Derby Day clashes add spice to eighth round matches

Round 8 of the Swindale and Harper Lock Shields comes around quickly, with Wednesday’s midweek Anzac Day matches followed up by tomorrow’s Derby Day encounters. Established a few years ago the six geographical and one all-Marist clashes have been a popular addition to the club calendar, though perhaps this year’s timing of it is somewhat unfortunate coming as the third of three matches in a week

There’s also another round in all other grades, with some particularly noteworthy ones in the Women’s and Colts competitions. Finally it’s also Old Timers’ Day at Paremata-Plimmerton while Marist St Pat’s have their similar Past Players and Members Day.

Premier Swindale Shield

As well as bragging rights, all seven Premier matches have interclub silverware at stake tomorrow.

Despite injuries testing their depth Hutt Old Boys Marist continue to roll on after seeing off Pare-Plim and Poneke this week and no matter the result tomorrow will remain on top after tomorrow’s round. Whether that lead remains at six points or is cut into considerably will depend how they fare in tomorrow’s trip into the city for the clash with Marist St Pat’s at Evans Bay, with the hosts having rebounded from their defeat against OBU to put Petone to the sword on Wednesday.

The home team have, somewhat unsurprisingly, stuck in the main to the side that took the field on Wednesday with just three changes; Elijah Williams-Stewart joins Naitoa Ah Kuoi in the locks while Japanese flyer Ryuta Iiyama gets the start on the wing after scoring on debut on Wednesday. The third change has Ryan Setefano back in midfield in place of Isaia Petelo. The same can’t be said for the Eagles who make a raft of moves, highlighted by a front row comprising Ben Power at loosehead, former Silverstream standout Freddie Sunia making his starting debut at hooker, and erstwhile blindside Tamatasi Fidow at tighthead. Pablo Darleux has the job this time out of filling the void of Sheridan Rangihuna at halfback.

The pair will also play for the Father Cleary Shield. Cleary was a sportsmaster and 1st XV coach at St Patrick’s College and a founder of the St Pats Old Boys club in 1909. The trophy was donated for matches between St Pats OB and Marist by the Roache family when relations between the two clubs was poor, and following the merger of those two it was played for by MSP against Hutt Valley Marist, and since 1994 against HOBM. HOBM hold this after they edged last year’s match 31-28.

Across the road on Kilbirnie Park (now on Kilbirnie #1) is another of tomorrow’s big clashes with Poneke and Oriental-Rongotai again contesting the Jim Grbich Memorial Shield. One of the more famous interclub trophies in the province, it memorialises the young and dynamic Poneke, Wellington, and NZ Maori midfielder-turned-loose forward who was tragically killed in a late-night motor vehicle crash in 1962, aged just 31. The trophy was first presented in 1964 and has been contested between the two clubs (Oriental between 1964-67, Oriental-Rongotai since) in their first-round clash ever since. Remarkably just two points separate the ledger over the past three years, with Ories winning 28-27 in 2015, 20-19 in 2016, and retained it with last year’s 30-all result at Polo.

Following Wednesday’s last-minute loss to Upper Hutt, Ories find themselves down in ninth and their lengthy streak of making the Jubilee Cup would appear to be in some jeopardy. Whetu Henry, John Tuia, and Luke Taualupe all return to their pack, while Malo Tuitama is on their bench, along with former Poneke player Jarrod Burnett. On the flip side, Poneke are still on track to return to the Jubilee Cup despite Wednesday’s loss, and perhaps were more focused on this game than that. They restore a number of players who missed Wednesday’s loss to HOBM including both Ben Huntley and Nick Robertson with Pakai Turia also back in action but Cole Stewart remains absent. Former Ories and recent Poneke coach Mason Lawrence has gone on record this morning predicting a Poneke win by 13+.

Across town at Nairnville Park Old Boys-University take on Wellington with the two sides at very different ends of the table, but coming off results that run counter to that with OBU losing to Tawa (and surrendering the Bill Brien Challenge Trophy in the process) and Wellington ending their losing run in beating Avalon.

