McBain Shield and Tons' 200th headline big 10th round

It’s another big weekend across the rugby fields of Wellington. In the Swindale Shield the race for the main prize remains tight, and there’s a bunch of matches that could go a long way to deciding who makes the Jubilee Cup in a month’s time. There’s also some crunch matches in the Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield and First Grade Thompson Memorial, a clash of unbeatens in the Colts, and the start of the Women’s second round.

Premier Swindale Shield

Without disrespect to any of the other 12 sides, it’s hard to look past the McBain Shield clash at the Hutt Rec as the feature game of the round. Both Hutt Old Boys Marist and Petone took wins away from home last weekend against Tawa and Wellington respectively, and few games will motivate the two teams more than this. Both also have much to play for; the Eagles to consolidate their place inside the top 8 and regain the old trophy, while the Villagers not only want to retain the trophy they won in dramatic fashion last year, but also need the points to stay in the race for the top 8.

Unsurprisingly both sides have picked the strongest line-ups available to them. HOBM are largely unchanged in the forwards though a reshuffled loose trio includes George Amosa at #7 with Tasi Fidow making way, while in the back division Sheridan Rangihuna’s return at halfback is the only change. For Petone Hurricane James Blackwell, Jack Ross, and Marcus Roil all return to the pack while in the backs both Lester Maulolo and Willie Tufui are included, along with Losi Filipo on the wing. Last year’s hat-trick hero, Willie Fine, starts at fullback with Eugene Smith knuckling down for yet another McBain clash up front.

The trophy itself dates from the 1930’s when it was presented in honour of the late Life Member of the Hutt club Alexander McBain, and first won by Hutt in a 6-5 scoreline. Despite the fact it’s often been contested below the top-level depending on the fortunes of Hutt, then Hutt Old Boys and finally HOBM, and that Petone has historically dominated the fixture it’s been more even in recent years and has changed hands each of the last three years.

In the context of the Swindale itself three other matches also have a bearing on where the Shield may end up in a few weeks’ time. Oriental-Rongotai climbed to the top with their blistering last 10 minutes against the Rams, and tomorrow they face another examination of their credentials when their neighbours and rivals from a few hundred metres away – Marist St Pat’s – make the short journey to the Polo Ground. MSP got back on track after three straight losses in routing Avalon.

The Magpies roll out a raft of changes for tomorrow, with Whetu Henry swapping sides of the scrum so Alex Fidow can get game time at tighthead amongst four changes in the pack, while Hayden Whelan is at #10 and Ambrose Curtis at fullback. Xavier Numia, Alex Ropeti, and Andy Ellis are on a handy looking bench.

MSP make a pair of changes with Matt Peni back at No. 8, and 200-gamer Peter Sciascia at halfback. He’ll be joined in that club on a special day for one of MSP’s favourite sons with Fa’atonu Fili making his 200th appearance for the club - which started in the 2001 Jubilee Cup against Wests - amongst near countless elsewhere. Adding to the occasion is that he’ll be doing so at the only other club ground he’s called ‘home’ in his lengthy Wellington career, when he played the 2013 season for Ories.

After their loss to Ories, Old Boys-University got back into the winner’s circle in overcoming Norths. Tomorrow the Goats welcome Wainuiomata to a new paddock, Kelburn Park near the university, with their usual mid-winter home of the Basin Reserve unavailable due to renovation. While OBU aren’t in any real danger of missing the top eight, a win would at the very least keep pace with Ories in their quest to retain the Swindale. They’re without regular skipper Joe Beech tomorrow, with Teariki Ben Nicholas moving into lock to accommodate Marino Mikaele-Tu’u returning from the NZ U20’s at No. 8, while Wes Goosen is back with the Hurricanes. It’s also a big day for a pair of veteran Goats with both Joe Hill and Tomasi Palu bringing up 100 games for the side.

