Today’s Wellington rugby dedicated to Daniel Baldwin as Swindale Shield tightens up

Above: Petone and Poneke fought out a tough match for the F.J Tilyard Shield at the Petone Recreation Ground, with the visitors winning 23-19 and keeping alive their Jubilee Cup hopes for the second half of the season.

Updated: Today’s Wellington club round was dedicated to Wellington Axemen Colts player Daniel Baldwin who passed away during the week.

Daniel’s Wellington Axemen Colts team played paid tribute to their late friend by producing a determined 23-3 victory over the Avalon Colts in their division 2 fixture .On a heavy surface at home at Hataitai Park, the Wellington forwards were quick to gain the ascendancy and captain and loosehead prop Cameron Rosingrave rumbled over for the first try.

Axemen First-five Louis Fox produced on an assured display and scored 13 points. Unfortunately the game was called off early when Axeman reserve prop Teua Rawiri collapsed after an apparent collision with an Avalon player. He appeared to convulse on the ground as spectators called for an ambulance and team-mates rushed over with blankets. Rawiri has since been discharged for hospital.

There was a moment’s silence observed before the game – and every game today - and Avalon performed a haka at the end. Both teams are to be commended for showing such resilience and sprit in the face of adversity.  In tough times this was a showcase of what's best about the game. It was also noted that members of the Paremata-Plimmerton Colts team, who Daniel’s team played last week and who had the bye today, arrived at Wellington’s Hataitai Park clubrooms this evening, to pay their respects and share a drink with Daniel’s team and club mates.

Today’s Swindale Shield round delivered up a set of results that will ensure that it’s all on for 10 of the 14 teams over the final fortnight of the first round competition and will probably go down to the final Saturday.

Previous frontrunners Oriental-Rongotai and Northern United both lost heavily today, while Poneke kept alive their Jubilee Cup aspirations with a gutsy victory over traditional rivals Petone.

Today’s results saw Hutt Old Boys Marist deal to Ories 42-13, Marist St Pat’s account for Norths 50-14, Poneke beat Petone 23-19, Old Boys University defeat the Upper Hutt Rams 39-24, Wainuiomata beat Johnsonville 36-7, Tawa overcome Paremata-Plimmeton 55-7 and the Wellington Axemen hold off Avalon 32-31.

Today’s results mean that five teams are separated by just five points with two rounds to play.

These same five teams – Ories (45 points), OBU (44), Wainuiomata (42), Norths (41) and HOBM (40) have all qualified for the top 8 Jubilee Cup in the second round.

Despite losing today, Norths are back in the Jubilee Cup for the first time since 2012, while MSP (35) Points are probably safe.

Tawa (34), Petone (30), Poneke (28) and the Upper Hutt Rams (28) are four teams that will likely be fighting over two places for the Jubilee Cup.

Swindale Shield

Marist St Pat's put a half century of points on Northern United for the second consecutive year and stretched their unbeaten run against the Porirua based outfit to six games.

MSP burst to a 21-0 lead in as many minutes at Evans Bay Park. Tries were scored by fullback Andrew Wells, centre Billy Procter and wing Michael Buckley. Norths briefly rallied to pull it back to 21-14. Halfback Esi Komaisavai was creative and sprightly and forwards Johnwhite Silva and Antony Fox profited.

Wells scored his second try in the 45th minute and MSP took charge. Norths lineout folded and the MSP bench added considerable punch. Subs Lucky Tuiatua and James Proctor both crossed the chalk after sustained pressure. Lock Nick Harrison produced a Player of the Match performance.
 
Hutt Old Boys Marist were switched on and fast out of the blocks against previously unbeaten Ories in their match for the Bondy Memorial Cup.

Playing into the cold wind, home team HOBM flew to a 19-5 lead late in the first half, on the back of tries to centre Ope Peleseuma, flanker George Amosa and in-form tighthead prop Joe ‘Apikotoa. Halfback Sheridan Rangihuna kicked penalties to extend this lead to 25-8 early in the second stanza.

Ories closed the gap to 13-25 when openside flanker Tukia Purcell scored a well-constructed team try, but the Eagles flapped some more and crossed twice more, including Peleseuma running in a second try.

The OBU Goats signalled that their Swindale Shield defence is still very much alive with their 39-24 win over the Upper Hutt Rams at Maidstone Park.

OBU launched into the game and led 27-0 after the first 40 minutes, with right wing Joe Hill scoring two tries.

Both teams scored tries early in the second half and OBU advanced their lead to 34-5. In trademark Rams fashion, the home side raced back in to the contest and cut OBU’s lead to 34-24 with about 15 minutes still to play. But OBU scored again to shut them out. Fullback Jono Ihaka also scoed two tries.

At the Petone Recreation Ground, Poneke won the FJ Tilyard Shield off Petone and more importantly kept their top 8 aspirations firmly alive with a hard-fought win over the Villagers.

