Halfway point of championship rounds tomorrow

Above: Tawa supporters will be hoping for more runs like this from Tolu Fahamokioa tomorrow against Marist St Pat's, in a Jubilee Cup fixture between two sides desperate for victory. Poneke have the bye.

Tomorrow’s round marks the halfway point in the Jubilee and Hardham Cups, and for some sides its desperate times already and for others a chance to all but stamp their tickets to the playoffs.    

There are also vital matches in each of the Premier Reserve and Colts divisions, some intriguing contests in the College ranks, and further down the start of second-rounds for some grades and the end of the first for others. And here’s hoping that the good weather of the past couple of days continues into tomorrow and results in plenty of enterprising and running rugby being played.      

Jubilee Cup      

One and two on the ladder clash at Nairnville Park with leaders Oriental-Rongotai (12) visiting Old Boys-University’s (10*) home paddock, where the winner will put some significant breathing space between them and the side in fifth. The two sides however couldn’t have more contrasting levels of stability in their starting sides tomorrow. The Magpies make just a pair of changes to the side that dipped out to HOBM with the return of Luca Rees at No8 and Declan Hay starting at halfback, while the Goats are forced into a number due to university exams, family events, international commitments, and injuries.    

OBU will again be defending the Bill Brien Challenge Trophy, and looking to repeat the 48-12 result from the Swindale meeting.       

Out at Porirua Park Northern United (10*) welcome Hutt Old Boys Marist (10) to Jerry Collins Stadium for the second time this year, and looking for a vastly different outcome to the 47-17 lesson the Eagles dished out that day. Like the teams at Nairnville, the pair will be looking to increase their margin back to fifth. Norths will be rested after having last weekend’s bye having last taken the field 11 days ago in the delayed match against Poneke where they only just got home. It’s an imposing loose forward trio with Faifili Levave starting in Norths colours for the first time in seven years, alongside Duplessis Kirifi and skipper Parekura Lalaga; while former Porirua College young gun Eli Moata’a makes his first Premier start at first-five. HOBM again have the services of Chase Tiatia who lines up at fullback and Glen Walters returns to the pivot after three weekends away.    

It could be the last chance saloon for both Marist St Pats (2) and Tawa (0*) who meet at Evans Bay. The pressure is really on the home team who have the last round bye, and really need to win their last three games with a couple of bonus points, and it’s just as desperate for Tawa even if they have four left to play. The reality is that the loser might be pretty much done for the season.    

MSP have named the exact same 22 as last week, so usual starters Joe Walding-Karaitiana, Nick Harrison, and James Tuia will again be asked to come off the bench. Tawa will be after an improved performance after last Saturday’s outing across the road at Poneke, and are a bit more ‘normal’ looking with Kemara Hauiti-Parapara and James So’oialo back in their usual places and Telea Seumanutafa in the pack.    

Poneke (7) has the bye in the Jubilee Cup this week      

Hardham Cup    

The highlight game here is at William Jones where two teams that are more accustomed to the Jubilee Cup – Wainuiomata (12) and Petone (10*) – clash where the winner will all but book their place in the playoffs. However there wasn’t a winner when the pair met in the Swindale with Wainuiomata snatching a late 26-all draw, one of a number of results where dropped points cost the Villagers a Jubilee Cup berth.    

Barring a couple of names it might be the strongest 22 Wainuiomata have been able to field this season, starting with the Mamea twins at prop through to youngster Justin Wilson on the bench and again having the benefit of Peter Umaga-Jensen’s availability. The injury bug continues to curse Petone with Carlos Price and Jarrod Adams the latest additions, with Tupou Sopoaga taking on captaincy duties in the absence of the latter and Mateaki Kafatolu. Veteran referee Mike Pinfold takes charge of his 50th Premier clash.      

Johnsonville (9*) play host to Avalon (2) at Helston Park having won their opening games of the round following a winless Swindale campaign, and will be looking to keep that momentum going. Last week’s win was based on a big scrum anchored by midseason arrival Tietie Tuimauga and they’ll be looking for more of the same again. The Wolves need a win and a repeat of their 34-10 Swindale success would be the tonic, and although they are down on manpower again this week their battling performance against Wainuiomata would suggest that they aren’t done yet.    