Wainuiomata are in something resembling no-mans-land on the table. A win coupled with results elsewhere going their way could vault them into contention, while a loss could drag them back into the fight for the last few places. Veterans Justin Va’a and Henry Smith return to the front row while Dan Farani leaves the clipboard with someone else for another week. Tau Mamea and Frae Wilson are also back in the starting line-up.

Also at stake between the two is a pair of trophies. One is the Bill Brien Challenge Cup which OBU defended last weekend, the other their interclub Peter Dunford Cup. Dunford was a Wellington College old boy who moved to Wainuiomata in the 1950’s and became heavily involved with the growing club. It’s held by OBU after their 45-7 win at Nairnville last year in what was at the time a top-of-the-table clash.

After one brief weekend at the summit Norths slipped back to third with their loss to OBU, but tomorrow return to the surroundings of Jerry Collins Stadium where the Upper Hutt Rams are the visitors. For Norths the motivation is that a win could secure that long-awaited return to the Jubilee Cup while the Rams could find themselves outside the top-eight if this result and others go against them. Both sides will however have to get over the demons of their respective second-halves last weekend with both conceding hard-earned leads.

Best and Fairest co-leader Anthony Fox returns for Norths after missing last week, with Fala Tuala moving back to lock while their only other change is a straight swap of Johnny Teleaga for TK Bishop at centre. The notable absence for the Rams is Josh Brown, who was forced off with injury last weekend and is replaced by Sio Luamanu. Max Pearson also moves into centre where he’ll be joined by either Jayden Treviranus or Josh Hunt, with the pair bracketed. Outside of them Joyner Key brings up his century of appearances across the merger clubs.

The two play for the third interclub trophy on offer tomorrow; their Terry Farrow Memorial Cup. Farrow was another heavily involved in the merger that created Norths and was later awarded Life Membership, and his father George had previously been accorded the same honour by the Upper Hutt club.

Two teams that have much to play for meet at Kilbirnie Park. Poneke and Tawa are both in the dogfight for those last two places and it probably goes without saying that the competition points on offer are extremely valuable to each. A win is a big step towards the Jubilee Cup; a loss would be a big one backwards. The home side had to work hard for their win over Johnsonville last time out, while the visitors will need to rebound from their loss to HOBM.

Poneke revert mostly to the backline from the win over MSP a fortnight ago, bolstered from that alignment by Pakai Turia being back at fullback. Up front they also get Isaia Walker-Leawere back from NZ U20s duty though he’ll pack down at 6 rather than at lock, and the in-form Cole Stewart will be looking for his fourth successive man-of-the-match nod. Tawa get James So’oialo back and will have the services of Ben Lam, but Kemara Hauiti-Parapara hasn’t been released to play following the U20s tour while Tolu Fahamokoia plays his last game before joining up with the provincial Barbarians side preparing to face the British & Irish Lions in the tour opener in Whangarei.

By coincidence the bottom four are all in action amongst themselves. Wellington are the only one of the four who can still make the Jubilee Cup, but need to take four straight bonus point wins and for Petone and either Poneke or Tawa to not pick up points the rest of the way, which all seems rather unlikely. Tomorrow however they head out to Ngatitoa where they are the opposition for Paremata-Plimmerton on the latter’s Old Timers' Day. That should provide the home side with plenty of motivation, but equally that chance that they could get off the mark for the year as well.

Tane McMillan-Parata takes the captaincy for the locals with James Corcoran unavailable, with Johnathan Sabo returning to the #10 jersey, otherwise it’s a fairly unchanged side from last week. Wellington have made a handful of changes, but with Peni Nabainivalu and Paddy Hughes both still absent even more of the load falls on skipper Sam Gard’ner, Alex Dalzell, and Hilton Mexted.

In the other all-bottom four match-up, Johnsonville play host to Avalon at Helston Park. As has been the way for most of their games so far the Hawks made Poneke work for their points before succumbing, while the undermanned Wolves had few moments in the face of the big red MSP machine. The home side should be the favourites, but like Pare-Plim, Avalon will be targeting this as a chance to finally get one in the win column. Anthony Pettett and Tiwi Davies return to the home team’s starting lineup with Kane Thompson coming off the bench, and Avalon get Ben Peni back, but will be without Sefo Aumua.

