-Rongotai, and will be favourites to remain there when they host Avalon, who come off the bye but were well-beaten before that by Norths, at Mary Crowther Park. The other match is at the Polo Ground, where Oriental-Rongotai will need to get over that loss and face Old Boys-University who will themselves be buoyed after taking down Norths.
In Division 2 Hutt Old Boys Marist return to action after their bye when they welcome Johnsonville-Tawa to the Hutt Rec, while the Upper Hutt Rams make the journey down into the city to face Poneke at Kilbirnie Park. Norths and Marist St Pats have the two respective byes, and all four matches are at the usual Saturday time of 11.30am.
College Premiership and Premier 2
On results, the biggest clash of the season so far takes place tomorrow afternoon as unbeaten sides Rongotai College and Wellington College clash at Rongotai at 2.30pm. It's been several years since Rongotai have beaten their 'big brothers' and this year might represent their best chance to do so; however their two records are built quite differently. Rongotai has faced the three other sides that went through the grading process - St Bernard's, Wairarapa, and Bishop Viard - while Wellington has already played two of their major traditional rivals in St Pats Town and Silverstream, as well as Wairarapa.
St Pats Town and Scots College will look to keep pace when they travel to face St Bernard's (at 1pm) and Bishop Viard (2.30pm) respectively, while Silverstream head over the hills to Masterton to take on Wairarapa College at 1pm.
In Premier 2 the Silverstream 2nds, Paraparaumu, and Tawa are all unbeaten through three rounds. Leaders Silverstream are at home against Kapiti at 1pm, Paraparaumu head to Evans Bay to play the St Pats Town 2nds, and Tawa go over the Haywards to face second-bottom Hutt International. Mid-table Wainuiomata host Aotea, while bottom-side Taita go looking for their first win at home against Porirua. These latter four games all kickoff at 2.30pm.
Colts John E Kelly Memorial
There's three early and two late games in this week's Colts Division 1 draw. In the early 12.30pm timeslot Oriental-Rongotai, coming off their upset win over OBU Green, welcome Wellington to the Polo Ground, Elsewhere Poneke make the long journey out to Maidstone Park to face the Upper Hutt Rams, and OBU Green host HOBM at Nairnville Park.
The other two games are both at 2.15pm. Leaders Tawa, who accounted for the Rams last Saturday, make the short journey down the road to Helston Park to face promoted side Johnsonville while Norths and MSP take to the #2 ground at Porirua Park.
Under 85kg Paul Potiki Shield
There's one early game in the lightweights grade with leaders Tawa taking on Johnsonville at Lyndhurst Park at 12.30pm, with the home team coming off the bye.
In the three 2.15pm kickoffs first-round winners Wellington will look to rebound from their surprise loss to Eastbourne when they host the OBU Bunnies at Hataitai, Poneke and Eastbourne are at Kilbirnie, and the two promoted teams, Kapiti and Upper Hutt, go in search of their first Division 1 win when they meet in Paraparaumu. Avalon has this week's bye.
First Grade Johnsonville Centennium Cup
The third round of the First Grade competition is highlighted by the clash between two of the unbeaten sides on Petone Rec #4 when the Petone Brotherhood and Old Boys-University meet with the latter looking to maintain their season-long winning streak.
Across on the #2 ground the Petone Saxons host Poneke, while up at Fraser Park Avalon and MSP meet. The fourth game is at Lyndhurst Park, where Tawa and HOBM clash. All four matches are at 2.15pm with Norths, leaders on points difference, having the bye.