Rugby to heat up on shortest day of the year

It’s mid-winter tomorrow, and it also marks the mid-point of the round-robin series in the Premier Jubilee Cup, Hardham Cup, Premier Reserve and Colts competitions.

Whilst some sides will be driving to seal semi-final berths as early as this round, the shadows will be lengthening on others that need to taste success and pick up vital competition points.

It is also the second round of the Women’s second competition and the opening weekend of second round Reserve Grade and U85kg matches as the 10 lightweight teams are split into two divisions for the remainder of the season.

Premier, Premier Reserve and Colts rugby is all out of Wellington city this round, with Jubilee Cup matches being played at the Petone and Hutt Recreation Grounds and Lyndhurst Park and Hardham Cup fixtures at Mana, Johnsonville and Upper Hutt.

Northern United (Jubilee Cup) and Old Boys University (Hardham Cup) have this weeks byes in the Premier and Premier Reserve divisions.

Paremata-Plimmerton is holding its Old Timers’ Day and 60th anniversary celebrations.

This week’s radio commentary games are Tawa versus Oriental-Rongotai (Te Upoko) and Petone versus Wainuiomata (Radio Sport).

Previews of the six Jubilee and Hardham Cup fourth round matches are below.

In Colts Division 1 John E Kelly Memorial Cup rugby, there are four teams tied in 10 points with two win-one loss records.

Two of these teams play each other, with HOBM Green hosting MSP at the Hutt Rec in this week’s feature game. Of the other two of these teams, OBU Green hosts Petone at Nairnville Park and Tawa hosts Ories at Redwood Park (12.30pm kick-off). The fourth game is Paremata-Plimmerton entertaining neighbours Norths at Ngatitoa Domain.

The Division 2 Vic Calcinai Memorial Cup kicks off tonight at Alex Moore Park between Johnsonville and Wellington, while tomorrow the Upper Hutt Rams and Wainuiomata meet at Maoribank Park and Poneke win by default against OBU Black.

With unbeaten Norths having the bye, the chasing pack can catch up with them this weekend in the Premier Reserve Ed Chaney Cup.

Ories and Petone both have the chance to leapfrog Norths with bonus points over Tawa and Wainuiomata respectively.

The Upper Hutt Rams have won all three of their second round HD Morgan Memorial Premier Reserve Division 2 matches so far, but will be pushed hard by MSP at home who have won two from two and are unbeaten all season.

The six First Grade teams contest the second week of the Johnsonville Centennium Cup competition, with first round winners Stokes Valley hosting Wainuiomata, OBU tussling with the HOBM Barbarians at Te Whaea and Avalon beating MSP by default.

The 16 Reserve Grade teams start their second round competitions tomorrow. The top seven from the first round play for the John Davies Cup and the remaining nine contest the Alan Seerup Cup.

In the top flight Reserve Grade competition, first round winners and unbeaten Poneke Ruffnuts takes on the Petone Brotherhood at Kilbirnie, the second and third placed teams the Upper Hutt Rams Pirates and Johnsonville Cripples meet at TMP and Stokes Valley’s second XV and the Poneke Rats play at Delaney Park.

Likewise, the U85kg competition splits into two from this weekend, with the top five sides playing for the Paul Potiki Shield and the bottom five contesting the Tony O'Brien Shield.

First round winners Avalon and runners-up the HOBM Howlers play at Fraser Park and the Upper Hutt Rams and Paraparaumu meet at Maoribank Park.

In second week Women’s fixtures, the OBU Impalas are at home to Ories at Nairnville Park and Norths host the Petone Ponies at Porirua.

The two Division 2 matches scheduled are between Poneke and Wainuiomata on Kilbirnie Park and Paremata-Plimmerton and HOBM at Ngatitoa Domain. MSP have the bye. All Women’s games kick-off at 11.30am.

Jubilee Cup

Tawa v Oriental-Rongotai

Venue: Lyndhurst Park
Referee: Richard Gordon

Tawa come off the bye having won five in a row, including a 24-21 defeat of Hutt Old Boys Marist; the Eagles first loss of the season.