As normal, all seven matches are 2.45pm kickoffs.

Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield

The prelude to the McBain clash is itself a top-five match as leaders HOBM (41) look top keep their narrow margin at the top of the table intact at least against Petone (32), and while the Villagers are longshots to overhaul the margin on the ladder, they would also like to get one over their rivals.

Second-placed OBU (40) will be favourites against mid-table Wainuiomata at Nairnville, while third and fourth meet at the JCS when Norths host the Upper Hutt Rams (both 34).

The remaining four games have midtable pair Poneke and Tawa meeting at Kilbirnie and neighbours Oriental-Rongotai and MSP clash at Polo, while the bottom four sides are in their own set of battles; Paremata-Plimmerton host winless Wellington at Ngatitoa while Johnsonville and Avalon each go looking for their second win on the season at Helston.

All seven matches are at the usual 1pm kickoff time.

Women's

The first grade to enter their championship round is the Women’s. Oriental-Rongotai’s reward for lifting the Fleurs Trophy is to get the week off, leaving the other 4 teams to get the Victoria Tavern Trophy underway. Old Boys-University and Wainuiomata meet for the second time in as many weeks, this time at Nairnville Park, while Norths face new opposition in Marist St Pat’s who have been promoted into Division 1 for the balance of the season.

In Division 2 the Lady Eagles head across the bridge to take on Petone at the Petone Rec, while Poneke head out to Ngatitoa to meet Paremata-Plimmerton. Tawa has the bye
All four matches kickoff at, or slightly after, 11.30am

Colts Div 1 Paris Memorial Trophy

Once again the Colts kicks off tonight when neighbours Oriental-Rongotai and Marist St Pats – with matching two-win, one-loss records – clash at Te Whaea at 7.30pm.

On Saturday the major match is the meeting of the two unbeaten sides at the Petone Rec; the home side has a perfect record so far, while OBU Green was somewhat surprisingly held to a draw by Norths. Elsewhere Poneke and Tawa add to the days matches between the two clubs at Kilbirnie, while winless pair Norths and Upper Hutt take to Porirua #2 looking to get off the mark. All Saturday matches kick off at 1pm.

First Grade Div 1 Thompson Memorial Cup

The grades third round starts at 1pm tomorrow when the two sides that played out the season-opening knockout – the Petone Brotherhood and Norths Uso’s – clash at the Petone Rec. At 2.45 the other unbeaten side, the HOBM Barbarians visit Kilbirnie to take on Poneke while the Stokes Valley Chiefs (‘A’ side) host the Norths Reds at Delaney. The fourth match is at the slightly later time of 3.15pm when MSP host OBU on the St Pats Artificial.

Under 85kg Div 1 JC Bowl

Like the Colts the lightweights get underway tonight when bottom-side OBU Bunnies and HOBM take to Alex Moore Park at 7.30pm.

Tomorrows matches have Tawa hosting Eastbourne at Lyndhurst and Wests taking on Johnsonville at Ian Galloway (both at 1pm), while the crunch game is at Fraser Park at 2.45 when the Avalon Wolves put the challenge Centurions Cup at stake against the Wellington Axemen.

College

The Tranzit Festival rolls into Napier tomorrow for the second round of matches. In the early (12pm) matches Rongotai take on Gisborne Boys and Wairarapa faces Palmerston North Boys. The 1.30pm kickoffs have St Pat’s Town against a red hot Hastings Boys side, while Wellington College have the feature match against hosts Napier Boys.

Locally there’s the second round of the Premier qualification; Scots host St Bernards and Silverstream welcome Bishop Viard with the winners of these matches automatically through to the Premiership while the losers get a second chance next week. The other 12 teams are in matches to decide whether they’ll have a chance at the Premiership next week, or they’ll be looking at Premier 2 or 3 for the season ahead.