Scramble for semi-finals places as regular season comes to an end

Tomorrow sees the end of the round-robin part of the season in the top four grades with only the playoffs to come to decide the champions in each in two weeks’ time.  

It’s also in some respects a historic occasion as for the first-time two players will play their 200th Premier matches on the same day. Both Petone’s Eugene Smith and Hutt Old Boys Marist’s Simon Malaeulu have been stalwarts of the club game for well over a decade, and such is the respect that they’re each held in by the club rugby community their milestone achievement will be saluted across the province. Both start for their sides tomorrow. 

Additionally Malaeulu’s teammate Glen Walters will play his 100th for the Eagles Premiers tomorrow, and their clubmate Jared Farmer becomes the first person to chalk up 150 games for the club’s Under 85kg side.    

Jubilee Cup  

What we know is who the four teams that will be playing in next weekend’s semi-finals are, what we don’t is just what the matchups will be, or where they will be.  

For Old Boys-University (20) and Norths (22), there’s still plenty to be decided when they clash at Nairnville Park. For starters the victor will take top spot and a home semi-final next week, but also claim both the Andy Leslie Trophy (for topping the Jubilee Cup round-robin) and the Bill Brien Challenge Trophy for the summer. Norths have already taken one trophy – the Swindale Shield – from the Goats this season and taking two more would be a significant psychological blow if they meet again.  

The home team has Greg Mullany back after his time away with the Cook Islands, and both Zeke Sopoaga and Jonathan Fuimaono will return via the bench. Norths rattle of a few changes with Chris Middleton, Tom Finai, and Perry Hayman amongst those in the starting side this week. Eli Moata’a is named at first-five but there is the possibility that Jackson Garden-Bachop could start there instead.  

The other two are chasing the possibility of a home semi-final, depending on the result at Nairnville. Oriental-Rongotai (18) host Tawa (4) at the Polo Ground, and under most scenarios the Magpies will be back there next weekend if they grab a bonus point win while the visitors are only playing for pride.  

Ories have a half-dozen changes with NZ U20s prop Xavier Numia returning to the starting side, as do Malo Tuitama, Tuga Mativa, and Adam Deck with lock Ola Va’ai playing his 50th match. Lions duo Tolu Fahamokioa and Sitiveni Paongo both return to Tawa’s front-row.  

Not too far away Hutt Old Boys Marist (17) are at Kilbirnie Park against Poneke (11). The road to a home semi-final is slightly tougher for the Eagles as they need other results to fall their way or come out on the right side of a three-way tie. Poneke will be bitterly disappointed at not just losing last week, but also not getting that one bonus point that would have seen them still on the very fringe of contention this weekend. Their season – as interesting on and off the field as it has been – will come to an end at full-time on Saturday but they’ll still be looking to put on one final performance in front of the red-and-black faithful.  

Poneke have a few changes including having Isaia Walker-Leawere for tomorrow but are again without both Cole Stewart and Galu Taufale, and expect Greg Foe to finish his season off strong. Conversely the Eagles are largely unchanged, and will again have Chase Tiatia in midfield.  

Gone-from-contention Marist St Pat's (9) have the bye.  

Hardham Cup  

The certainties in the Hardham Cup are that Wainuiomata will host a home semi-final at William Jones next Saturday, and that Petone will be there in some capacity. Outside of that there are three sides after the final two spots.  

Petone (20) are at Helston Park to take face Johnsonville (15), where just a single point will ensure they’ll be at the Rec next weekend but you can be certain the Villagers won’t have any interest in backing into the playoffs. Sitting third the Hawks can take care of their own fate with a win and could even be back at home if they win with a bonus point and deny Petone any, but if they’re behind they’ll anxiously looking for news from the other two games.  

James Blackwell, Jarrod Adams, and Taurima Morris all return for Petone, though their injury woes claimed both Carlos Price and Viliami Fine last Saturday. Johnsonville have Api Naikatini back at lock and Matt Mullany back at hooker.  

The Upper Hutt Rams (14) face a relatively straightforward proposition; a win over already-eliminated Paremata-Plimmerton (6) will have them into next week but a loss will have them at the mercy of results elsewhere as well. The Rams return Greg Te Kura and Nua Fono-Hunt to the halves with erstwhile prop Nev Apineru starting at lock while Pare-Plim are largely unchanged and three players – James Hansen, Peni Taupau, and Taisson Lealaisalanoa – all play their blazer game tomorrow.  

Finally there’s Wellington (11). The Axemen host Wainuiomata (22) knowing that nothing short of victory will suffice and even then it won’t be enough if the Rams win and Johnsonville win or get two bonus points. Should they wind up tied with Johnsonville alone their 15-5 win from two weeks ago will see them through, but if they’re tied with the Rams the 22-29 result a month ago will see them out. If all they are tied then watch this space.   Axemen captain Alex Dalzell will lead the team in his 50th game for the side, and they get a timely boost with the return from injury of Ollie Sapsford. Wainuiomata are at about as full-strength as they’ve been all year with Peter Umaga-Jensen available and at fullback, TJ Va’a making his first start in 2½ years, and Ben Tupuola making his return from the bench.  

