All set for semi-finals this weekend

The stage is set for an exciting and absorbing set of semi-finals this weekend in the Premier, Premier Reserve, Colts Division 1 and 2 and Women’s Division 1 grades.

To allow for extra-time, kick-off times in the semi-finals are earlier than usual. The Women’s matches get underway at 11.00am, the Premier Reserve and Colts kick-off at 12.30pm and the Premier playoffs are at 2.30pm.

The day starts with the two Women’s semi-finals at the Polo Ground and Porirua Park respectively. Top qualifier Oriental-Rongotai hosts fourth placed Paremata-Plimmerton in one semi-final and Northern United hosts third the placed Petone Ponies in the other. Ories have beaten Paremata-Plimmerton twice this season and won 39-10 at the start of this round. Norths have beaten Petone twice, but both have been closely fought and on the scoreboard, 27-17 and 34-22. Norths were also upset at this stage last year to OBU, who went on to lose to Ories in the final so will be eager to atone. 

Both Les Mills Division 1 Colts semi-finals could be crackers. Top qualifier Norths host perennial contenders OBU on Jerry Collins Stadium, while first round winners travel to the Hutt Recreation Ground to meet Hutt Old Boys Marist. MSP won this match-up 36-7 just last week so the teams will know what to expect from the other when they face each other. Norths beat OBU 29-20 at Te Whaea a fortnight ago, but OBU toppled Norths 29-24 in the first round Paris Memorial Trophy.

Both Division 2 Colts Vic Calcinai Memorial Cup semi-finals are in the eastern suburbs, with Ories (1) hosting OBU Black (4) on Polo 2 and Poneke (2) entertaining Wainuiomata (3) on Kilbirnie Park. 

Top qualifier Ories also host Poneke at the Polo Ground in the major Ed Chaney Cup Premier Reserve semi-final, while first round Harper Lock Shield champions Marist St Pat’s meet Norths on Evans Bay Park. MSP’s players will be well rested after having their bye last week and should be well supported by the club faithful. 

The Premier Reserve Division 2 HD Morgan Memorial semi-finals are at Petone and Johnsonville, where top qualifiers Petone will want to repeat their 70-point margin of victory over Wainuiomata a month ago and Johnsonville will be out to emulate their 29-14 win over the Upper Hutt Rams’ second XV from the start of the second round. 

Meanwhile, the round-robin competition continues in lower grades, including the U85kg Division 1 Paul Potiki Shield where the ladder should stay tight after Saturday. The two unbeaten teams after three weeks are the Upper Hutt Rams and Avalon, with the Rams playing third place the Tawa Titans and first round winners playing bottom placed the OBU Bunnies. Unbeaten sides the Johnsonville Terrahawks host Wellington and MSP host HOBM in Division 2.

The HOBM Barbarians will be out to keep their unbeaten season record alive in the First Grade Johnsonville Centennium Cup against the Stokes Valley Rhinos.

A look at the four Jubilee Cup and Hardham Cup semi-finals is below: 

Jubilee Cup: Northern United (1) v Hutt Old Boys Marist (4)
Venue: Porirua Park
Referee: Vincent Ringrose

Norths won the Andy Leslie trophy for topping the Jubilee Cup round robin for the first time since 2010 on Saturday when they beat Old Boys University 13-10 at Nairnville Park. North's victory against the defending Jubilee Cup champions was built on superior defence, a triumph for openside flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi and locks Chris Middleton and Fala Tuala all of whom were a tower of strength. 

Rookie first-five Eli Moata'a, in just his fifth match, was a mixed bag. Some excellent kicks were undone by some rash judgement. The teenager old will grow in stature from a tough outing, with Jackson Garden-Bachop on standby for the Hurricanes tomorrow.

Norths boast a 16-3 record and have scored 100 tries this season. They have set the benchmark for all-round excellence in 2018. However they’ve had considerable trouble with the Eagles. 

HOBM won the Swindale Shield meeting 47-17 in April and blew a 34-11 lead to lose 35-34 in the Jubilee Cup encounter.

The Eagles were thrashed 26-50 by Poneke last week, but were Jubilee finalists last season and with the likes of Sheridan Rangihuna, Glen Walters, Tasi Fidow, Chase Tiatia and the Manaia brothers have the threats to derail Norths. Tiatia moves into second five-eighth for the semi-final, while Samoan Sevens player Tomasio Alosio re-joins his home club off the bench. 

Jubilee Cup: Old Boys University (2) v Oriental-Rongotai (3)
Venue: Hutt Recreation Ground 
Referee: Nick Hogan

Old Boys’ University have won both meetings against Ories at home at Nairnville Park this season, though the most recent encounter was only decided by 18-17. In fact three of the last seven games between these clubs have been settled by only a point. The Goats have shifted this match to the Hutt Rec, where they prefer to play on a hard and fast surface. This tactic paid dividends for them last year when they beat Tawa 50-22 in their home playoff at Porirua Park.

OBU appear to have a vastly better lineout, but if Ories can hold their own in that department their backline looks more settled having scored seven more tries than the Goats in the Jubilee Cup. 

Ories have been to the semi-finals seven times in the past eight seasons last making the final in 2013. 

Key players for Ories include captain and lock Tuakana Metuarau, No.8 Luca Ress, who has scored scored 22 tries this season, and Wellington Lions centre Malo Tuitama.

For OBU look for locks Will Mangos and Agustin Escalona and flyhalf Dale Sabbagh to step up. Greg Mullany at second five-eighth is a steadying influence in the backline. 

Hardham Cup: Wainuiomata (1) v Johnsonville (4)
Venue: William Jones Park
Referee: Colin Te Pohe

Wainuiomata confirmed top spot after a narrow 23-22 victory over the Axemen. The Wainuiomata scrum flourished and young contracted Hurricanes Peter Umaga-Jensen and TJ Va’a showed solid form. Va’a comes off the bench in this semi-final Marvin Karawana returns from injury to centre. 

Johnsonville dropped their third game in a row, but will take heart from the fact they have scored 23 tries in the Hardham Cup.

This should be a high scoring affair. The last meeting was won by Wainuiomata 46-36, featuring 12 tries.

Wainuiomata openside Matt Jacobs is the leading points scorer in the Hardham Cup while the Hawks boast wing Waisea Yabakivou who with six tries is the leader in that department. 

Big No.8 Ben Tupuola is back for the hosts. He co-won the Billy Wallace Best & Fairest award in 2017.

Hardham Cup: Petone (2) v Upper Hutt Rams (3) 
Venue: Petone Rec
Referee: Jamie Fairmaid

Petone have accounted for the Upper Hutt Rams twice this season, 43-14 in the Swindale Shield and a much closer 36-26 in the Hardham Cup.

Petone have scored a Hardham Cup leading 27 tries while the Rams have crossed the chalk 75 times in total this year suggesting points could be plentiful. 

Upper Hutt are the defending champions, but their form is patchy in contrast to the Villagers who have five out of six matches. Hooker Eugene Smith celebrated his 200th last week while fullback Adam Simpson has scored eight tries from fullback in a fine season. Prop Kaliopasi Uluilakepa had been destructive at times. Petone welcome back captain Mateaki Kafatolu at openside flanker in a timely and welcome return from a lengthy injury spell. 

Upper Hutt should get Josh Houston-Tupou back and in concert with Jack Wright and Daniel Schrijvers will threaten in the loose.

They key for the Rams is holding their own at set piece where Petone appears to have a decisive superiority.