Club and college rugby finals and representative rugby all this season
It’s a busy weekend of rugby in the capital and for Wellington’s representative teams further afield this coming weekend, including club and college finals on both Saturday and Sunday.
The club rugby season is almost over, with just the Reserve Grade competitions to play out. The Division 2 grade enters its final weekend of round-robin play, while it’s the final of the Division 1 John Davies Cup.
The John Davies Cup Final is at Kilbirnie Park at 2.30pm between top qualifier the Poneke Ruffnuts and visitors the Upper Hutt Rams Pirates.
In last weekend’s semi-finals played in tough conditions, top qualifier the Ruffnuts beat the Petone Brotherhood 27-17 while the Pirates dug deep to beat the Johnsonville Cripples 22-17.
For the Pirates, their midfield appears dangerous, with former Wellington sevens players Colin Toilolo and Max Pearson in the mix. Toilolo has scored six tries this year, while Stewart, Ethan Morris and Liam McParland are all on five tries each.
Likewise, the Ruffnuts can call on a few former Premier players, including club legend Misipalauni Moananu, recent Premier loosies Sam Ready and James Mose and former Tawa and HOBM players Afa Logovae and Dennis Unasa.
Their top points scorer is halfback Matty Carter, who has also played the most games with 15 appearances, while openside flanker Afa Logovae has crossed for seven tries.
The two teams have met just once previously this season, with the Pirates winning that encounter 38-24 just three weeks ago.
The Ruffnuts will relish playing at home in front of their club matches, friends and family, which has been the backbone of the team’s culture since formation in 1997.
Of note, this year represents 10 Years of the Pirates. Captain Josh Stewart organised new clothing with a 10 year label which will be on the chest of the players when they run out to contest the decider.
Teams (as supplied, subject to change):
Upper Hutt Rams Pirates: 1. Matt Noy, 2. Thomas Chalmers, 3. Grant Toilolo, 4. Blair Griffiths, 5. Josh Satherley, 6. Will Hape, 7. Tanu Misa, 8. Ike McLean, 9. Josh Stewart (captain), 10. Joel Stewart, 11. Carl Heydon, 12. Colin Toilolo, 13. Max Pearson, 14. Ethan Morris, 15. Lee Tukukino, 16. Jimmy Butcher, 17. Joel Hodson, 18. Michael Hewitt, 19. Shea Coxson, 20. Liam McParland, 21. Dan Aunese, 22. Brad O’Connell. 23. Naaman Tamihana-boyd, / Player Coach - Josh Stewart / Managers - Bull Van Den Borst, Josh Satherley, Blair Griffiths.
Poneke Ruffnuts: 1.Adam Fatoese, 2. Mui Liumaihetau, 3.Nathan Tiatia, 4.Josh Ryan, 5.Anthony Taoipu, 6.Sam Ready, 7.Afa Logovae, 8. James Mose, 9.Matty Carter, 10.David Taylor, 11. Conrad Collins, 12. Christian Tasi, 13. Dennis Unasa, 14. Royden Raka, 15. Adam Smith, 16.Tuhoro Kingi, 17.Va’a Taoipu, 18.Anthony Savelio, 19.Tama Kirikiri, 20. Misipalauni Moananu, 21. AJ Leau, 22. Ed Henderson MANAGEMENT: Anthony Carter, Conor Hill, Chantelle Dean
It is the final regular season round of the Reserve Grade Division 2 competition as well,
The Upper Hutt Rams J8s (on 35 points) have already secured the top qualifier’s berth for the Alan Seerup Cup semi-finals, and they take on the OBU Teddy Bears in their final round encounter.
The other three semi-finalists have already been locked in, with the Paremata-Plimmerton Punters (30), OBU Pink Ginners (26) and MSP Internationals (25) all in but the order of finishing undecided.
All three of these sides meet teams not in contention, with the Punters playing the OBU Righteous Brothers, the Pink Ginners playing the Wests Mixed Veges and the Internationals have won by default against the Upper Hutt Thirsty Rams.
In representative rugby, Wellington teams are playing inter-provincial opposition in Wanganui, Palmerston North, Masterton and Levin.
The Wellington Development team plays the Wanganui Heartland Butcher Boys squad at Cooks Gardens at 2.30pm, proceeded by the Wellington Maori meeting Wanganui B at 1.00pm.
In Palmerston North, the Wellington U19s open their Hurricanes U19 seeding competition with a fixture against the Manawatu U19s at Arena Manawatu. Kick-off is 1.00pm.
At the Levin Domain, the Centurions Development side plays the Horowhenua-Kapiti Heartland team 2.30pm.
A Masterton’s Memorial Park, the Wellington Samoans tackle the Wairarapa Bush squad at 1.00pm.
In two representative matches on home soil, the Centurions U18s and Centurions U85 meet on Kilbirnie Park at 1.00pm and the Wellington Pride play the Manawatu Cyclones in a Women’s NPC warm-up at Ngati Toa Domain at 12.30pm. Both these fixtures will be played in 4 x 20 minute quarters.
Also on Saturday it is College Finals Day, with all finals from Premier 2 down at St Pat’s Silverstream. The feature Premier 2 Murray Jensen Cup decider is between the Tawa College and Porirua College First XVs. On Sunday, Scots College and St Pat’s Silverstream contest the Premiership Final at Jerry Collins Stadium at 12.10pm.