Petone, Tawa and Marist St Pats Go Unbeaten On Way To Titles

Heartbreak to jubilation, all within the space of 12 months for the Petone Under 21 ‘Colts’ side. This time last year, the team was left empty, an extra time defeat at the hands of Old Boys University. 14 players returned this year as Fraser Park played host to six grade finals, including the Colts John E Kelly Memorial Cup Final.  

Standing in their way, rivals Hutt Old Boys Marist, and a 17-all draw in their regular season meeting back in May, Petone’s only slip as they headed into the final unbeaten.  

The Villagers having the ascendency from the kick-off, playing clever rugby with the wind as they sat in the box seat for the opening 40. Petons scoring two tries in the first half through Lipo Sipaia and centre Jacob Beattie. The boot of Rory Woollett pushing the Villagers out to an 18-0 half time lead. 

Hutt Old Boys came out with a new mindset and a changed approach, scoring first to close the gap to 18-5. Petone kicked two more penalties, and another try to the Eagles had the score at 24-10 approaching the final 10.  

Second-Five Tom Mannix slotted a drop goal and Petone looked home at 27-10, however didn’t do themselves any favours in closing out the match, and as the Eagles found width, two tries out wide within three minutes set us up for a grandstand finish. Petone lead 27-22, however a third try proving too much to ask as for the Eagles as Petone held out for a famous victory, going through the entire season unbeaten while doing so.  

To follow on the Number 1 field, the Under 85kg Division 1 Final, between top seeds Johnsonville and the Upper Hutt Rams. Upper Hutt scoring a win over the Hawks the weekend before to not only spoil their unbeaten season but knocking them out of the National Under 85kg Club Cup while doing so. 

The conditions a lot better than teams had the weekend before, the ground was soaked in sunshine and all signs pointed to some classic running free 85s rugby. 

Johnsonville came out firing on all cylinders, and what seemed to be lacking the week before clicked from the first minute as they ran away with a 37-5 victory to claim their first Paul Potiki Shield title since 2004. 

Field 2, in the middle of the park had the pleasure of hosting the Premier 2 Division 1 final first up, between Tawa and Northern United. Defending champions Tawa, who have not lost since early 2021 lead from start to finish and powered to their second consecutive Ed Chaney Cup title, with a 31-7 victory. 

Under 85kg Division 2 was next up, the Tony O’Brien Shield on the line as Eastbourne took on Stokes Valley. In what was always going to be a tough physical Hutt Valley battle, the Stokes Valley side, who are back in the competition for their first year, held Eastbourne try-less and came home with a 14-9 victory. 

Our action wraps up with the two games down the Northern end of Fraser Park on Field 3, first up the Colts Division 2 final between Paremata-Plimmerton and Poneke. Much like the trend of finals footy this season, a tight tussle was on its way, and was delivered as Pare-Plim snuck home with a 17-15 victory.  

Finally, the Under 85kg Division 3 final. Hutt Old Boys Marist took on Marist St Pats for the Phillip Wiggins Trophy. Hutt Old Boys running out too strong in the end, 25-20 victors. 

The club season wrapped up a week later, with the Reserve Grade Division 2 Final for the Alan Seerup Cup. This match played between the two top sides throughout the season, the unbeaten Marist St Pats and Upper Hutt, the Rams only loss coming to MSP earlier in the competition.  

While the match kicked off in brief sunshine, by the second half the players appeared to be out in a mud bath with the weather packing in rapidly. MSP leading from start to finish, holding off a late surge from the Rams to hold onto a 13-8 victory, completing an unbeaten season. 

2022 Champions: 
Jubilee Cup (Premier Men): Northern United 
Tia Paasi Memorial Cup (Premier Women): Northern United 
Ed Chaney Cup (Premier 2 Division 1): Tawa 
HD Morgan Memorial Cup (Premier 2 Division 2): Petone 
John E Kelly Memorial Cup (Colts Division 1): Petone 
Vic Calcinai Memorial Cup (Colts Division 2): Paremata-Plimmerton 
Paul Potiki Shield (Under 85kg Division 1): Johnsonville  
Tony O’Brien Shield (Under 85kg Division 2): Stokes Valley 
Phillip Wiggins Trophy (Under 85kg Division 3): Hutt Old Boys Marist 
John Davies Cup (Reserve Grade Division 1): Oriental-Rongotai 
Alan Seerup Cup (Reserve Grade Division 2): Marist St Pats