Close results across all grades in club rugby

Above: Caleb Nicholas scores in the corner with 10 minutes to play to make it 19-26 to Wainuiomata against Petone. They scored again under the posts at the end to finish all square. 

A series of close results across all grades marked the latest round of club rugby across Wellington this afternoon, with several matches that hung in the balance to the end and some decided on fulltime.

It was Derby Day across the seven Swindale Shield venues, with six matches between geographically placed neighbours and the seventh between the two Marist clubs. Four were thrillers.

Marist St Pat’s inflicted the first defeat of the year on Hutt Old Boys Marist, beating the Eagles 28-26 for the Father Cleary Shield. MSP had their noses in front throughout but their Old Timers’ Day supporters breathed a collective sigh of relief when Eagles first five-eighth Glen Walters’ sideline conversion at the end to equalise missed.

MSP had established a 23-3 lead late in the first half on the back of tries to No. 8 Matt Peni and centre Jayden McCarthy, but HOBM closed the gap to 23-14. MSP fullback Andrew Wells made a 40 metre break and found wing Willie Schultz to score to extend the lead to 28-14. HOBM pivot Glen Walters slipped a gap to score to make it 28-21, before HOBM replacement back Jayden Treviranus stripped the ball in the tackle and made a beeline for the corner for an unconverted try to finish the game.

There was no such joy for Petone supporters who saw visitors Wainuiomata No. 8 Ben Tupuola score a try under the posts off a 5-metre scrum with the final play of the game to set up a 26-26 draw for the Darren Larsen Cup.

After scoring the game’s first try before conceding three straight tries, Wainuiomata came back from a 19-7 deficit in the second half, the value of bringing experienced players off the bench such as Henry Smith, Justin Va’a and Uale Mai over the final quarter proving telling. First five-eighth John Monu was on fire, directly involved in three tries as they closed to 19-26 with just a few minutes to play.

Yellow cards to either team had proved costly periods for both as well, with Wainuiomata conceding two tries with hooker Faitele Leuluai in the bin and Petone one with Losi Filipo behind his posts. Although both Leuluai and Filipo also scored tries for their teams.

With the clock ticking, Petone held Wainuiomata off and seemingly did enough to win, but a late turnover leading to the scrum in front of the posts led to the equalising of the game at the death.

After establishing a 23-14 lead midway through the second half, the Upper Hutt Rams held on to beat the Avalon Wolves 31-26 for the Harper Vine Trophy. For Avalon, their big ball runners were again damaging throughout – although the loss of second five-eighth Ben Peni in the 30th minute to a suspected Achilles injury could be a big blow for them. For the Rams flanker Dan Schrijvers was immense winning several clean turnovers alone.

Poneke beat Oriental-Rongotai 28-25 in their Jimmy Grbich Shield match, in the other close contest of the day in Premier rugby.

The Old Boys University Goats beat the Wellington Axemen 40-31 for the Dean Gifford Memorial Trophy, pulling away from early in the second half after the Axemen had taken it to the Goats and led 10-7 at halftime.

Northern United prevailed 52-31 over Paremata-Plimmerton for the Ivan Hargreaves Trophy with right wing TK Bishop scoring two tries. Norths led 21-7 at the break and also accelerated early in the second spell to put the game beyond doubt. For Paremata-Plimmerton, Shane Hedges was playing his 200th Premier-first team game and Danny Herewini his 100th.

Tawa defended both the Carmen Cup and the Bill Brien Challenge Cup in beating the Johnsonville Hawks 75-5, holding a 35-0 lead at the oranges and maintaining their foot on the pedal to the end.

These eighth-round results see leader HOBM’s lead on the standings cut from six to just two points, with OBU second and MSP, Norths and Poneke all within a point of each rounding out the top five. Petone a just back in sixth, with Tawa occupying the all-important seventh place for the Jubilee Cup with Wainuiomata, the Rams and Ories shaping as the clear three clubs challenging them for that spot.

In Colts Division 1 rugby, Tawa inflicted a first defeat on Petone in three games by winning their encounter 35-33.

Tawa’s tight five had a clear edge and went to work on Petone’s understrength pack from the get-go, which proved the winning of the game. Petone scored the game’s first try, before Tawa came back to scored twice themselves. Petone made a turnover 70 metres out and sent their left wing over for their next try, but Tawa took a quick tap penalty to score and closed the first half holding a narrow lead.

The Tawa No. 8 sliced through several defenders to extend their lead, but Petone closed the gap once more. Tawa’s forwards dominance was showing by now and they rumbled over to score a textbook lineout drive try and converted from the sideline. Once more though, Petone hit back and it remained close.

The match went to uncontested tries for front row safety reasons and Tawa closed the match with a penalty try awarded to them. Again, Petone came back to score but fulltime was blown.

Petone’s defeat means that MSP are the new Colts leaders and the only unbeaten side after three rounds, beating Ories 26-24 in their match today.

OBU are third equal with Norths after the Goats defeated the Upper Hutt Rams 42-12 on Friday night at Te Whaea and Norths beat HOBM 38-27 at the Hutt Rec.

Paremata-Plimmerton defeated Johnsonville in the match of the round in the Colts Division 2 JRD Cup competition.

In third round Women’s rugby, Oriental-Rongotai defeated Poneke 132-0, with four players scoring hat-tricks and several others getting on the scoreboard. Of note, Poneke had no reserves and when they lost a player to a head knock, Ories took a player off too to match.

Northern United came back from 5-19 down at halftime to beat Marist St Pat’s. Second five-eighth Monical Tagoai scored a first half brace for MSP, but Norths hit back with 39 unanswered points and their second five-eighth Helen Collins scored two tries.

Hutt Old Boys Marist defeated the Avalon She-Wolves 37-22 in their match at the Hutt Rec. HOBM scored five unconverted tries in the first 50 minutes to lead 25-5, taking it on home from there.

Petone edged Paremata-Plimmerton 17-12 for their first win of the year in the fourth match of the round. OBU had the bye.

The Premier Reserve competition sees Northern United and Marist St Pat’s remain as the two unbeaten sides. Norths beat Paremata-Pimmerton 45-32 and MSP defeated HOBM 65-11.

Poneke are third with their 37-24 win over Oriental-Rongotai.

The Upper Hutt Rams edged Avalon 34-31, kicking a penalty at the end to break a deadlock and take victory, while Tawa pipped Johnsonville 27-21, Petone eased passed Wainuiomata 51-21 and OBU overcame Wellington 40-14.

The Johnsonville Terrahawks and Eastbourne have the early jump on the field after two rounds of the U85kg JC Bowl competition, both registering their second bonus point wins today. Johnsonville beat the HOBM Howler 51-0 and Eastbourne beat the MSP Reds 26-10. OBU pipped defending champions Wellington 19-15 in another U85kg match today.

The Poneke Ruffnuts the OBU Righteous Brothers 97-7, the Upper Hutt Rams Pirates beat the OBU 69ers 73-7 and the Johnsonville Cripples beat MSP 69-20 in three free-wheeling results of the First Grade competition this afternoon.