Defending champions show their credentials

Defending Swindale Shield and Jubilee Cup champions Old Boys University showed their title credentials in their 32-17 win over Marist St Pat’s, while the Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles kept their unbeaten record alive through six rounds of this year’s Premier Swindale Shield – just.

It took a late penalty to get the Eagles home against Paremata-Plimmerton, HOBM winning 20-18 in their first home game of the year at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

Old Boys University moved into clear second behind HOBM with their win at Evans Bay Park over Marist St Pat’s, while Poneke are third after beating Johnsonville 25-15 across the road on Kilbirnie Park.

In another close match of the sixth round, the Upper Hutt Rams beat Wainuiomata 26-22 at home at Maidstone Park for the Peter Jones-Dave Ritchie Cup, to record their second straight win following four losses

Petone round out the top four on the Swindale Shield ladder on the ladder after beating the Avalon Wolves 28-5 for the Morgan Family Trophy at Fraser Park.

Northern United beat Tawa 27-14 at Jerry Collins Stadium and left wing Andrew Ellis scored his third hat-trick of his club rugby career in Oriental-Rongotai’s 47-19 win over the Wellington Axemen for the Alby Jack Memorial Cup at the Polo Ground.

Old Boys University retained the Jack Lamason Cup with their  win over MSP, who were left to rue an inaccurate lineout in the sunny but windy conditions.

OBU rushed out to a 20-0 lead after 30 minutes. Will Mangos, Sam Coventry and Tomasi Palu were particularly dominant with ball in hand as they scored three unanswered tries.

MSP openside Tom Horan tried to inspire a red resurgence when he scored two well-taken tries shortly before and just after halftime - following a long break for a medical incident involving a spectator.

However an MSP mistake from the kick-off allowed the Billygoats to swing onto attack and Coventry to cross for his fifth try in three games. OBU centre Maile Koloto pounced on a loose ball to settle the contest. MSP fullback Andrew Wells scored a runaway consolation try at the end.

Norths reclaimed the Sammy Saili Memorial Trophy with their win over Tawa. Norths dominated territory and possession, before finally scoring the first try after 30 minutes. They led 17-0 at halftime.

Norths right wing Junior Time-Tautoa scored his second try of the match after halftime and it was a tough ask for Tawa to come back. They did close the gap with seven-pointers to midfielder Kalim Kelemete and No. 8 Peniasi Tokakece, but they were left to rue a high error rate and the final say was left to Norths replacement prop Gerard Faitatoa who barged his way over. 
In blustery conditions on Kilbirnie Park, Poneke earned a bonus point win over Johnsonville but were made to work hard for it by their visitors who were very competitive for long periods but once again let themselves down with poor discipline and moments of inattention which cost them.

Poneke fullback Nick Robertson scored the game’s first try but Johnsonville hit back with a pair of tries, to multi-skilled loose forward Api Naikatini and left wing Romu Senileba. Johnsonville led 10-5.

The Hawks then lost right wing Royce Tonumaipea to the sin-bin just before the interval and in the next 10 minutes before and after halftime Poneke kicked a penalty and scored two tries to move ahead 20-10.

Johnsonville hit back quickly, Senileba scoring his second try to close the gap to 20-15. The remainder of the match was a scrappy affair, with Poneke sealing victory late with the chargedown try.

At a glance:
Avalon 5 - Petone 28, HOBM 20 - Pare-Plim 18, MSP 17 - OBU 32, Norths 27 - Tawa 14, Ories 47 - Wgtn 19, Poneke 25 - Jville 15, UH Rams 26 - Wainui 22

HOBM 29, OBU 26, Poneke 24, Petone 23, MSP 21, Norths 20, Ories 16, Tawa 16, Wainui 13, Avalon 11, UH Rams 11, Pare-Plim 6, Wgtn 4, Jville 0

In the Harper Lock Shield, Northern United and Marist St Pat’s remain in front and unbeaten after six rounds of the Premier Reserve competition.

Norths beat Tawa 46-15 and MSP beat OBU 53-31.

Poneke are third after accounting for Johnsonville 67-12 in the early game on Kilbirnie Park, while Petone smoked Avalon 70-7, the Upper Hutt Rams beat Wainuiomata 39-12, Ories beat Wellington 39-18 and HOBM defeated Paremata-Plimmerton 46-26. 

