Goats unbeaten as Jubilee Cup matches go down to the wire

First round winners the Old Boys University Goats are the only unbeaten side after three sides of the 2017 Jubilee Cup, but all four of today’s matches on a wet, gloomy Wellington afternoon went down to the wire.

At Nairnville Park, OBU withstood a furious death-knock assault on their line by visitors Hutt Old Boys Marist to hold to the fulltime whistle and win 19-17.

At Evans Bay Park, home team Marist St Pat’s conceded a late James So’oialo converted try and then missed a penalty at the end to win the game, in falling to defending champions Tawa 29-30.

At the Polo Ground, home team Oriental-Rongotai edged out Northern United in a mud-fest to win 13-10, after Norths had a 5-3 advantage at halftime. 

At the Petone Recreation Ground, visitors Wainuiomata held on to the end to defeat Petone 10-8 in an arm-wrestle, after Petone missed a penalty from a handy position in the dying stages.

After three rounds, OBU are out in front on 14 points and probably just one win away from booking their semi-final space, ahead of HOBM and MSP on 10 points and Tawa on 9 and Wainuiomata on 8, each with two wins.

Victory today for Ories was vital for their playoff chances, while winless Petone and Norths have steep mountains to climb to make this year’s semi-finals in a month’s time. Norths have also been docked 2 points as their Colts defaulted last night to Ories.

In the Hardham Cup, it’s the Upper Hutt Rams and Johnsonville who head the standings with three straight wins.

The Upper Hutt Rams pulled clear to beat Paremata-Plimmerton 38-5 in heavy conditions at Maidstone Park to register their third straight bonus point win. At Helston Park, the Johnsonville Hawks defeated the Avalon Wolves 25-19.

At Kilbirnie Park, Poneke secured a vital first win of their second round campaign, defeating the Wellington Axemen 20-8 in the battle of the Hataitai Tunnel.

A possible preview of the final saw OBU beat HOBM by two points again. The Hutt contenders made a horror start failing to handle an assault by OBU and falling 19-0 behind after 20 minutes. Davan Candy scored two tries and Teariki Ben-Nicholas introduced into the game early crossed the chalk.

The Eagles gradually crawled their way back into the contest and a 15 metre burst by hooker Ben Power made it 19-7 at halftime.

The first half hour of the second-half was scoreless, but OBU lost their discipline as the Hutt forwards won a steady supply of possession. Two tries were scored out-wide to make it 19-17. Hutt ended the game on attack after about 20 phases a metre out from the OBU goal line. 

In horrendous mud both team produced a stirring contest. Paddy Carter stole at least four lineouts for the home team and was outstanding, Candy had another top game and Matt Flower produced a good first hour and Sam Reid was good on the kick and chase.

For Hutt Power after a sluggish start grew in stature, Lise Soloa was a regular source of go forward.
A James So'oialo-led Tawa recorded a come-from-behind 30-29 victory over Marist St Pat's at Evans Bay Park.

So'oialo was the scorer of Tawa's last two tries - also converting both - and it was the second of which that proved pivotal, edging Tawa to victory.

Both tries were similar in the fact that So'oialo dotted down on the left corner, though it was the winner that was scored in classic high octane So'oialo fashion. Instead of taking a scrum or lineout when awarded a penalty inside MSP's 22, So'oialo opted for the tap and scooted left, before straightening into a gap to score.

With that try, Tawa were still down 29-28 but, as he has done many a time, So'oialo slotted the near-sideline conversion to put Tawa in front. 

MSP had half-chances in the game's remaining five minutes: Andrew Wells had a difficult 40-metre penalty attempt and on the final play MSP had the ball inside Tawa's 22, only to lose possession, seeing Tawa finish victorious.

Earlier in the match, two quick MSP tries to forwards Valentine Meachen and Isaac O'Connor and a Wells penalty had the hosts up 15-6. Tawa's Taniela Koroi scored from close range to close the gap before another Wells penalty on half time put MSP up 18-13.

Shortly after So'oialo's first try, Tawa found themselves down to 13 men after repeated infringements saw both So'oialo and Randall Bishop get sent to the bin.

MSP managed a try in their absence through Mike Buckley though So'oialo's return to the field would spell a Tawa win.

Petone and Wainuiomata fought out a real doozy in the Petone Rec gloom. Both sides were unable to finish of chances in a physical contest in the rucks and breakdowns and Petone went into the break holding a humble 3-0 lead.

Wainuiomata had a man in the bin for the final 10 minutes of the first half, but despite this they were unlucky not to be leading at the turnaround and finished the half held up in a heap over Petone’s line.

The green and blacks dominated territory throughout the opening 20 minutes of the second half and their forwards finally rumbled over through flanker Tutasi Masoe to score the first try to put them ahead 10-3.

Petone’s backs caught Wainuiomata napping, taking a quick tap penalty and breaking out to score an 80-metre try to second five-eighth Michael Vaeno. But flyhalf Piri Paraone missed the handy conversion.

Wainuiomata went close to scoring again but Petone hung on and drove out of their own territory. Poor Wainuiomata discipline then should have cost them the game. First they conceded a second yellow card. Second they conceded another penalty and were marched another 10 metres back into their 22. Petone’s replacement kicker Ngarangi Haerewa pulled the match-winning penalty to the left of the posts and Wainuiomata held on to fulltime.

Up at Maidstone Park, No. 8 Sam Wasley put in a Player of the Match performance as the Rams defeated Paremata-Plimmerton 38-5.

