HOBM wins McBain in high scoring Premier and Premier Reserve round

The Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles pipped Petone 30-27 in a McBain Shield thriller this afternoon as part of a high scoring fifth round of Premier and Premier Reserve rugby around the region.

Down 27-23, Hutt fullback Anthony Utanga outflanked the Petone defence with the last play of the game to preserve the Eagles unbeaten record in 2018.

HOBM appeared to be in control when leading 20-10 early in the second-half. However the Eagles forwards noticeably fatigued and Petone piled on 17 unanswered points to surge ahead 27-20.

There were two key moments which changed the momentum again. Petone was reduced to 14 players for the second time when lock Glen Angus was yellow carded following an all-in melee. Hutt reduced the deficit to four when Glen Walters kicked a handy penalty.

Earlier Hutt flanker Jordan Gillies stopped a certain try when he toppled Losi Filipo around the ankles when the Petone second-five was in the clear and headed for the try line. Filipo was in menacing form for Petone, playing a hand in three of the four tries scored by the hosts.

Petone captain Mateaki Kafatolu was typically inspiring and opened the try scoring supporting a break by Bruce Kauika-Petersen. Kauika-Petersen had a bittersweet afternoon. He was yellow carded before halftime and the Eagles were able to strike twice with Fereti Soloa and Anthony Utanga finishing breaks in opposite corners. 

However Kauika-Petersen scored a try in the second-half to power Petone into a 25-20 lead. Jarrod Adams and Filipo were the other try scorers for the Villagers. 

Jerome Harimate scored the Eagles first try. Utanga, Gillies, Rei Manaia and Ben Power were outstanding for the visitors. Petone enjoyed significantly greater impact from their bench, but will rue a lack of discipline. 

Other Swindale Shield matches with silverware at stake today saw Poneke beat Wellington 53-13 for the Spud Lindsay Memorial Shield, Old Boys University overcome Oriental-Rongotai 48-12 in a Bill Brien Challenge Cup defence and Northern United edge Wainuiomata 28-23 for the Alf Keating Memorial Trophy.

Poneke led Wellington 16-8 at halftime but pulled clear in the second 40 minutes. First five-eighth Ivan Vaisagote scored 23 points and left wing Nick Robertson scored a double. OBU were in hot form in putting away Ories at home. For Norths, Blues hooker Leni Apisai scored a try and Hurricanes pivot Jackson Garden-Bachop kicked 13 points in their win at William Jones Park.

Marist St Pat’s defeated Johnsonville 31-20, Tawa beat Avalon 33-10 and the Upper Hutt Rams post their win of the season in beating Paremata-Plimmerton 29-17.

It was close early at Helston Park, with MSP and Johnsonville level at 7-7 midway through the first half. Johnsonville took the lead with a penalty before MSP flanker Tom Horan scored to put them ahead 14-10. Isaia Petelo scored next in his 100th Premier game, and MSP held on to the end against a battling Hawks side.

Converted No. 8 Josh Houston-Tupou scored a hat-trick and flanker Josh Hunt scored one for the Upper Hutt Rams in notching their first win in their match against Paremata-Plimmerton at Ngatitoa Domain.

Tawa sealed the contest at Lyndhurst Park early in the second half when busy No. 8 Tito Ioane sliced through to score under the posts after an attacking lineout to make it 28-10.

Avalon, who scored the game’s first try to centre Jesse Oloapu were in the contest throughout but some bustling first half attack to Tawa that resulted in two tries to hooker Sitiveni Paongo had them in front 21-10. Strong defence and the boot of first five-eighth James So’oialo kept them pinned inside their own half in the second spell, while the introduction of centre Pepesana Patafilo from injury helped Tawa stay on top.

Norths and MSP remain unbeaten after five rounds of the Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield after Norths beat Wainuiomata 68-19 in the early game at William Jones Park and MSP dispatched Johnsonville 81-3 away at Helston Park.

Tawa had an entertaining 81-12 Premier Reserve win over Avalon, Petone put away Hutt OId Boys Marist 53-5 in the McBain curtain-raiser, Poneke, over-ran the Wellington Axemen’s second XV 60-12, the Upper Hutt Rams beat Paremata-Plimmerton 44-24 and Old Boys University beat Ories 31-17 in the early fixture at Nairnville Park.

The opening round Women’s Gala Day set of matches saw bonus point wins for all four winners at Ngatitoa Domain.

Marist St Pat’s ran in four first half tries through the backs, including two to Wellington Pride midfielder Monica Tagoai on their way to beating last year’s runners-up Old Boys University 38-17.

Loosehead prop Dora Laupola was the Player of the Day and second five-eighth Helen Collins scored a brace for Northern United in their 27-17 win over Petone. Paremata-Plimmerton led HOBM 15-0 at halftime and pulled clear to win 35-10, while Avalon put in a strong first half in beating Poneke 29-10. Defending champions Ories had the first round bye.

The opening round of Les Mills Paris Memorial U21s saw four bonus point wins to the winners.

Old Boys University were particularly impressive in their 57-0 win over the Tawa Colts at Redwood Park, after leading 29-0 at halftime. Defending champions Petone beat HOBM 48-10, the Upper Hutt Rams beat Ories 33-19 and MSP beat Norths Blue 39-24.

In Colts Division 2, Poneke beat Wellington 33-21 for the Misiluni Memorial Shield on Friday night and defending Division 2 champions the Paremata-Plimmerton Colts beat OBU’s second fifteen in a clinical first-up win.

In three U85kg week two knockout results, Eastbourne beat the HOBM Howlers 38-7, the Upper Hutt Rams toppled Wainuiomata 78-0 and the OBU Bunnies beat the Wests Roosters 41-15.

In a First XV game today, Nelson College edged Rongotai College 21-19.

St Pat’s Silverstream eclipsed New Plymouth’s Francis Douglas Memorial College in a pre-season fixture played over four quarters.

Scots College met Auckland’s King’s College.