In the second round Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy, defending champions Oriental-Rongotai took the field for the first time after having the bye last weekend and they beat Petone 51-19.

A turnover inside Petone’s 22 resulted in the game’s opening try to left wing Ayesha Leti-l’iga.

Petone replied through their left wing La Winitana, but Ories broke out and centre Bernadette Robertson scored to put them in front 10-5. Two more tries to flyhalf Amanada Rasch and left wing Leti-l’iga – a 50 metre strike – put Ories up 22-5 at halftime. Halfback Reijeli Uluinayau scored for the first of her three second half tries. Rasch scampered away to score her brace and Leti-l’iga completed her hat-trick as Ories went on to win 51-19.  

At Te Whaea, Norths continued their winning start, seeing off the OBU Impalas 53-31. Norths led 20-17 at the break playing into the wind, but it wasn’t until the last 20 minutes that they finally subdued OBU who closed to 31-32 at one stage. Aimee Sutorious was a menace at the breakdown and scored a double, as did fellow veteran Brenda Collins and winger Paris Leilua-Va. OBU's best was midfielder Larissa Lima with wing Jess Offen crossing twice.

Hutt Old Boys Marist pushed Marist St Pat’s close in another spirited game. HOBM led MSP 19-14 at halftime at the Hutt Rec, but MSP pulled clear with the wind in their favour to win 35-19. Second five-eighth Monica Tagoai scored her second consecutive brace.

Paremata-Plimmerton had their second win of the competition, beating Avalon 29-17 at Ngatitoa Domain, halfback Milly Mackey and left wing Jamie McIntosh both scoring two tries. 

 
Marist St Pat’s made it two on the trot to start their Les Mills Colts Paris Memorial Trophy competition, beating the OBU Colts 17-10 on the Evans Bay Park Artificial.

The match remained scoreless until deep into the first half, when OBU – with the wind advantage – scored first from a lineout drive. The Goats then lost their halfback to the sin-bin and MSP closed to 3-5 at the turnaround.

MSP scored their first try and took the lead after halftime, before crossing for a second converted try that sealed their win.

Defending Colts champions Petone also earned their second bonus point win, defeating the Upper Hutt Rams 24-10, while Northern United won a livewire encounter over Tawa 59-31.

On Friday night, Hutt Old Boys Marist Green kick-started their season with a 31-20 win over Oriental-Rongotai at Te Whaea, scoring two long-range tries early in the second half to seal victory. Ories mounted a spirited second 40 comeback but the Eaglets held on to win.

Avalon, Paremata-Plimmerton and Johnsonville earned big wins in the Division 2 JRD Cup Colts competition. Avalon beat OBU White 48-24, Paremata-Plimmerton beat Wainuiomata 44-8 and Johnsonville beat Wellington 63-0. The fourth round in this set saw Poneke defeat OBU Black 31-15.

The U85kg JC Bowl competition kicked off this weekend. Recent champions the Tawa Titans beat the HOBM Howlers 33-21 and last year’s championship runners-up Avalon met Wainuiomata. In other results from games played, Johnsonville beat MSP Red 41-19, the OBU Bunnies pipped the Wests Roosters 17-13 and Eastbourne beat the Upper Hutt Rams 27-11.

The two teams unbeaten and on maximum points after three rounds of the First Grade Thompson Memorial Trophy are Old Boys University and the Hutt Old Boys Marist Barbarians. OBU beat Marist St Pat's 31-17 today and HOBM beat the Stokes Valley Chiefs 41-10 in the latter's first outing of the year. Stokes Valley B beat Avalon 45-15, Petone met Tawa and Poneke had the bye.

The Upper Hutt Thirsty Rams beat the OBU Righteous brothers 69-19,  the Upper Hutt Rams Pirates beat the OBU Pink Ginners 46-5 and the Upper Hutt Rams J8’s defeated the OBU Teddy Bears in three clean sweeps as part of the Mike Copeland Trophy First Grade competition.  The Wests Roosters and Johnsonville were also bonus point winners in the first round of games, Wests beating the OBU 69rs 31-7 and Johnsonville overcoming the Poneke Ruffnuts 39-19