Crunch games in all grades tomorrow

Above: Norths right wing Junior Time-Taotua evades Sheridan Rangihuna and Chase Tiatia last week and went on to score the winning try. Tomorrow Norths play Tawa at Lyndhurst and HOBM host MSP at the Hutt Rec.

Does another week of drama await tomorrow, or will the forecast poor weather have a greater say in proceedings? The playoffs loom ever closer with crunch games across all four grades that will be in action on Finals Day in four weeks’ time, and a mouth-watering showdown in the College slate as well.        

Jubilee Cup    

One way or another tomorrow is a pivotal round of matches. On one hand two teams could book their place in the playoffs and two could definitely be eliminated, on the other hand it could all be on for the scramble over the last two weekends.     At the head of the table Norths (15) are one side that, with a win, could book themselves into a semi-final (and will do if OBU beats Poneke). Their task is a trip to neighbours Tawa (4) at Lyndhurst, where the home side know that anything short of a win will likely mean the end of their challenge for the season so there’s plenty at stake for both.    

Tawa make just two changes to the side that hung on against MSP, with Sitiveni Paongo and Peniasi Tokakece returning to the pack from injury. Norths will be after their 13th straight win this season and are also largely unchanged from last week, but one of those is the addition of Jackson Garden-Bachop along with Mike Ioapo up front and Denny To’o in midfield.    

Further south, Old Boys-University (14) head through the Mt Victoria tunnel to Kilbirnie Park and an appointment with Poneke (7). Coming off the bye, Poneke are bolstered through the additions of both recent Hurricanes debutant Isaia Walker-Leawere and halfback Finlay Christie for this week and with three games remaining will be looking to make their push for the playoffs.    

The defending champion Goats can assure themselves a playoff place with a win, even if it’s not as emphatic as their 55-10 win over Poneke at Awakairangi on Opening Day. After starting last week in the centres Will Mangos is named at lock, and there are also returns for backs Te Wehi Wright, Jared Verney, and Sam Reid.    

Out in the Hutt Valley the two Marist clubs renew acquaintances. Hutt Old Boys Marist (12) can’t secure a playoff place tomorrow but can take a large step towards it, but with the bye next week a loss could make things very nervous, particularly if Poneke win tomorrow and/or next week with those two sides destined to meet in the final round. Its far more desperate for Marist St Pats (4) who need a bonus point win tomorrow and again next week (against Poneke) and results elsewhere to go their way if they are to somehow sneak into the playoffs, as they have the final round bye.      

HOBM push Chase Tiatia up into midfield this week with Anthony Utanga taking the fullback jersey. MSP have a raft of changes, notably returns to the starting side for Joe Walding-Karaitiana and James Proctor, but also the inclusion of Lua Lokotui on their bench who last played for MSP in their 2014 semi-final loss to Wainuiomata.    

Sitting at home with the bye this week are Oriental-Rongotai (13). The Magpies can’t drop out of the top four this week but just how comfortable their position is come 5pm tomorrow will only be determined by the scores elsewhere.                    

Hardham Cup    

It’s almost a perfect situation for Wainuiomata (17) this weekend. After assuming the lead with last Saturday’s win over Petone, the worst that can happen is that they’ll only fall behind Johnsonville on the ladder.    

Johnsonville (14) can take the lead if they beat Wellington (7), who they visit at Hataitai. The Hawks have a largely settled backline aided by the return of Jeff Makepelu, while the pack has few changes; notably there’s no Kane Thompson nor Api Naikatini (both injured this week). The Axemen shift Alex Dalzell back to No.8, but are themselves still without Olly Sapsford.    

Petone (10) will be looking to rebound from last weekend’s, and are on home turf for their clash with Paremata-Plimmerton (3). The Villagers get a couple of heavyweights back with Murray Douglas made available by the Hurricanes and Kaliopasi Uluilakepa back in their colours for the first time since departing on U20s duty, while Jarrod Hrstich plays his blazer game and Josh Onekawa makes his first Premier start. The visitors come off the bye and are eyeing points. Largely unchanged from the side that went down to Johnsonville two weeks ago they will be without honeymooning regular skipper James Corcoran, with club veteran Hayden Stirratt stepping in.    

Just up the road is the third game of the day, with the Avalon Wolves (2) hosting the Upper Hutt Rams (9) at Fraser Park for the second time this season. It was a close game then (Rams winning 31-26) and could be again tomorrow. Injuries and unavailability continue to be issues for both sides, particularly for the home team who are again without their four biggest ballcarriers, but the Rams do have Dan Schrijvers back in their pack in front of a backline with a few changes from last week’s winning side.    

