Representative competitions all underway

The representative season is now in full swing with a number of competitions underway and set to continue for the next several weeks. A short round-up of games yesterday is below.

U19s

The Wellington U19s won the 35th edition of the Central Region Shield, beating Manawatu 15-7 in the third and deciding round of matches at Jerry Collins Stadium yesterday.

In a close tussle, Wellington led 10-0 at halftime, with both sides scoring a try apiece in the second half. Wellington’s three tries were scored by prop Xavier Numia, first five-eighth Esi Komaisaivai and centre Jahzeel Marais.

The other Hurricanes region U19 match was even tighter, with the Hurricanes Heartland team beating Hawke’s Bay U19 10-8 in Napier.

The final standings in the Central Region Shield were: Wellington 1, Manawatu 2, Hurricanes Heartland 3 and Hawke’s Bay 4.

Wellington has now won the Central Region Shield 16 times, to Hawke’s Bay’s 15 and Manawatu’s four.

U18s

The first round of the Trustbank Central Secondary School Shield U18 competition was played around the Hurricanes region yesterday.

The Wellington Samoan U18s side defeated Poverty Bay U18 33-5 in their match in Gisborne, which was the curtain-raiser to Poverty Bay’s Heartland Championship fixture against Horowhenua-Kapiti.

The Wellington Samoans scored five tries, with St Pat’s Town halfback and MVP for the match Misi Faimalo bagging two tries and St Pat’s Town prop Josh Oloapu-Atoni, Wellington College lock Jayden Tiatia and St Pat’s Town flanker Keelan Whitman all crossing the whitewash. Scots College centre Jaylen Tuaopolo also had a strong game.

At Tologa Bay, the Wellington Centurions U18s enjoyed an 80-0 win over East Coast’s U18s in the wet.

The conditions suggested that wet weather rugby was on the cards with plenty of kicking, narrow channels and a lot of direct running line. However, the Centurions were able to still play a wide game and make the wet weather passes stick to put left wing Caleb Cavubati down his sideline for his first of three well-worked tries. Fullback Jack Gray then scored the first of three tries and shortly after right wing Sane Chut found space down his sideline to dot it down. The Centurion Forwards toiled to hold possession for most the first half and they led 39-0 at the interval.

The second half saw a brief spell without rain and also saw the East Coast team awaken and hold onto possession for the first 15 minutes to camp inside the Centurion’s 22. The Centurions had to work hard to shift the momentum and regain passion which they were able to convert into points a few minutes later. A well-earnt try for the Centurion forwards came from a lineout drive with Hooker Tai Misa-Bryce getting over the line and two tries to vice-captain Alex Faifailoa. The East Coast team were passionate throughout the game and never gave up. Their friendship and hospitality afterward was appreciated. 

The match at home at Porirua Park between the Wellington Catholic Colleges U18s team and the Horowhenua Kapiti U18s was much closer, the Catholic Colleges winning 31-24.

Elsewhere, Wairarapa-Bush and Wanganui fought out a thrilling 20-20 draw.

Women’s

The Wellington Pride ran in seven tries to two in beating the Hawke’s Bay Tuis 42-10 in their season opener at Jerry Collins Stadium. Fullback Reijeli Uluinayau and flanker Kiri Mei ran in two tries each, while left wing Ayesha Leti-l’iga, halfback Accacia Te Iwimate and front rowers Raylene Lolo and Angel Uila also scored.

The Pride led 13-10 at halftime, before running in 29 unanswered second half points and securing their first four try bonus point of the season with about 15 minutes to play.

In New Plymouth, the Wellington U18 Girls beat Taranaki U18 Girls 35-29.

Hurricanes Shield

Two of the three Wellington teams were involved in the second round set of Hurricanes Shield matches on Saturday.

In Paihatua, Wellington Maori beat Manawatu Development 32-22.

In Napier, the Wellington Samaons lost 15-31 to Hawke’s Bay Development.