The Tawa forwards took it to the Swindale Shield champions and wing Romu Senileba profited with two tries. The Wellington Sevens rep has crossed the chalk seven times in his last five starts.

Ories blew a lead against Hutt Old Boys Marist last Saturday to drop to 0-2. If the Magpies fail to win this weekend it could be curtains to their semi-final prospects.

Tawa will try and pressure in the scrum which has been imperious in recent weeks. Tight forwards James Coburn and Hugo Plummer have been in top form. Out wide, Pepesana Patafilo starts his first game at centre since early May.

Ories don’t lack for physicality, but need to involve the likes of Tuga Nativa and Alex Ropeti to enhance their chances in a tough fixture. Ories welcome back flanker Luke Tau'alupe from a month away with injury and also have Hurricanes midfielder Matt Proctor lining up against Pepesana in a clash of the centres.

Hutt Old Boys Marist v Poneke

Venue: Hutt Rec
Referee: Vincent Ringrose

Last week Poneke were left to rue an awful start against Wainuiomata, losing 13-18 after trailing 0-15 and losing a physical battle. They will look to their big players, Greg Foe, Galu Taufale and Pakai Turia to guide them, while an addition on their bench is Te Raina Ricards-Coxhead returning to club rugby after a break and previously with the Axemen.

HOBM have got their season back on course with a 39-27 win against Ories. Glen Walters scored 19 points and wing Fereti Soloa two tries.

The Eagles narrowly won the Swindale Shield encounter 36-34 and with Poneke playing for their lives, a similarly close scoreline is likely.

Petone v Wainuiomata

Venue: Petone Rec
Referee: Colin Te Pohe

Wainuiomata won the Swindale Shield game between these sides 18-13, the same scoreline they beat Poneke by last Saturday. In fact Wainuiomata have won seven games in a row and five by less than 10 points this season.

One more victory will almost certainly secure Wainuiomata a semi-final berth.

Wainuiomata are extremely stoic on defence, conceding the second least points of any club.

Uale Mai at halfback has turned back the clock and his tussle with Logan Henry will be a highlight.

Watch for in-form locks Bevan Clark (Wainuiomata) and Eduan Struwig (Petone).

Hardham Cup

Paremata-Plimmerton v Avalon

Venue: Ngatitoa Domain
Referee: Ben Van Berkel

Avalon were pumped by Wellington while Paremata-Plimmerton extended Upper Hutt. The Wolves are a shot at the semi-finals, but need to put together a strong performance with the likes of Logan Blake, Thomas Kiwara and Ale Peni stepping up.

Pare-Plim should challenge the Wolves in the forwards. No.8 Peni Taupau has been hard to stop in recent weeks while first-five Johnathan Sabo is playing with greater confidence.

Johnsonville v Wellington

Venue: Helston Park
Referee: Andrew Lawler

Another big win for the Wellington Axemen will put them within a finger nail of the semi-finals. Wellington overpowered Avalon in the first-half last week and won by a big margin of 38-8.

Prop Jason Bird has only missed two games this year and James Polonati is very damaging and returns to No. 8. Ollie Marshall has scored 43 points in the last two games, while Matt Goosen lines up at second five-eighth in his second start since moving across from OBU.

Wellington won the Swindale Shield game 86-5.

Upper Hutt Rams v Marist St Pats

Venue: Maoribank Park
Referee: Ryan McLean

The Upper Hutt Rams snapped a 27-game losing streak against MSP in the Swindale Shield, but their form has dipped since that high point. The Rams struggled to put away Paremata-Plimmerton, but with two wins another upset of the Scarlets would be a huge step towards the semi-finals.

MSP lost for the first time in four games last Saturday, facing a competitive match up against Old Boys University.

MSP will be hellbent on revenge. James Tuia can’t stop scoring tries, while they welcome back Pago Haini to No. 8 after a more than two-year absence. MSP’s bench is strong for this game too, with players such as Tom Horan and James Proctor set to make an impact.

Upper Hutt will be hoping Mitchell Markov and Josh Houston-Tupou continue their strong form, and lock Lui Lumanau can add power to their pack, but set-piece could be an issue for the Rams.