Late wins for Poneke and Upper Hutt Rams on the worst day of the year

Above: Marist St Pat's midfielder Isaiah Petelo makes a break for it in his side's Jubilee Cup match against Hutt Old Boys Marist. HOBM won 24-7, ending MSP's semi-final hopes with two weeks to play in the regular season.

There were dramatic late wins for Poneke in the Jubilee Cup and the Upper Hutt Rams in the Hardham Cup this afternoon on the worst day of the year, to help stiffen the race for the semi-finals in both competitions with a fortnight of round-robin play to come.

A wild dose of weather rolled into Wellington today, starting with gale force northerly winds, then showers and then the rain set in around the start of Premier kick-offs, affecting all matches.

At Kilbirnie Park, Poneke scored a late try to come from behind and beat Old Boys University 18-14 in the closest of the three Jubilee Cup clashes.

Playing into the wind in the second half, Poneke scored the game’s final two tries to go from 8-14 down to beat the Goats. Replacement lock Jonte Miller scored the first of these, before a break up field by replacement left wing Kurt Sickler was carried on by prop Hennie Tui who came up just short of the chalk. Poneke spun it at the next phase to replacement right wing Johannus Taankink and he scored the match-winner with a couple of minutes to play.

Earlier, OBU had dominated first half possession playing into the wind, but Poneke’s Pakai Turia kicked a sole penalty to see them lead 3-0 at halftime. With prop Finnbarr Kerr-Newell in the sin-bin, OBU midfielder Izzy Foai barged over to score. But Poneke replied through flanker Api McMillan-Parata as they went to work Poneke-style playing into the wind. OBU scored again, through lock Agustin Escalona, but Poneke hit back with their two tries to win the game.

The other two Jubilee Cup matches today resulted in Northern United beating Tawa 22-5 away at Lyndhurst Park and Hutt Old Boys Marist defeating Marist St Pat’s 24-7 at home at the Hutt Rec. Oriental-Rongotai had the bye.

Jackson Garden-Bachop was a key operator for Norths in their win over Tawa, providing plenty of front foot ball and the source of several fruitful raids. Playing into the stiff wind and rain, Norths went into halftime leading 5-0. They pulled clear with two quickfire tries after the break and drove to victory from there.

The HOBM forwards could take a bow after their win against Marist St Pat’s. HOBM dominated territory in the first half but not possession as MSP fought bravely to escape their half. However all it took were a few mistakes and turnovers, which HOBM capitalised on to score off. HOBM scored their first try from a tap penalty and dash up the right wing by Jerome Harimate. They scored three more tries before halftime, to prop Brett Manaia (2) and busy blindside Tasi Fidow to lead 24-0 at halftime. HOBM spent almost the entire second half defending and keeping it tight with ball in hand, and just conceding a 65th minute try and earning their bye next weekend.

The Jubilee Cup points after 5 rounds of 7 is: Northern United 20; HOBM 17*; OBU 15; Ories 13; Poneke 11; MSP 4*; Tawa 4
*yet to have their bye.

At Fraser Park, the Upper Hutt Rams beat the Avalon Wolves with a last-gasp penalty. Second five-eighth Tyler Tane stepped up to take the penalty giving the Rams a 15-13 win.

Moments earlier, the Wolves had kicked a penalty through Thomas Kiwara that had put them in front 13-12. There was nothing in the match throughout the contest with scores locked at 5-5 late in the first half and then Avalon wing Chris Aumua finishing off an 80-metre try that put the Wolves up10-5 at halftime. The Rams replied with their second try, before the late penalties decided the result.

The other two Hardham Cup matches saw Petone keep their noses in front of Paremata-Plimmerton all day to win 22-5 at the Petone Recreation Ground and the Wellington Axemen defeat Johnsonville 15-5 at Hataitai Park. Wainuiomata had the bye – and stays on the top of the table.

For Petone, prop Kaliopasi Uluilakepa scored two tries, while Hurricanes locks Murray Douglas and James Blackwell muscled up.

The Hardham Cup points table after 5 round of 7 is: Wainuiomata 17; Petone 15; Johnsonville 15; Upper Hutt Rams 13; Wellington 11*; Paremata-Plimmerton 3; Avalon 3*.
*Yet to have their bye.

In the Women’s competition, leaders Northern United flew to their third straight win to start their division 1 second round campaign against Paremata-Plimmerton at Ngatitoa Domain. With the aid of the strong wind, Norths hooked on to attack and built a halftime lead.This was extended early in the second spell with a runaway try as Norths went on to win 48-5.

The second Division 1 match of the round was played midweek, with Petone defeating Marist St Pat’s 63-0. Ories had the bye.