Despite that loss the Goats remain second but will be wary of looking ahead to the clash with HOBM in two weeks’ time. Dale Sabbagh returns to the #10 jersey after being at the back on Wednesday and he’ll be joined in the halves by Matt Fowler with Tomasi Palu on the bench. Morgan Poi continues at No. 8 with Teariki Ben Nicholas on NZ Universities duty and Matt McKone starts up front in place of newly minted 100-gamer Finnbarr Kerr-Newell. The Axemen have an unchanged starting XV from Wednesday’s win, though the loose trio of Alex Dalzell, Ranui Burchett, and Mikey Smith appear to have rotated positions.

The pair will play for their Dean Gifford Memorial Cup; Gifford played for both OBU and Wellington amongst others with the trophy donated after his passing in 2012. The Goats hold this after winning 47-10 at Hataitai last season.

Out in the northern suburbs Tawa and Johnsonville meet at Lyndhurst Park with the home team mounting their first defence of the Bill Brien after winning it from OBU on Wednesday. Also at stake between the two is their interclub Carman Cup which Tawa hold after the 40-10 result last year; Arthur Carman was Johnsonville club member who was also Tawa’s first patron, and the links between the two clubs go back to Tawa’s formation in 1947. It’s entry into the WRFU was achieved with considerable help from Johnsonville including the use of their facilities (which were then at Alex Moore Park), and has been played for every year since 1954 with the exception of 1994.

Tawa’s team tomorrow includes Kemara Hauiti-Parapara starting at first-five outside Kyle Preston, and a return for Taniela Koroi. Peniasi Tokakece, James Coburn, and James So’oialo are all on the bench if required. Former Tawa player Jeff Makapelu continues at first-five for the Hawks, with Api Naikatini shifting back to No8 with Eamonn Carr returning to the starting side. Tawa will be warm favourites, but the visitors will look to make things anything but easy.

Further up State Highway 1 Norths make the short trip to Ngati Toa Domain for the Porirua city derby against Paremata-Plimmerton. The schedule has been kind to Norths with two of the relative minnows back-to-back this week, but after beating Johnsonville on Wednesday following Saturday’s triumph over Tawa, they’ll be wary that their neighbours aren’t the pushover they have been in the past after their strong showings against both HOBM and Wainuiomata already this week, and keen for another on their Old Timers Day.

There’s milestone matches for players on both sides. For Pare-Plim Shane Hedges will start in his 200th first-team game for the club, a career that started when their top team was in the old Senior 2 grade and teammate Danny Herewini plays his 100th with the pair also the most-capped players in terms of Premier outings; while for Norths TK Bishop racks up his 50th Premier outing. Hedges, Herewini, James Dean, and Evan Leali’ifano all return to the starting lineup for the home side, with Mike Ioapo and Esi Komaisavai back in the visitor’s team. Komaisavai starts at first-five where he’ll oppose a former Tawa College teammate in Dre Melvin.

At stake between the pair is the Ivan Hargreaves Trophy, named for the former Titahi Bay club administrator and Porirua City councillor. Originally donated for competition between the four western bays clubs – Porirua, Titahi Bay, Tawa, and Paremata-Plimmerton – it is now contested between the northern city’s two clubs only. Pare-Plim last held this in 2014 when it was played for at the old Senior 1 level, with Norths keeping their grip on it with last year’s 53-8 win.

Over in the Hutt Valley there’s a pair of matches. It’s Wainuiomata’s turn this year to come over the Hill Road to take on Petone at the Rec in their annual Darren Larsen Cup match; Larsen is the long-time coach, former Petone coaching development officer and current Hurricanes Recruitment and Development Manager. The pair have had differing fortunes this week; Petone put Avalon away before copping a beating from MSP while Wainuiomata rebounded from surrendering a lead to the Rams to overcome Pare-Plim.

The Villagers make one enforced change with Marcus Roil returning for Jordan Gogo, while Angus Morton and Ngarangi Haerewa also return. Wainuiomata rotate their pack with only veteran lock Dan Cherry wearing the same jersey he did on Wednesday while John Monu coming back in at first-five is their only backline change; Justin Va’a, Henry Smith, and Uale Mai are all on a very veteran looking bench. And aside from the players there’s the ties on the sidelines with Wainuiomata’s favourite son Piri Weepu in the blue and white while Petone centurion Dan Farani returns on the green and black side. Wainuiomata won this particular clash last year 28-17, and followed that up with a 10-8 win in the Jubilee Cup contest. There will also be a different look in the middle, with national squad referee Michael Lash in charge of this one.

