Last year’s finalists standout on Gala Day opening

2017 Swindale Shield and Jubilee Cup winners Old Boys University and Cup final runners-up Hutt Old Boys Marist both opened their new seasons with impressive wins on Wellington Rugby’s Gala Day opener on Saturday.

With all 14 Premier and Premier Reserve round one games played beside the Hutt River at Awakairangi and Maoribank Parks and staggered kick-off times from 12.30pm-3.30pm, there was plenty of exciting rugby for the large crowds to watch.

Old Boys University were clinical in beating Poneke 55-10, while Hutt Old Boys Marist were fast out of the blocks in defeating last year’s Hardham Cup champions the Upper Hutt Rams 43-17.

Things started badly for Poneke against the Goats, conceding the first try and then losing Jonty Miller to the sin bin. Miller’s departure cost two tries, but the blindside flanker did have the last say of the first half to make it 17-5 to OBU at halftime. Any chance of a Poneke resurgence was snuffed out just after the interval by prop Jonathon Fuimaono who barged over for the Goats’ fourth try. No.8 Teariki Ben-Nicholas bagged a double and carried on from where he left off last season. Centre Maile Koloto and wing Gavin Parker looked to get involved and the evergreen prop Finnbarr Kerr-Newell dotted down and was full of bustle. Wellington Lion Greg Foe was back for Poneke and scored a try and maintained his high standards throughout. OBU retained the Beet Algar Rosebowl.

Roles were reversed in the Premier Reserve curtain-raiser, with Poneke coming out winners 44-19. Poneke played with much purpose and energy in general play in leaping to a four tries to one lead. With the wind, OBU came back to within several points but Poneke pulled clear at the end.

A combination of weak tackling by the Rams and Brandyn Laursen attacking spark saw the HOBM Eagles surge ahead14-0 after five minutes. Rams English import Tom Grimes touched down for the Rams’ first try, but prop Brett Manaia proved unstoppable as the Eagles led 21-5 after the opening quarter. Rams second-five Tyler Tane burst 40-metres to close the gap to 21-12, but another bust he made resulted in a n intercept to Fereti Soloa, who made the poach and ran 60 metres make it 28-12 to the Eagles. A penalty made it 31-12 at the break. The second spell was stop-start. The Rams attack created enough chances to win some games, but their defence was a liability. Hutt extended the lead to 36-12, before Upper Hutt closed to 36-17. The last try was scored by industrious Eagles lock Dan Cordery.

The HOBM-Rams Premier Reserve opener also saw the Rams reverse their Swindale result by comfortably beating the Eagles second fifteen 39-14.

Oriental-Rongotai also found form in their first outing of the year in their 48-3 win over Paremata-Plimmerton. Ories opened their season with an eight tries to nil win. Assistant coach and prop Whetu Henry scored two tries, as did centre Malachai Unasa. Captain and flanker Tuakana Metuarau and fellow loosies John Tuia and Luca Rees each crossed once, as did replacement Hinckley Siaosi.

The curtain-raiser was close in the first 40 minutes, Paremata-Plimmerton leading 3-0 with the wind at their backs and holding off Ories early in the second half. But Ories pressure soon paid off and they ran in five tries to win 27-3.

The other four Swindale Shield opening encounters were all close, including a come-from-behind one-pointer, a winning try and conversion on fulltime, a comeback and close finish and a tight match that was ultimately decided on an earlier red card.

Playing at the far end venue at Maoribank Park, The Avalon Wolves overhauled Wainuiomata to win their season opener 33-32. Both sides scored at least four tries for bonus points, including tries each to the Aumua brothers, loose forward Sefo and left wing Chris on debut, and a brace to last year’s joint Best & Fairest winner Ben Tupuola for Wainuiomata.  In winning, Avalon also won the inaugural Anthony Waldrom Trophy between these two clubs. The curtain-raiser Harper Lock Shield match also followed a similar pattern, with Avalon coming back to win 29-27.

Northern United also came back in the second half to overhaul Petone and win their match 22-20 for the Murray Henderson Trophy with a converted try and conversion on fulltime. Following an attacking lineout and a series of forwards thrusts, Former Japan 7s international Leon Ellison was driven over for the try that put them equal at 20-20. Ellison then calmly kicked the winning conversion. A tight match had seen Petone score the only first half try to give them a 10-3 edge, before Norths replied with three tries including the winner in the second spell. Norths No. 8 Peter Pili won the Collins Medal, awarded to the Player of the Day in this one.

Petone won their Premier Reserve match 26-14.

Marist St Pat’s scored the first try of the match against Tawa, but Tawa’s response was to score four converted tries with the wind at their backs and sail to a 28-5 halftime lead. MSP hit back after the break with a try to fullback Andrew Wells, but Tawa crossed again and they led 35-10. The remainder of the game produced some thrilling rugby as MSP came back with three more tries but they ran out of time and Tawa held on to win 35-29.

MSP reversed this result in the Harper Lock Shield opener, beating Tawa 13-7.

The Johnsonville Hawks scored the game’s opening try against the Wellington Axemen and defended their own line well from several Wellington Axemen raids. However, the game turned in the 30th minute when Johnsonville centre Kalolo Kalolo was red carded for hitting an opponent. The Axemen took full advantage of the opening out wide in the second half, scoring three tries including two to fullback Henry Hocking. The Axemen won 23-8 in this match that was played for the Mick Kenny Memorial Cup.

The curtain-raiser to this game saw the Axemen roar back from a deficit to beat Johnsonville 27-22.

The Swindale Shield and Harper Lock Shield competitions resume this coming Saturday 24 March with the second round set of matches.