Representative matches on Saturday and Sunday for Wellington teams

There are a number of representative teams in action this weekend, at home and away.

On Saturday, the Wellington U19s meet Otago in the playoff for third and fourth at Owen Delany Park in Taupo in the National U19s tournament. Kick-off in their game is 1.45pm and it is live on Sky TV.

In Napier on Saturday, the Wellington Development team is meeting the Hawke’s Bay Saracens in their return match, following Wellington’s late win over them at Porirua Park a fortnight ago.

In Christchurch on Saturday, the Wellington Maori team is playing Canterbury Maori. This match is for the Tirikatene Shield.

In two U18s Boys games on Saturday, the Wellington Samoans U18s play the Wairarapa Bush U18s at the Petone Rec at 1.00pm and the Wellington Centurions U18s are playing the Horowhenua Kapiti U18s at Otaki at 12.30pm.

In the early game at the Petone Rec at 11.00am the Wellington Community U18s Women and the Wellington Samoans U18s Women line up against each other.

In pre-season matches, the Wellington U16A and U16 Development teams are playing their Hawke’s Bay U16 and U16 Development counterparts in Palmerston North.

On Sunday, there is a double-header at Westpac Stadium, where the Wellington Pride host the Counties Manukau Heat in their third round Farah Palmer Cup Women’s NPC fixture and the Wellington Lions entertain Otago.

The Pride are coming off a 32-29 win over the Bay of Plenty Volcanix, while the Heat beat the Manawatu Cyclones 43-14 to bank their second consecutive bonus point victory in the Premiership division.

The two teams didn’t play each other last year, but prior to that met five times in three seasons between 2015-2017.

In 2015 the Pride won both matches, taking their regular season match 27-12 before winning the semi-final 29-23 in dramatic fashion with two tries in the dying moments to then-16 year old Ayesha Leti-l’iga and the matchwinner through  then centre Georgia Daals. The Heat came back to win their next three fixtures, 37-5 and 60-7 (semi-final again) in 2016 and 43-14 in 2017.

Women’s matches between Wellington and Counties Manukau are always physical affairs, so supporters can expect more of the same from the opening whistle at 11.35am.

At 2.05pm, the Wellington Lions host Otago in round six of the Mitre 10 Cup in another crossover match between Premiership team Wellington and Championship contenders Otago. They will be playing for the Mike Gibson Memorial Trophy.

In another fixture on Sunday, the U18 Girls Wellington Centurions are playing the Tasman U18s Girls side at Porirua Park #1 at 11.00am.