Finally at Fraser Park the two northern valley teams – Avalon and the Upper Hutt Rams – clash with the pair currently moving in opposite directions on the table. The Rams last-gasp win over Ories on Wednesday was their third win in 12 days after dropping their first four matches, while Avalon’s loss to Wellington was their fifth on the bounce and they’ll be keen to turn that around.

The Wolves make two changes in their forward pack with Daley Ena returning at tighthead and Leauro Ah Wong moving into hooker. Out back Jordan Aquila and Rubin MacCormack swap jerseys, and Damian Madsen starts at halfback. The Rams roll out considerably more changes including Greg Te Kura and Raniera Petersen as their halves duo, Josh Houston-Tupou reverting to No.8 and Apa Heemi and Eli Hunt back up front.

The trophy the two play for his the Harper Vine Trophy, named for Taita’s Tammy Harper and Upper Hutt’s Bob Vine. The pair a longstanding and hard fought – some would even say brutal – rivalry on the field; Harper would also be the first elected Life Member of the Avalon club. The Rams won this 72-6 last week and their most recent meeting was a 98-12 shellacking in the second of their two Hardham Cup contests; tomorrow’s encounter should be much closer than both of those.

All seven matches get underway at 2.45pm.

Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield

Its status quo at the head of the Premier Reserve table with unbeaten pair Norths and MSP continuing to steam ahead, with a gap back now to Poneke, Petone, and OBU. In tomorrow’s matches Norths are at Ngati Toa to take on Pare-Plim, MSP are at home at Evans Bay for the visit of HOBM, with Poneke across at Kilbirnie to face Ories. OBU are at Nairnville for the visit of Wellington, Tawa home at Lyndhurst against Johnsonville, Petone likewise at the Rec against Wainuiomata, and the Upper Hutt Rams venture south to Fraser Park to take on Avalon.

All matches get underway at 1pm.

Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy

The feature clash of the women’s competition is at Prince of Wales Park #2, where MSP take on Norths with both sides two-from-two so far, and both looking to establish themselves as the main contender to Ories’ crown.

The third team that has also won their opening two matches – Paremata-Plimmerton – face a test of their credentials when they face Petone at Ngati Toa Domain; Petone may have lost their first two matches, but those were to Norths and Ories. Oriental-Rongotai should have little problem with neighbours Poneke in the early game at Polo, while there’s a local derby at the Hutt Rec between Hutt Old Boys Marist and Avalon. Old Boys-University has this week’s bye.

All four matches are at the usual 11.30am kick-off.

Colts

The Division 1 Paris Memorial round starts tonight at 7.30pm with OBU Green and the Upper Hutt Rams taking to Te Whaea with both looking to get back on track after defeats last week. Leaders Petone are at home tomorrow against Tawa at the Petone Rec, with MSP likewise against neighbours Ories on the St Pats turf at the slightly later time of 1.30pm. The fourth match is at the Hutt Rec between midtable pair HOBM and Norths.

There’s a crunch game in the Division 2 JRD Cup with unbeaten pair Paremata-Plimmerton and Johnsonville meeting at Ngati Toa Domain. Also unbeaten Poneke take on Avalon at Kilbirnie, OBU Black and winless Wellington meet at Te Whaea, and either OBU White or Wainuiomata should get their first win when they clash at MacAlister Park

Unless stated all game kick off at 1pm.

Under 85kg Restricted JC Bowl

Just five games on the schedule for this weekend. After defaulting last weekend defending grade champions Wellington will hopefully front this time at home against the OBU Bunnies. Johnsonville host HOBM at Helston, Tawa and Avalon meet just up the road at Redwood, and Paraparaumu head over the hills to face the Upper Hutt Rams at Maidstone with all four of these games at 1pm. The sole game at 2.45pm is at Prince of Wales Park with MSP taking on Eastbourne, while Wests have the weekend off with Wainuiomata already advising they won’t be able to front.

First Grade Thompson Memorial

All four matches tomorrow are in the later time slot. At 2.45pm Joint-leaders OBU head the table and are at Te Whaea against Stokes Valley’s B-side, while defending grade champions Petone venture to Delaney Park to take on Stokes’ A-team. Avalon and Tawa meet at Fraser Park, with a 3.15pm start for cross-road rivals MSP and Poneke on the St Pats turf. HOBM – the other joint-leaders – have the weekend off after Norths were withdrawn from the competition.