In Division 2, the OBU Impalas and the HOBM side both had good wins. OBU defeated Avalon 46-15 with second five-eighth Larissa Lima scoring a hat-trick and HOBM beat Poneke 43-12 2 with utility Rosie Stirling crossing and left wing Danica Tavite both crossing for braces in a seven tries to two win. HOBM lead Division 2 with three bonus-point wins.

For the most part, the Premier Reserve fixtures that kicked off at 1.00pm got kinder weather than the Premier contests that followed. First-round winners Marist St Pat’s had first use of the wind against HOBM and leapt to a 19-0 lead that became 26-0 by halftime in their Ed Chaney Cup game. MSP pulled clear into the wind and won 48-0.

Poneke beat OBU 17-15 after leading 12-10 at halftime playing into the wind. Poneke’s tighthead prop dived over to score first in the second half, extending their lead to 17-10. OBU eventually scored again, but not until the 81st minute.

Tawa made a fast start against Norths in their Premier Reserve fixture, leaping to a 10-0 lead. Norths came back to lead 19-13 by halftime, and that score remained until late in the match when Tawa scored a converted try to win 20-19.

In the Premier Reserve HD Morgan Cup, the Wellington Axemen’s second XV defeated Johnsonville 29-12, while Petone beat Paremata-Plimmerton 61-5 and Avalon met the Upper Hutt Rams.

In Les Mills Colts matches, the HOBM Colts thrashed previously unbeaten Northern United 31-0 on the Hutt Rec 2, to move into second on the standings behind Norths.

OBU and MSP put last weekend’s fighting and subsequent dockage of 2 points each behind them to win their John E Kelly Memorial Cup matches. OBU trounced Tawa 57-5 and MSP beat the Upper Hutt Junior Rams 21-10. Paremata-Plimmerton defeated Petone 22-12 in the other match.
In Division 2 Colts matches, Poneke beat OBU Black 26-0 and Ories beat Avalon 64-8 in two Friday night fixtures, while Wellington beat Johnsonville 36-10 today.

In a noted U85kg Division 1 Paul Potiki Shield opening round result today, first round winners from last week the Avalon Wolves beat Eastbourne 10-5.

In College rugby, St Bernard’s College scored a last-minute try to beat Rongotai College 10-5, and probably shut Rongotai out of the top four after the school holidays. Wellington College beat Kapiti College 48-0, St Pat’s Town beat HIBS 29-7 and Wairarapa College defeated Porirua College 41-0 (Friday night).

In a couple of Premier 2 results, Wellington College’s second XV was held to a 17-17 draw by Hutt Valley High School and St Pat’s Town second XV beat Aotea College 22-12, inflicting a first loss of the year on the latter school. In a noted girls Premier 1 result from Wednesday, St Mary’s College only beat Porirua College 34-30.

In the big college match of the day, St Pat’s Silverstream beat Scots College 17-7 in a top-of-the-table clash at home, extending their unbeaten run to 18 games in Wellington.

The poor weather turned the contest into a territorial forward battle of attrition.

It was Scots who took a surprise 7-0 lead to halftime playing with more respect for the conditions and shocking the hosts with a brazen try. Rejecting a penalty kick from straight in front ten-metres out, Scots tapped the ball instead and muscled over via lock Ezekiel Fiso in the 20th minute.

Scots first-five Oryaan Kalolo kicked sensibly, driving Silverstream back into their own half. The hosts were often guilty of trying to run the ball from deep when a cautious option was better.

Silverstream scored within two minutes of the second-half resuming. Inside the Scots 22, clean lineout ball was secured and multiple phases created a gap down the short-side allowing hooker Sean Hurdle to cross on the wing. Riley Forbes conversion from the sideline missed and it was 7-5.

Gradually Silverstream started to control territory. Lock Neyla Masima was a tower of strength in the lineout and when prop Luke Chisholm scored from a rolling maul, Silverstream led 10-7.

Reserve halfback Cullen Goldsmith added noticeable energy with quicker service and the winning try was scored with about seven minutes remaining. From a midfield scrum on the Scots 22, Goldsmith received the pill and dummied and dashed clear in the most memorable break of the match.

Silverstream went close to securing a four-try bonus point, but were denied by desperate defence.

For Scots prop Junior Uelese, lock Fiso and No.8 Epa Sailo were full of industry, lacking support from the bench and starved out wide.  Five of Scots starting backs today are attending the Hurricanes Under-18 camp.

For Silverstream loose forwards Iona Apineru and Luke Mannix were assertive on both attack and defence. Riley Forbes was a mixed bag at first-five, but was noticeably better in the second spell and that in addition to Masima’s toil and Goldsmith’s spark did enough to ensure Silverstream stay on top.

Silverstream seeks a clean sweep of their traditional fixtures when they travel to Evans Bay Park to tackle St Pats Town in their first game after the school holidays. Scots will look to get their season back on a winning path against St Bernard’s College on July 28.

For full results and standings here