The Rams scored first half tries to flanker Daniel Schrijvers and midfielder Tyler Tane and led 12-0 at the oranges. Paremata-Plimmerton closed the gap to 12-5 with their only try, before fullback Petara Rikiriki slashed through under the posts to make it 19-5. The bonus point try came soon after and the Rams came home strong.

Replacement back Kahu Bishop-Waiwai scored his maiden Premier try at the end and lock Aidan Woodward nailed the conversion in his 50th game for the Rams.

Back in town, the match at Kilbirnie Park rarely reached the excitement levels of the Jubilee Cup contest across the road at Evans Bay Park

A dour affair saw Poneke leading 13-8 with fulltime fast approaching, before Poneke wing Nick Robertson scored to give Poneke their 20-8 win. Earlier, the Wellington Axemen has scored their game’s first try after several minutes, but Poneke hit back with a seven-pointer to take their lead to 7-5 at halftime. Both sides traded penalties early in the second half ahead of a mostly laboured second spell.

Johnsonville continued their winning start to the Hardham Cup with a bonus point win over Avalon. Johnsonville led 13-0 at halftime and eventually won 25-19 with tries to fullback Tiwi Davies, second five Jeff Makapelu, centre Kalolo Kalolo and reserve prop Hemi Remuera.

Women’s

Northern United closed the gap to leaders Oriental-Rongotai who had their bye today, Norths beating Marist St Pat’s 34-10.

In a match moved up to Te Whaea, the St Mary’s College Faleafaga sisters, centre Dhys (2 tries) and left wing Lyric (2 tries) found the chalk. Halfback Phoenix Collins and fullback Julie Tusa also scored tries for Norths.

The OBU Impalas score five unconverted tries in beating last year’s champions Wainuiomata 25-10, left wing Siteri Tabua scoring a brace.

In Division 2 clashes, Petone made it five from five in edging Hutt Old Boys Marist 14-5 and Poneke scored four unconverted tries to beat Paremata-Plimmerton 20-10,

Premier Reserve

In the early game on the Petone Rec, home team Petone were behind for most of the game but came back to score their match-winning try with just a few minutes to play and beat Wainuiomata 21-17.

In a clash of styles, Wainuiomata’s big forwards laid on an early set-piece clinic and they went ahead 14-0 with two unconverted tries.

Wainuiomata’s pack went close to scoring again, but were held out on the line, before Petone broke out and scored a vital try on halftime to halve the deficit to 7-14.

Wainuiomata kicked a penalty early in the second half to move ahead 17-7. But Petone were clearly the more enterprising of the two teams in the difficult conditions. Finally, they ran back a clearing kick to score their second try, cutting the margin to 17-14. They then scored a remarkably similar try with about five minutes to play, taking the lead. Wainuiomata set up a grandstand finish, attacking inside Petone’s 22, but were beaten to the punch by the referee’s fulltime whistle.

In other Premier Reserve Ed Chaney Cup games, first round winners OBU recorded their third straight bonus point win of the second round, beating HOBM 32-24, MSP pipped Tawa 18-12 and Norths defeated Ories 17-0.

In the HD Morgan Memorial Premier Reserve Division 2 contests, the Upper Hutt Rams completed their third straight bonus point win, beating Paremata-Plimmerto 48-0. Poneke beat a depleted Wellington Axemen second XV 48-10 and Johsonville edged Avalon 19-10.

Colts

In one Colts game on Friday night, OBU Green scored three unanswered tries to beat HOBM 20-3 in atrocious conditions. OBU’s halfback scored the only try of the first half from a slashing run off an attacking lineout and OBU led 7-3 at halftime. OBU’ second try came from an attacking scrum and a blindside move, while a turnover and kick ahead just before fulltime led to their third try to seal the contest.

The other Colts game on Friday night saw Norths default to Ories at Te Whaea.

In Colts Division 1 matches today, leaders Petone maintained their unbeaten record with a 64-0 win over recent Division 2 first round champions Paremata-Plimmerton. Tawa beat MSP 32-22 on the Evans Bay Park Artificial late this afternoon, to see them move to the top of the table after three rounds with three straight bonus point wins.

The Kapiti Colts made it three from three in the second round of the division 2 Colts grade by edging Johnsonville 8-6.

U85kg

First round winners the Wellington Light Axemen safely negociated their opening championship round Paul Potiki Shield match, beating Eastbourne 17-12 across the harbour.

Defending champions the Tawa Titans were defeated 8-7 by newly promoted Kapiti in another key match, while Avalon were bonus point 32-12 winners over Johnsonville and HOBM beat Poneke 20-7.

College

The feature match of the WelTec Premiership was at Wellington College between the home team and Scots. The pair slugged it out on the bog that College's #1 field has become in recent weeks, with the visitors prevailing 14-13. Wellington had late penalty chances to win it, but after the first attempt went astray they opted for the lineout, but failed to crack Scots' line.

In the other matches Silverstream, Rongotai, and St Pats Town all posted shutout wins. Silverstream assumed the sole lead in blanking Tawa 57-0, Rongotai beat minnows Hutt Valley HS 43-0, and Town found the artificial turf to their liking in beating a disappointing Kapiti College 46-0.  The remaining match was closer affair, with Porirua notching their first win in seeing off Wairarapa 31-24 at home after being down 17-24.

In Premier 2 there were wins for Hutt International over Wellington College's 2nd XV (15-11), Bishop Viard over Naenae (21-10), and Aotea over Taita (56-7), while St Bernard’s and the St Pats Town 2nds had a later kickoff and the score isn't yet available.