Busy Easter weekend of club rugby

Updated: Round Five of the Swindale Shield shapes up as something of a pivotal one, with the possibility that some teams can get a real jump on the field, while for others it’s a chance to make up lost ground. The weather of recent days with the remnants of Cyclone Cook will be factor, albeit not to the extent previously forecasted and that might help some while hindering others.

Premier Swindale Shield

This weekend’s round sees each of the top three sides all on the road, while once again five of the seven matches are for interclub trophies.

Old Boys-University tops the table with a perfect record so far, but coming off two big wins at Nairnville Park should find a sterner test this weekend when they head to the Petone Rec to take on the home side. For their part, Petone are much better placed than at the same time last year when they endured several close losses, but no wins on their way to missing the Jubilee Cup.

The Villagers will have a mix of the young and the old – rookie halfback Carlos Price makes his first start with returning veteran Jim Morgan packs down at No.8. It’s the same in the backs with Jared Kahu starting at fullback and Willie Fine sliding across to the left wing. The Goats will front a monster pack with both Teariki Ben Nicholas and Marino Mikaele Tu’u making their first starts for the season and both Finnbarr Kerr-Newell and Jonathan Fuimaono restored to the front row. Out wide Te Wehi Wright will be looking to add to the four tries he picked up last week.

Both sides will put silverware at stake: Petone will put forward the Bill Brien Challenge Trophy that they retained with last week’s draw, while OBU will bring with them the interclub Marc Verhoeven Memorial Trophy that they’ve held since 2013; overall OBU have won the last six meetings between these two including last year’s sole meeting 30-24 in the first of the two night rounds. Verhoeven captained both Petone and the Wellington representative side in the late 80’s and early 90’s, winning several Jubilee Cups with the former, and was later OBU’s (then Harlequins) first Premier captain following the merger. His untimely death in Sydney in 2011 was a shock to the Wellington rugby community and the trophy donated in time for the following years fixture, which finished in an 18-all draw.

Second only on points difference and also boasting a perfect slate so far, Northern United’s revival continues. That will face a significant test this weekend when they head down the road to take on Tawa at Lyndhurst, with the home side having finally gotten themselves off the mark with their win over Wellington. Corresponding with Tawa’s Old Timers’ Day, the contest has special significant for both sides as they’ll contest their interclub Sammy Saili Memorial Trophy; Saili was a prominent church and community leader who started his Premier rugby career at Norths before moving to Tawa where he coached both junior rugby and at Tawa College, and played over 200 Premier games across both clubs. The trophy was donated by his family following his passing in 2009 and is held by Tawa after their 26-13 win at Porirua Park in last year’s final Swindale round match which determined both sides fate for the rest of the season.

Tawa make just a single personnel change to their starting XV, with former Johnsonville player Vili Dakunimata coming on to the wing and Sharn Robinson moving to fullback while Ben Lam continues in midfield. The notable name on North’s teamsheet is Leon Ellison who after coming off the bench last weekend makes his first start in Wellington club rugby since 2011, while livewire flanker Antony Fox is an absentee. They’ll also be after much better output from the kicking tee where last week they only went 1 from 8.

Oriental-Rongotai maintained their unbeaten start last week, but only just in their 25-all draw with Petone, and sit third going into this weekend’s round. They make the short trip up to Hataitai Park to face Wellington, with the hosts coming off three successive losses.

The Axemen make several changes as they look to right their ship, with Eremia Tapsell at 10 allowing Peni Nabanivalu to move back to his usual place one further out, with the latter’s Buller Heartland teammate Jason Bird at hooker, while an interesting move is erstwhile winger Tony Smith being named at halfback. For the Magpies Adam Deck faces his former team, and makes his first start at halfback with Alex Ropati doing likewise at #10. Whetu Henry returns to the starting lineup with Alex Fidow dropping back to the bench. Tuakana Metuarau continues as captain, but at No. 8 this week.

The two will play for their Alby Jack Memorial Cup, held by Ories after their 52-15 win at the Polo Ground last year. Jack played for Oriental before and after WWII and during it for the successful combined side with Poneke. In 1950 he moved to the Axemen where he played for another decade and involved in several other capacities. The trophy was donated following his passing in 2000.

After last weekend’s narrow loss Wainuiomata return to the friendly confines of William Jones Park where they’ll be joined by the Upper Hutt Rams. The visitors are on the road for the third successive round, and will clearly be hoping for better luck staying north of the harbour rather than into the city where they suffered two reverses against MSP and Poneke. The visitors get the Schrijvers brothers back after their sojourn to Hong Kong while Jayden Treviranus and Max Pearson form a new midfield pairing.

For the hosts it’s a special day for one of their own with the old warhorse Justin Va’a bringing up 150 games for the side, on top of the 70-odd he played for tomorrow’s opponents. One other notable is the naming of Teru Time on the side of the scrum, rather than his usual wing position. Additionally both sides will be wearing black armbands for the father of former Wainuiomata and current Rams player Hokianga Morunga who passed away this week.

The two will also play for their Peter Jones/Dave Ritchie Cup, which honours two former team managers. The Rams hold that after their 36-29 win in the Swindale contest last year, but Wainuiomata turned that around in the Jubilee Cup clash winning 51-20.

The fifth interclub trophy match of the day will be fought out at Kilbirnie Park where mid-table sides Poneke and Hutt Old Boys Marist clash. Both sides come into this meeting on the back of high-scoring wins last weekend; Poneke notching their first win in beating the Upper Hutt Rams 52-14, while HOBM ventured over to Fraser Park and blanked Avalon 43-0.

