Colts Division 1 Preview: OBU underdogs against Petone

They’ve won four out of the past five Wellington club rugby Colts Division 1 titles, including a three-peat between 2012-14, but Old Boys University will go into Saturday’s Les Mills John E Kelly Cup as underdogs.

Despite a couple of late season speed wobbles – losing narrowly to beaten semi-finalists Tawa and Oriental-Rongotai – first round winners Petone have undoubtedly been the form Colts side all season and will be favoured to go all the way and lift the cup on their home track on Saturday afternoon.

Petone won all seven matches with bonus points, scoring 273 points and conceding 100, to win the first round Paris Memorial Trophy, while OBU won three, lost three and drew one to finish down in fifth. The Junior Villagers kept their winning streak intact through to July before being rumbled by Tawa’s forwards 27-31, and then losing to Ories 24-25 just a fortnight ago.

Head to head, both their previous meetings this year have been tight. Petone won 33-24 in their first round fixture on Petone 2 in May, and prevailed again in the second round match-up in June, 24-19 at Kelburn Park.

In last week’s semi-finals, fourth placed qualifier OBU tipped over top qualifier Ories 41-20 at Te Whaea, while second placed Petone beat third placed Tawa 39-14 at the neutral Hutt Recreation Ground.

Last year OBU beat Tawa 24-5 in the final at a rain-swept Te Whaea. The core of this year’s side includes just one returning player from the championship-winning 2016 team. The squad includes four players under the age of 18 and 14 players under the age of 19. Six players originate from Wellington College with the bulk of the squad from outside of the region.

OBU’s top points scorer is Michael Muir with 55 points and their top try scorer is Suhayl Tiatia with nine tries.

Going into this Saturday’s final, OBU captain and No. 8 Chris Hicks says his side will be looking to their set-piece to fire. “We have worked hard on our set-piece all year,” says Chris. “Our scrums are an example of this. Through the season our scrum has been the key to many tries, it sets a solid base for our backs to work off, or for the opportunity of a pushover try.”

“We have players that I believe will help us get over the line but it will mean every man on the field will have to play their role. We’re aware that we don’t have the biggest or most experienced team so teamwork, urgency and desire will be key to our success.

“As a team our mindset is that everyone has a role, that there are no real stars in our team that other players rely on to do the hard yards. In saying that, we have key players such as Jimmy Hewitt [Poneke Premiers last year] in the front row, and Sam Combs at lock, that have led from the front all year with big hits and some line breaking runs. Adam Clark and Callum Whitten have directed the team around the field at fullback and first five respectively.”

Petone captain and flanker Bradey Reynolds says his team is going to have to dig deep to win. “It’s going to take a full 80minutes of work. The two previous times this year we played OBU it had been an arm-wrestle for a majority of the game and we expect no different on Saturday. A strong focus has been placed on structure and executing the game plan we have mapped out for us. If the team takes that focus into the game and brings the intensity we know they can for the full 80 we will have every chance of lifting the silverware.”

Petone are strong across the park. “It’s difficult to identify individual strengths of our team,” explains Bradey. “When we have parity among players then every aspect of our game is a strength. The game plan and structure the coaches have laid in front of us has given us the tools to do that. The forward pack as a whole is capable of winning and providing consistent quick clean ball for our backs who are known to be clinical in their finishing when set of a good base.”

“OBU also have a strong, well-drilled structure and feature a tight set piece in their scrum. They are a fit team who have been known to come out on top in tight games near the end. We are prepared and have been training for this and believe we can utilize our strengths to minimise the effects of anything they might bring.”

Petone have placed an emphasis on their Colts this year, with some players such as 2016 Petone Rugby Senior Player of the year Bruce Kauika Petersen, Ben Brooking, Cody Quin and Jarimar Schuster having all previously played Premier rugby previously and others such as No. 8 Viliami Vake, prop Kilopasi Uluilakepa and wing Michael Vaeno having each made some appearances this year for the top team.

Petone have also recruited well from outside the union adding a number of players from the Super 8 First XV competition who have played a high level secondary school rugby. This team has a primary focus of growing depth in the talent pool and developing great team and club culture for the future.