The third match of the day is out at Maidstone Park between the Upper Hutt Rams (4*) and Wellington (6), with both looking to advance their claims to that fourth playoff spot, and like others elsewhere it becomes all that more difficult for the losing side. Both sides have named settled sides to that which took the field last starts. 

Paremata-Plimmerton (3) have the Hardham Cup bye.     Note: an asterix (*) indicates that team have already had their bye.      

Premier Reserve Ed Chaney & HD Morgan Cups    

The feature clash in the Ed Chaney section is the early game at Nairnville, where unbeaten leaders Ories visit fourth-placed OBU, though the Goats do have a game in hand. Second-placed HOBM are at the JCS to take on Norths, while first-round winners MSP are at home against bottom-placed Tawa.    

Over in the HD Morgan section two of the three teams tied at the top – Wainuiomata and Petone – meet in the early game at William Jones. The third of those sides, Wellington, make the journey out to Upper Hutt to face the Rams at Maidstone while Johnsonville welcome the Avalon Wolves to Helston.    

All six matches kick-off at 1pm. Poneke and Pare-Plim have the respective byes this week.      

Women’s Tia Paasi Memorial and Izzy Ford Trophies    

For the two frontrunners the weekend’s round is an opportunity to get the jump on the field in the Division 1 Tia Paasi Memorial. First-round leaders Norths are back on home turf where they’ll take on a Marist St Pats side that has been idle for a couple of weeks, while Oriental-Rongotai head to Petone for the second time this season. Paremata-Plimmerton has the bye.    

In the Division 2 Izzy Ford Trophy section last week’s two winners – Hutt Old Boys Marist and Old Boys-University – meet at the Hutt Rec while just up the road Avalon and Poneke are in action at Fraser Park.    

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

There’s an early start to next week’s round with Marist St Pats and Petone agreeing to play their fixture midweek. That’s again at the St Patricks artificial on Wednesday night at 6.30pm.    

Colts    

The fourth round of matches in the Division 1 John E Kelly Memorial is highlighted by the top-three match at Te Whaea between OBU Green and MSP; the latter will be looking to rebound after suffering their first loss of the year while OBU will be out to prove that they aren’t weakened by the university holidays. Elsewhere leaders Norths are at home against neighbour Pare-Plim, HOBM host cross-river rivals Petone, and Tawa aim to keep pace with the top-four when they visit the Upper Hutt Rams at Maidstone Park.    

In the Division 2 Vic Calcinai Memorial Oriental-Rongotai are the beneficiaries of the university holidays and get five competition points from OBU White without leaving home. Unbeaten Wainuiomata can reclaim top spot when they host Johnsonville at Mary Crowther (at 12.45pm), while OBU Black and Poneke will look to further their playoff hopes when they visit Wellington at Hataitai and host Avalon at Kilbirnie respectively.    

All matches are at 1pm unless stated.      

College    

Once again all five matches in the College Premiership are on tomorrow. Joint-leaders Silverstream and Scots are both on the road; coming off their win over Palmerston North Boys in their annual match Silverstream make the short hop up the road to take on Hutt International at Trentham (at 1pm) while Scots go somewhat further to face Kapiti College in Raumati. Third-placed St Pats Town are also away from home as they visit St Bernard’s and Porirua will again go in search of their first competition win when hosting Rongotai. The fifth match is at the earlier time of 1pm, with mid-table pair Wellington College – playing their fourth match in eight days after a trying week at their Quad tournament – and Wairarapa meeting in the shadow of Mt Victoria.    

In Premier 2 leaders Aotea maintained their perfect record but only just and tomorrow take on mid-table Onslow in a match that also doubles as their Coed Cup semi-final. The second-placed Silverstream 2nd XV hosts their Town counterparts (at 1pm) with Hutt Valley High also at home against winless Taita. Coming off their first win Upper Hutt hosts the Wellington College 2nd XV and Tawa head up the coast to face Paraparaumu.    

Unless stated all matches kick-off at 2.30pm.      

Elsewhere the second round gets underway in the First Grade (Johnsonville Centennium Cup) and Reserve Grade Division 1 (Paul Donoghue Memorial Cup) and Division 2 (John Davies Cup) competitions. The last grade to finish their first round is the Under 85s, who do so tomorrow with the Avalon Wolves having already claimed the JC Bowl.