All six matches are at the normal 2.45pm kick-off.      

Premier Reserve Ed Chaney and HD Morgan Cups    

Even with the bye this week Ories will keep the lead in the Ed Chaney section. First-round winners MSP and HOBM will each look to close that gap when they meet in the early game at the Hutt Rec, Poneke and OBU will scrap over much-needed points at Kilbirnie Park, and Norths will look to carry on from last Saturday against winless Tawa who are all but out of contention for the semi-finals.    

Petone and Johnsonville are the two unbeaten sides in the HD Morgan division. Petone are at home against winless Pare-Plim and Johnsonville are at Hataitai to face Wellington. The third match is at Fraser Park where the winless Avalon Wolves take on the Upper Hutt Rams where the points are valuable to both sides. Wainuiomata has the bye.    

All matches are at 1pm.      

Women’s Tia Paasi Memorial and Izzy Ford Trophies    

There’s just one match on in the Division 1 Tia Paasi Memorial with Petone having beaten Marist St Pat’s 62-0 on Wednesday night. Tomorrow’s match is the return of the northern derby with Paremata-Plimmerton hosting Norths at Ngati Toa; for the home side it’s a chance at a massive upset, or at least a better performance than their first round meeting while Norths can ensure their semi-final place. Oriental-Rongotai has the bye this week with the leading pair facing each other next Saturday. In the Izzy Ford division Hutt Old Boys Marist are the leaders and have a local derby against the Avalon Wolves at the Hutt Rec, with Old Boys-University facing minnows Poneke at Nairnville Park.    

All three matches are 11.30am kickoffs.      

Colts    

The big news of the week in the age-grade competition has been the penalties imposed on MSP and OBU Green after their match last weekend was abandoned before half-time, with Club Rugby understanding that each side has been docked two competition points. That decision would drop two of the leading contenders back into fourth and fifth and leaving them with some work to do over the remaining three rounds.    

That means that tomorrow’s Division 1 John E Kelly Memorial match at the Hutt Rec between HOBM and unbeaten Norths is a top-of-the-table clash, with Norths able to lock in a playoff spot should they take a bonus-point win. Third and fourth also clash with Tawa up against OBU Green at Redwood, while MSP will also try to claw back ground against the bottom-placed Upper Hutt Rams. The fourth match is at the Petone Rec where winless pair Petone and Pare-Plim meet, but both could yet mount a late charge for the playoffs. All are 1pm kick-offs bar the Tawa vs OBU clash, with is at 12.45pm.    

Two of the three Division 2 Vic Calcinai Memorial matches are tonight at 7.30pm with Avalon hosting Ories at Fraser Park, while Poneke and OBU Black take to Te Whaea. Tomorrow’s sole clash has Wellington and Johnsonville meeting on Kilbirnie #3 (at 12.45pm), and Wainuiomata will retain the competition lead without leaving home courtesy of a walkover over OBU White.      

College    

Without doubt, the feature clash of the last round before the school holiday break is the meeting of the two leaders at Silverstream between the home school and Scots College. The pair have been a cut above the rest of the competition this year and are the likely favourites to meet in next month’s final, but tomorrows encounter is the first order of business. The other three matches tomorrow are all in the city with St Pats Town hosting Hutt International, Rongotai at home against St Bernard’s, and Wellington College taking on Kapiti, with all four matches at 2.30pm. The fifth match of the round is taking place this afternoon with winless Porirua making the journey over the Rimutaka’s to face Wairarapa College in Masterton.    

In Premier 2 leaders Aotea are in the city to face the St Pats Town 2nd XV in the 1pm kick-off at Evans Bay while one of the sides chasing them, Hutt Valley HS, are on the other side of the Mt Vic tunnel at the same time against the Wellington College 2nd XV. There’s a 2pm start between Paraparaumu and Upper Hutt up the coast, and Taita hosts Onslow at 2.30pm. The fifth match of the round was played on Wednesday with Tawa beating the Silverstream 2nd XV.      

Elsewhere the Under 85kg grade starts their second round, having split into the Division 1 Paul Potiki Shield and Division 2 Tony O’Brien Shield competitions. The opening Division 1 matches have first-round JC Bowl winners Avalon hosting Eastbourne at Fraser Park at 1pm, followed at 2.45pm by the OBU Bunnies and Upper Hutt Rams at Te Whaea, and Paraparaumu and Tawa up the coast.