Poneke can thank determined defence over the final five minues of the match for their 23-19 win, holding off a consistent barrage of Petone attack inside their 22, including a long period of phase play from a penalty and attacking scrum.

Previously, Poneke had crossed for two decisive tries just before and after halftime, outstanding lock Cole Stewart intercepting a Petone pass and steaming away to score to make it 18-7 at the break and then prop Hennie Tui galloping clear to score to extend their lead to 23-7.

Petone then hit back with a pushover try to No. 8 Jack Ross and then a try in the corner to left wing Jarrod Adams, both these tries coming as a direct consequence of forwards pressure. But Poneke’s defence on at the end when it mattered.

Over the Wainuiomata hill, the home side and Johnsonville battled to a 0-0 scoreline until about the 25-minute mark when Wainuiomata broke the shackles and scored tries through fullback Fa’atau Mamea and right wing Nash Fiso-Vaelei. The Hawks struck back with a try to flanker Marcus Ale and they were still in the hunt at 7-12 down, considering they were turning to play with the wind at their backs.

But the green and blacks musled up in the second 40 minutes, extending their lead to a more comfortable margin and scoring their final try on fulltime. Wainuiomata retained the Bill Brien Challenge Cup in their first defence.

At Fraser Park, the Wellington Axemen held on to beat Avalon by a point, after Avalon’s reserve halfback Damian Madsen scored out wide at the end. Cameron Cross lined up the winning kick but pushed it wide.

Earlier, both sides had scored early converted tries and had shaded each other throughout much of the first half. Right wing Henry Hocking scored to push Wellington out to 26-14 at one stage, but the Wolves fought back and their wing Peter Ekevati scored to close the deficit to 32-26 and then Madsen scored at the end to give them a chance of victory.

At Ngati Toa Domain, Tawa greatly helped their Jubilee Cup chances with a resounding 57-5 win over Paremata-Plimmerton.

It was a slow start to the match and it took almost until the 20-minute mark for Tawa to open the scoring. They did so through fullback PJ Iosefo after Peniasi Tokakece marked his return from injury with a great run and offload to Iosefo for the try.

Down 17-0 at the half, Pare-Plim were very much in the game, though when the big guns of Tawa, such as Pepesana Patafilo and James So'oialo, came off the bench the game swayed heavily in Tawa's favour.

On his first touch of the ball Patafilo score his first of two tries, putting the visitors up 24-0, though Pare-Plim hit back shortly after through hooker Alex Hinchliffe who was waiting to strike on the right flank. 

It was one-way traffic from there, however. Tawa went on to run in five more tries, including a hat-trick to wing Sharn Robinson. 

Who knows how valuable that big scoreline may be if their Jubilee Cup fate comes down to points differential.

Premier Reserve

Hutt Old Boys Marist and Old Boys University will meet next weekend in a likely first round Premier Reserve title decider at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

Both sides are on 50 competition points after 11 rounds of the Harper Lock Shield, both chalking up bonus point victories today. HOBM defeated Ories 50-26 and OBU defeated the Upper Hutt Rams 46-15.

Northern United are third on 44 points, after edging MSP 25-21 in a much tighter affair, ahead of Tawa on 40 after their 40-12 win over Paremata-Plimmerton.

In other results today, the Avalon Wolves beat Wellington 47-17, Wainuiomata finished ahead of Johsonville 41-35 and Poneke beat Petone 20-10, after leading 10-0 at halftime playing into the wind and then pulling clear late in the match with the southerly at their backs.

Women’s

The second round of the championship Victoria Tavern Trophy saw Northern United beat Old Boys University 36-10 and Oriental-Rongotai blank defending champions Wainuiomata 29-0.

For the OBU Impalas, new NZ Universities women’s squad member Montana Heslop scored two tries from the left wing.

For Ories, No. 8 Tina Paulo scored a hat-trick, while centre Faausa Makisi and blindside flanker Joanah Ngan-Woo also found the chalk in their 5 tries to nil victory. 

In Division 2 matches, Petone defeated Poneke 15-10 and Hutt Old Boys Marist kick-started their campaign with a 31-0 victory over Tawa.

The Petone-Poneke match was locked up at 10-10 at halftime so was decided by a solitary second half score. Petra Kirklanova scored a brace and her locking partner Mary Lee Sa’u scored their other unconverted try.

Colts

The Division 1 Paris Memorial Trophy competition sees the Petone Colts out in front with a maximum 25 competition points through 5 rounds played.

Petone accounted for the Poneke Colts 43-10 in their early game on Petone Rec 2. Petone lost their tighthead prop to the sin-bin in the game’s opening exchanges, but proceeded to lay on three straight tries into the wind to take a 17-0 lead.

Visitors Poneke scored two unconverted tries themselves later in the second half, both out wide and both following good build-ups by the forwards, but Petone crossed for their fourth bonus point try and led 22-10 at the interval.