The home team is largely unchanged, though the return of Greg Foe is a boost for them; while HOBM start 14 of the players from last week; the only change a backline reshuffle with Francis Tanuvasa replacing Izzy Foai. Poneke will defend the interclub Roy John Trophy which they won 32-23 at the same venue last year. The trophy’s namesake was Wellington representative in both rugby and cricket, and played halfback and first-five for both Poneke and the original Hutt FC.

The remaining games don’t have interclub trophies on the line, but nonetheless valuable competition points will be sought. Marist St Pat’s get to enjoy the comforts for Evans Bay Stadium for a fourth successive week (their stretch of away games starts next weekend), with Johnsonville making the trip down the motorway. MSP have made one change in their backline from last week, with Dudley Parsons starting at 10 and Fa'atonu Fili on the bench. Halfback Peter Sciascia runs on to play his 200th Premier match, which includes 73 for his fomer club Avalon. They are only a handful of changes in the forwards with Nick Harrison, Elijah Williams-Stewart, and Lucky Tuiatua all getting starts. Though MSP would be warm favourites, Johnsonville will always fancy their chances of a shock upset. They have named two Premier debutants, at prop and wing, but enough experience to push MSP.

The final game of the day is out at Ngatitoa Domain between the two winless sides so far: Paremata-Plimmerton and Avalon. The pair props up the table nd both desperately need to rebound after copping walloping’s last weekend at the hands of OBU and HOBM respectively. Tane McMillan-Parata returns in a number of changes for the home side, while Grant Robson will likely see his first action for the year from the bench. The Wolves get veteran Cameron Cross back, while they will look to Sefo Aumua and Ben Peni to provide their go-forward. One battle to watch in this one will be between the two opensides Shane Hedges and Logan Blake, both wiry players who love the contest.

Though both sides haven’t managed big numbers in their points scored output that could change with Wellington’s number one club referee Richard Gordon – who has a knack for creating high scoring encounters – in charge of this match.

All Premier matches kickoff at the usual time of 2.45pm

Other grades

The rest of the draw has been subject to ground and time changes, and a few defaults.

Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield

Last year’s Ed Chaney Cup champs HOBM top the table after 4 rounds, but have had to grind out wins each of the last three weeks. They travel into the city to take on a Poneke side at Kilbirnie looking for a bit of fortune after a trying start so far. Norths are the other unbeaten team, and they head to one-loss Tawa in the early game at Lyndhurst. Third-placed OBU are at the Petone Rec to face the Villagers who sit sixth.

In the remaining games MSP welcome Johnsonville to Evans Bay, mid-table pair Wainuiomata and the Upper Hutt Rams clash at Mary Crowther at 12.45pm, one-win sides Paremata-Plimmerton and Avalon meet at Ngatitoa, and Wellington look for their first win when they meet Ories at Te Whaea at 12.30.

All Premier Reserve matches kickoff at 1pm unless stated.

Women's

Defending champions Wainuiomata make their first competition appearance of the year when they host Norths at Mary Crowther, the latter coming off beating OBU last weekend. In the other Fleurs Trophy match OBU and HOBM will go looking for their first wins when they meet at Nairnville, with both these games kicking off at 11.30am.

In the Division 2 clashes MSP make their season debut when they venture across the road to Kilbirnie to take on Poneke, also at 11.30, while in the remaining game week one losers Tawa and Petone clash at Lyndhurst Park at the slightly earlier time of 11.15am.

Oriental-Rongotai and Paremata-Plimmerton have the respective byes.

Colts

Just three games on the slate for the Colts competitions. OBU Green and the Upper Hutt Rams clash at Prince of Wales Cup at 1pm in the Division 1 Eric Connolly Cup final, while Ories and Norths meet at the Polo Ground at the slightly earlier time of 12.45pm for those teams that lost two weeks ago.

Petone will claim the Division 2 James Gilbert Cup after Kapiti were unfortunately forced to default, and the Village youngsters will hope that doesn’t derail their hopes for promotion to Division 1 when WRFU considers that this week, while Johnsonville’s game with OBU Black at Helston will go ahead.

First Grade

he third-tier is into their second week of knockout play. In the winners half of Division 1 OBU head to the Petone Rec to face Petone after the game was moved from Nairnville, while Poneke travel out to the back fields at Porirua Park to take on Norths A. In the bottom half Norths B and Stokes Valley A get the #2 ground at Porirua Park, while HOBM and MSP renew acquaintances at the St Pats College turf.

In the corresponding games in Division 2 Tawa takes on Johnsonville and Stokes Valley B host Avalon on Porirua #4 (at 1pm) and at Delaney respectively in a pair of contests between neighbouring clubs in the top half. The Upper Hutt Rams and Wainuiomata take to Maidstone Park #2 in the one game being played in the lower half, with the MSP Internationals having defaulted to the Poneke Ruffnuts.

Unless stated these matches kick off at 2.45pm.

Under 85kg

The lightweight grade has plagued by defaults this weekend. The sole Division 1 clash that is going ahead is between Tawa and Eastbourne at Redwood at 1pm, with Wellington (to Avalon), Wests (to Johnsonville), and MSP Reds (to OBU Bunnies) all defaulting.

Conversely three of the four games in Division 2 are going ahead. The top four has HOBM facing Wainuiomata at Trentham Memorial at 1pm, followed by Stokes Valley and Kapiti meeting at Delaney Park. The bottom four game is Petone hosting the Upper Hutt Rams on the Rec’s #4 ground, with the MSP Greens having defaulted to Poneke.