Several lower grade and college rugby semi-finals tomorrow

Understandably the focus this weekend falls on tomorrows SuperRugby final, the Premier bucqi Jubilee Cup Final and tonight’s equivalent in the Hardham Cup; but there still remains plenty of rugby on at the lower grades, most of which are at the playoff stages themselves. And aside from the big boys, two of those will crown their champions tomorrow.

Colts John Kelly Memorial and Vic Calcinai Memorial Cups

The age-grade top-flight is into playoff mode. First up tomorrow is the 2v3 matchup with Tawa and Marist St Pats given the honour of playing the curtainraiser to their Premier sides meeting in the Jubilee Cup Final on Porirua Park, starting at 11.30am. The two sides have split their two meetings this year; Tawa won their first-round Paris Memorial clash by 46-33 at Evans Bay, but MSP prevailed 19-17 at Redwood just last weekend.

An hour later at 12.30pm top qualifiers Old Boys-University play host to Poneke at Nairnville Park. The Goats – who have lost just twice this year – are looking for another clean-sweep of the trophies and determined to regain the title they ceded last year, but will be mindful that this was the hurdle they fell at 12 months ago. Poneke eked their way in last weekend, taking a bonus-point win over HOBM while rivals Upper Hutt were unable to secure the one competition point they needed against OBU. OBU have won both previous meetings, 31-19 in the first-round but a closer 26-24 scoreline in their more-recent match.

The Division Two title will be determined tomorrow, when Petone take on Paremata-Plimmerton on the Petone Rec with the winner taking the Vic Calcinai Memorial Cup, donated for the long-time Poneke coach. Petone started the year in the top division, but found themselves relegated at the end of the first round in part due to a player eligibility issue, but have won every time out in Division two including last week’s 27-7 win over Avalon in the semi-final and 63-10 over tomorrows opponents. Pare-Plim finished third in the first-round JRD Cup, and reached this final with their first win in three attempts this year over Wainuiomata by 28-11 in last week’s semi-final. The game kicks off at 12.30pm.

First Grade Johnsonville Centennium Cup

The third-tier is likewise in playoff action. Both the top-qualifier Petone Brotherhood and Hutt Old Boys Marist will be rested after having last weekend off; Petone with the scheduled bye and HOBM defaulted to by their Marist brothers MSP. Petone went unbeaten in the second round of matches and have beaten HOBM in both of their contests this year, but those were by 35-26 and more recently an entertaining 40-38 scoreline, so the visitors will fancy their chances regardless.

The second semi-final is at Nairnville Park between Old Boys-University and Norths. Both warmed up with relatively straightforward wins last weekend and will renew a rivalry that has seen each take one win against the each other this year. OBU won 29-5 in the first competition round of the year en route to claiming the first-round Thompson Memorial, while Norths won 31-25 in their second-round contest.

Both matches kickoff at 2.15pm

Under 85kg Paul Potiki and Tony O’Brien Shields

Both lightweight divisions are at the semi-final stages. After two weeks off with a default and then the bye top qualifiers Tawa have an early 12pm start at Lyndhurst against fourth-qualifiers Eastbourne. The defending grade champions are certainly in a good position to repeat, but haven’t had it all their own way in their earlier 17-8 and 22-10 wins over Eastbourne.

Later at 2.15pm first-round JC Bowl winners Wellington play host to Johnsonville at Hataitai Park. Like Tawa, Wellington was idle last weekend after Upper Hutt defaulted to them, while Johnsonville eased past Avalon 27-12. The two finished tied on 28 competition points, with Wellington’s 17-8 win in the round-robin granting them home field advantage. They also won the sides’ first-round matchup by 29-5, but expect a close hard-fought encounter on this occasion.

The Division Two semi-finals have the West Roosters hosting MSP Red in the Ian Galloway cage in the 1v4 matchup, while Hutt Valley rivals Stokes Valley and HOBM meet in the 2v3 game at Delaney Park. Both are 2.15pm kickoffs.

The second club final tomorrow is in division two of the Reserve Grade, with two of the OBU stable of teams – the Righteous Brothers and Pink Ginners – contesting this at Te Whaea at 2.15pm

Premier Reserve Ed Chaney and HD Morgan Cups

One of only two grades not in playoff action, the Premier Reserves reach their last round of matches before semi-finals next week. All matches are intra-division contests, with no crossover ones this weekend.

In the Ed Chaney division the Upper Hutt Rams have secured top spot, and will look to keep their unbeaten record intact when they host Norths at Maidstone; Norths could vault as high as second with a win, but could miss the semis altogether if results go against them. Hutt Old Boys Marist and Poneke will battle it out for playoff places at the Hut Rec, while Tawa needs to beat Petone – being played early ahead of the Jubilee Cup final at 11.30am at Porirua Park – to have any chance.

In the HD Morgan section Wainuiomata will be the top qualifiers, and are scheduled to take on winless Johnsonville – who have defaulted the past two weeks – at Helston. Oriental-Rongotai and Avalon will decide who finishes second, and probably host the other next week, when they meet at Polo, while Paremata-Plimmerton and Wellington will contest the last playoff place when they face each other at Ngatitoa Domain.

All games kick-off at 12.30pm unless stated.

College WelTec Premiership and Premier 2

The Premiership reaches the semi-finals stage ahead of next Sunday’s final, and will feature a pair of match-ups few would have predicted following last week’s quarter-final results. Top qualifiers Wellington College host Wairarapa College on the #1 ground, with the visitors looking to repeat their upset result from a week ago when they toppled Scots. Wellington will need to shake off the rust as well, not having played since they beat St Bernard's 88-0 four weeks ago, with that coming days after they lost their annual Quad final to Christs by 19-24.

Through the Mt Victoria Tunnel eastern suburbs neighbours St Pats Town and Rongotai College renew acquaintances at Evans Bay. Town had the bye last week, but their last outing was the 10-43 Traditional humbling at the hands of Silverstream, while conversely Rongotai went to Upper Hutt and beat Silverstream for the second time this year, so the confidence levels of the two sides could be quite different. On the year however Town won their earlier head-to-head matchup by 33-10, at the same venue as tomorrow’s game.

In Premier 2 it’s the last weekend of the round-robin ahead of semi-finals next weekend. One game has already been played this week, with the Silverstream 2nds beating Wainuiomata to leapfrog them on the table and secure the fourth spot in the semi-finals.

In the games tomorrow Paraparaumu will secure top spot with a bonus-point win over winless Hutt International and just one competition point will ensure they are at home next week regardless. Kapiti likewise need just a point to make certain they’ll be at home next weekend, but unlike their neighbours they host third-placed Tawa (who themselves are coming off a loss to the Silverstream 2nds), with the strong possibility these two will face each other again next weekend. The remaining pair of matches – Taita at home against the St Pats Town 2nds and the local derby of Porirua hosting Aotea – are dead rubbers, as none of those four sides can make the playoffs.

All matches are 1pm kickoffs tomorrow, except the Town vs Rongotai matchup which is a 1.30pm start.