With the wind, Petone quickly stretched their lead and skipped clear to win comfortably in the end.

Traditional Colts grade powerhouse Old Boys University Green lost for the second successive week, going down 5-13 to the Upper Hutt Rams Colts at Maidstone Park. It was also the Rams’ first win the first five weeks of the Paris Memorial Trophy.

After beating MSP 43-33 in their midweek catch-up game, Oriental-Rongotai missed out to Tawa 27-33. But Ories are still second on 18 points, ahead of Tawa on 15 and MSP also on 15 who defeated Northern United Blue 34-24 today.

In Division 2, Paramata-Plimmerton remains in the lead on 20 points after four games played, despite them having their bye today.

HOBM beat MSP B by default and they are second on 16, ahead of Wainuiomata on 15 who defeated Johnsonville by default.

In the other two JRD Cup division 2 games that were played today, Wellington beat Avalon 22-3 (as reported above) and the Kapiti Colts beat OBU Black 42-8.

First Grade

The HOBM Barbarians beat the Northern United Usos 36-10 today to maintain their spot at the top of the First Grade Thompson Memorial Trophy standings. The HOBM Barbarians are on maximium 20 points after four rounds.

Old Boys University are second after beating the Stokes Valley Chiefs 9-8 in a ding-dong battle, while Northern United Red beat MSP 71-17. The Petone Brotherhood and Poneke met in the other match.

The Johnsonville Cripples lead the division 2 standings after beating the Poneke Rufnuts 17-12.

U85kg

The Tawa Titans didn't have to leave their living rooms today, defaulted to by the Wests Roosters, but are still on top of the JC Bowl points table on 20 competiton points after four rounds.

The Wellington Light Axemen scored four tries in beating tghe HOBM Howlers 20-0 in the 2.45pm game at Hataitai Park, while Eastbourne battled to a 22-20 win over the Avalon Wolves. 

On Friday night, the Johnsonville Terrahawks accounted for the Old Boys University Bunnies 49-12.

In division 2, the Upper Hutt Rams are unbeaten on maximum points after beating Petone 59-0. Poneke are unbeaten after having their bye today and a point behind in second.

College Rugby

Hastings Boys’ High School have won the Tranzit Coachlines Hurricanes region pre-season First XV Festival.

Three of the schedule four games today were transferred from Porirua to Fraser Park, where heavy underfoot conditions ensured scores were closer than they might otherwise have been.

All eyes were on Hastings BHS, and they ran in a try from their own side of halfway after winning the turnover from the first scrum of the game against Rongotai College. They quickly ran in three more tries and led Rongotai 22-0 after about 15 minutes. Rongotai fought back, and showed promise in their forwards in the open field exchanges, but Hastings were quick to pounce on any mistakes. Hastings went on to win 55-0.

Across on the adjacent field, it was 14-10 at halftime between Gisborne BHS and Wairarapa College, but Gisborne pulled clear in the second half with a blustery wind at their backs to win 33-15.

In the 1pm game at Fraser Park, Napier Boys’ High School who beat St Pat’s Town 20-5.

In the 5.05pm game at Westpac Stadium, Wellington College was beaten 22-13 by Palmerston North BHS.

Wellington College let a 10-0 lead slip. Wellington scored the opening try when tighthead Filimoni Sului rumbled over in the corner after sustained attack inside the 22. Sului did well to force the ball in the presence of four defenders.

Palmerston North struck back when impressive blindside Mackenzie Tansley scored a converted try, but Wellington fullback Josh Morgan- Ranui was on target kicking Wellington to a 13-10 halftime lead.

Palmerston North First-five Stewart Cruden had a major bearing on the second half. Two long-range breaks the captain made led directly to Palmerston North tries. Cruden set up second-five Jackson Scully and close to fulltime laid on a second try for Tansley.

Down 17-13 with five minutes left, Wellington turned down a number of kickable penalties and were left to rue basic errors.

Captain and lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi had a bustling match, Sului was effective in the tight and the tiny and tigerish Fergus Murray toiled gamely. Morgan- Ranui is a key figure at fullback.

In addition to Cruden and Tansley centre James Stratton had some nice touches and locks Alec Odell and Harry Newman are honest.

Grading games

In local college rugby, there were four spots up for grabs on the final weekend of grading, to join the Tranzit Coachlines teams and the already qualified St Pat’s Silverstream and Scots College.

The four sides that clinched the remaining four positions for the WelTec Premiership starting next weekend were Tawa College, Kapiti College, Hutt Valley High School and Porirua College.

In today’s games, Tawa College accounted for Wainuiomata College 60-7, HVHS defeated Bishop Viard College 39-22, Kapiti edged out Aotea College 15-10 and Porirua and St Bernard’s Colleges drew 17-17 - but Porirua qualified because they scored more tries in this contest.