The Avalon Wolves (8) have the bye, and despite last weekend’s win are out of the playoff picture.    

Premier Reserve Ed Chaney and HD Morgan Memorial  

Remarkably all seven teams could still make the semi-finals in the Ed Chaney section. Marist St Pat’s, Ories, and Norths are all playoff-bound with MSP certain of hosting one of those, but beyond that the remaining four could each grab that last spot. MSP (22) has the bye and can only be beaten for top spot by Ories (20) who host Tawa (9) in the early game at Polo, HOBM (11) are that team in fourth currently and are at Kilbirnie to face Poneke (9), while OBU (9) line out at Te Whaea at 12.30pm against Norths (16).  

In the HD Morgan division Petone (25) are guaranteed top spot but it’s a four-way fight for the remaining places. Wellington (15) and Wainuiomata (15) are tied in the standings and while the winner could host a semi-final next Saturday, the loser could miss out completely. The Upper Hutt Rams (14) are the team on the outside at present though take on Pare-Plim (5) at home at Maidstone, while Johnsonville (16) aren’t safe either as they host Petone.  

All matches are at 1pm unless stated.    

Women’s Tia Paasi Memorial and Izzy Ford Trophies

Like the Jubilee Cup we know who the semi-finalists in the Tia Paasi Memorial. With Norths (17) on the bye, Oriental-Rongotai (15) can nab top spot when they take on Marist St Pats (0) on Kilbirnie #3. In the other game Petone (6) and Paremata-Plimmerton (5) take to the Petone Rec to argue over who will finish third and fourth and complete the seedings for next weekend.   In the Izzy Ford section last weekend’s results mean that Hutt Old Boys Marist (20) and Old Boys-University (16) will meet in the decider in two weeks’ time. Before then they meet tomorrow at Te Whaea at the earlier time of 11am, while Poneke (0) and Avalon (5) play their penultimate games of the season at Kilbirnie.    

Les Mills Colts John E Kelly and Vic Calcinai Memorials  

Norths (25) and HOBM (24) have not only locked in playoff berths, but will have hosting rights for those Division 1 semi-finals as well. Behind them though there are three teams jostling for the other two places, and of those OBU Green (17) has the easiest road on paper as they host bottom side Petone at Macalister Park. MSP (18) and Tawa (15) are the other two, but they host HOBM and Norths respectively, and of those its Tawa that are in the must-win territory. The fourth match sees the Upper Hutt Rams and first-round Division 2 winners Paremata-Plimmerton finish their season when they meet at Maidstone Park.  

In Division 2 the shock result was the hefty loss suffered by previous leaders Wainuiomata at the hands of Wellington. That means Ories (27) – defaulted to by OBU Black last Saturday – assume top spot and they, Poneke (26), and Wainuiomata (23) are all assured to be playing next weekend. The fifth spot will come down to between Wellington (17) and OBU Black (14), where the Axemen will know what they need to do as OBU Black play Avalon on Friday night at Te Whaea, and they face Ories at Polo on Saturday.   All five Saturday matches are at 1pm kickoffs   A reminder of the WRFU’s tiebreaker rules should they be needed to determine playoff qualification or seeding for all of the grades listed above:   ·        

If two teams are tied, then the tiebreaker is who won the head-to-head result between the teams in the round-robin. If that match was drawn, then the team with the better points-differential is ranked higher.   ·        

If three or more teams are tied, then the following sequence is applied: 1) Most matches won in the round-robin, then 2) Points difference, and 3) Points scored.    

Under 85s

In the lightweights Division 1 Paul Potiki Shield three teams have skipped clear at the top though two of them – Tawa and unbeaten first-round winners Avalon – clash at Lyndhurst in the highlight game of the round. The third of those teams, the Upper Hutt Rams, are at ‘home’ at Maoribank against Paraparaumu and the OBU Bunnies and Eastbourne look for their first win of the round when they meet at Macalister Park. In Division 2 Wests and MSP will duel it out in the Ian Galloway cage, and winless pair HOBM and Wellington take to the Hutt Rec with current leaders Johnsonville on the bye this weekend.    

Once again there’s no college rugby this weekend owing to school holidays, however there are two big games this coming Wednesday. The Premiership returns at 12 noon on Wednesday with leaders St Patrick’s Silverstream travelling into the city for their annual Traditional against their third-placed Town cousins at Evans Bay, while later that night Porirua and Aotea College’s clash at Jerry Collins Stadium for both the Beard Trophy (currently held by Porirua) and the Coed Cup title for 2018 with kick-off there at 7pm.