OBU skipper Chris warns of Petone’s strengths. “Petone’s collective size throughout their whole team is the strength of theirs. Their size and speed allows them to be threatening runners. The Petone backline, especially midfield and outside backs will be of great advantage to them with some strong runners in vital positions. We have identified these strengths however, and have plans on how to counter them.”

Meanwhile, the Colts Division 2 Vic Calcinai Cup final is being played at 2.30pm on Petone Rec 4, between the Upper Hutt Rams and Kapiti Colts.

 About the John E Kelly Memorial Cup

The John E Kelly Memorial Cup was donated to the WRFU by the Wellington Football Club for play in the Under 21 Division 1 Competition in 1985. The trophy is in memory of Wellington’s late Club Captain, John E Kelly, who died of cancer. John played and administrated rugby with the Wellington Club for many years and had the privilege of playing alongside his young son.

The past 10 winners have been:

2007 Petone
2008 Upper Hutt
2009 Upper Hutt
2010 Norths
2011 MSP
2012 OBU Green
2013 OBU Green
2014 OBU Green
2015 Hutt Old Boys Marist
2016: OBU Green

Match details

What: John E Kelly Cup Colts Division 1 Final
Where: Petone Rec #3
Who: Petone v Old Boys University Colts
When: Saturday 5 August, 12.00pm.

Teams (former schools in brackets):

Petone

1. Jordan GoGo (Taita College)
2. Teraiti Donaghy (Kapiti College)
3. Kilopasi Uluilakepa (Marist Brothers High School)
4. Angus Morton (Palmerston North Boys’ High School)
5. Jarimar Schuster (Scots College)
6. Cody Quin (Rotorua Boys’ High School)
7. Brady Reynolds (HVHS)
8. Viliami Vake (Rotorua Boys’ High School)
9. Toma Tomaselli (Italian Schools)
10. Luke Nixon (Scots College)
11. Anzac Mausa (Samoan Schools)
12. Jake Quin (Rotorua Boys’ High School)
13. Mason Henry (HIBS)
14. Michael Vaeno (Rotorua Boys’ High School)
15. Ben Brooking (St Bernard’s College)
16. Sean Chandler Calis (Kapiti College)
17. Bradon Va’a (St Bernard’s College)
18. Tua Tusa (Rongotai College)
19. Toetuu Moala (Tupou College)
20. Asafo Fau (HVHS)
21. Samuel Tusa (HVHS)
22. Nathan Bryce (HVHS)

Old Boys University (from):

Forwards
Vince Kalsakau - (New Plymouth BHS)
Jimmy Hewitt - (Wellington College)
Laurence-Jarel Lim - (Wellington College)
Hirama Su’a - (Corinda State High School, Brisbane)
Adrian Els - (St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch)
Jacob Whitten - (Waimea College)
Wirangi Parata - (Lindisfarne College)
Sam Combs - (Lindisfarne College)
Taihakurei Durie - (Tu Toa College, Palmerston North)
Harry Norgate - (Sacred Heart, Auckland)
Harry Saker - (Scots College)
Chris Hicks © - (Lindisfarne College)
Tom Hoskin - (Wellington College)
Suhayl Tiatia - (New Plymouth BHS)
Beni Kalin - (Francis Douglas Memorial College)
Harry Hornabrook - (Auckland Grammar)
Josh Ellis - (Auckland Grammar)
Matt Twort - (St Pats Silverstream)
Te Wharerangi Kea - (Wellington College)
Garrick Donald – (Auckland Grammar)

Backs
Dylan Leney - (Fielding High School)
Ferg Grenfell - (St Andrews College, Christchurch)
Callum Whitten - (Waimea College, )
Michael Muir - (Stratford High School)
Adam Clark - (Auckland Grammar)
Jasper Edgar - (Takapuna Grammar, Auckland)
Pedro Valentine-Robertson - (New Plymouth BHS)
Tevita Tau’alupe - (Wellington College)
Ben Pretty - (Auckland Grammar)
Chad Collop - (New Plymouth BHS)
Charlie Hoggard - (Wellington College)
Quinlin Boston-Thompson - (Stratford High School)
George Levin - (Saint Kentigern College)