Much at stake in First XV, Women?s and lower grades on Saturday

Above: The college Premier 1 semi-finals are on Saturday, with St Pat's Silverstream hosting Wellington College and Scots College playing St Pat's Town.?

While understandably most focus will be on events on at the Hutt Rec on Sunday, there is still plenty of rugby on Saturday, with the semi-finals of College Premier 1 and 2 and a number of grades coming to or nearing the conclusion of the round-robin phase ahead of the playoffs.

College Premier 1 & Premier 2

Saturday afternoon sees the two semi-finals of the College Premier 1 grade, ahead of the final next Sunday at Porirua Park.

A new final pairing will be guaranteed, as the two finalists for the past three seasons, St Pat's Silverstream and Wellington College, meet at this stage this year. As top qualifiers Silverstream have the home advantage and although they won the annual traditional 24-12 on the same ground two months ago, they will want a better effort than their last outing against St Pat's Town. College have had an indifferent season by their lofty standards and will wear the underdog tag, but are rounding into form and gained revenge for their opening round shock loss to Hutt International last weekend.

The second semi-final is at Scots College, where the home side face near neighbours St Pat's Town. Scots haven't made a Premier 1 final while Town, perhaps this year's quiet achievers, last made the final in 2010 where they lost to Silverstream. The two sides met back in the first round, played on the St Pat's College artificial as part of the ‘College at Club' round, with Scots prevailing by 28-10 after Town led 10-7 at halftime.

Elsewhere HIBS hosts Naenae and St Bernard's hosts Rongotai in the Plate section, with seeding places in next years grading at stake.

All four matches are 2.30 pm kick-offs.

In the Premier 2 grade Wairarapa College has wrapped up the top qualifier spot, and with it a bye into the semi-finals, ahead of their trip to 9^th placed Paraparaumu at 1.00 pm. Also at 1.00 pm the second qualifying place is up for grabs when the Silverstream 2nds host Tawa who come into this game on the back of winning the Co-ed Cup title over Porirua on Wednesday night; while Hutt Valley HS is visited by the Wellington College 2nds. The two 2.30 pm kick-offs have Upper Hutt hosting Porirua and Aotea hosting Kapiti.

Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup

While the identities of the four semi-finalists have been found, just who plays who next week is yet to be determined. Leaders Poneke saw their lead slashed when they lost last weekend to Tawa, and probably need to win over fourth placed Hutt Old Boys Marist to assure top spot, given that second-placed Petone are at home against strugglers Wests. At minimum Poneke needs a point to have a home semi, as if they fail to do so they could be passed by Tawa, who play the Upper Hutt Rams at Maidstone.

The other two matches, Oriental-Rongotai against Norths (being played at 7.30 pm at Te Whaea on Friday night) and Wainuiomata hosting Wellington, are of no consequence to the semi-final picture. All four Saturday matches are 3.00 pm kickoffs.

Senior 2 HD Morgan Cup

HOBM wrapped up top spot for the playoffs last weekend with their 19-12 win over Avalon, and have the week off with the bye. Avalon need to win their tilt with Petone to overtake OBU, who also have the week off after the WRFU withdrew Norths from the competition following their default two weeks ago, and allocated all sides 5 points for their contests against the Porirua side. Petone themselves need a win, as they could be overtaken by Johnsonville (incorrectly referred to as out of contention in this column last week) who play the Upper Hutt Rams at Helston, while Stokes Valley, who play Marist St Pats at Evans Bay, have an outside chance of qualifying if both Petone and Johnsonville lose.

Women's Victoria Tavern Trophy

The trio of sides at the top of the table, Norths, Oriental-Rongotai, and Wainuiomata, have all qualified for the semi-finals with a week to spare. Norths and Wainui play minnows Poneke and Tawa respectively and should bag the five competition points. Ories host Old Boys-University and can only claim top spot if Norths lose, while the lady Goats will be desperate for the win to secure a semi-final place, after losing to Avalon last weekend. Should OBU lose, then Avalon will finish fourth if they win their local derby at Delaney Park against Stokes Valley.

Under 85kg Paul Potiki Shield and Moody Cup

The lightweight competition still has a few weeks left to run and the race for the playoffs remains tight, though the number of contenders is dwindling. The MSP Blues retained top spot following their 19-18 top-of-the-table clash with the Tawa Titans last Saturday, and this weekend head to Maidstone Park to take on the Upper Hutt Rams, who sit mid-table, at 3.00 pm. Also at that time the Poneke Cavs can keep pace when they face the bottom-placed OBU Spartans at Te Whaea, while Avalon and Eastbourne clash at Fraser Park. At 5.00 pm the OBU Bunnies host Tawa at Te Whaea, with the Titans able to reclaim second from Waikanae (who have the bye) with a win.

The second-tier Moody Cup is just as tight, with HOBM, Stokes Valley and Wellington all within a point of each other. HOBM are at home to the fourth-placed MSP Reds, Stokes Valley visits the Wests Roosters at the Cage and Wellington are at Newlands Park against Johnsonville, all at 3.00 pm. The fourth match, MSP Green against Wainuiomata, is at the St Pat's artificial at 1.30 pm.

Colts Division 2 Vic Calcinai Memorial Cup

It's a similar story in the second-tier Colts grade as well. Leaders Poneke host mid-table Otaki side Rahui, having assumed top spot by beating the Kapiti side last weekend. Kapiti now sit a point behind, and travel to take on Tawa at Lyndhurst. Third-placed Wainuiomata are also on the road against the winless Petone B side, as are the fourth-placed Upper Hutt A side against OBU White. The other two matches have Johnsonville hosting the Rams' B side at Helston and Pare-Plim traveling to Avalon.

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Some key dates (venues and times yet to be confirmed unless stated):

9 August: Club rugby Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup, Senior 2 HD Morgan Memorial, Women's Victoria Tavern Trophy and Reserve Grade Division 2 semi-finals.

10 August (Sunday): Premier 1 First XV Final

16 August: Club rugby Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup, Senior 2 HD Morgan Memorial and Women's Victoria Tavern Trophy, Reserve Grade Division 2 finals. Colts Division 2 and 3 semi-finals; Reserve Grade Division 1 semi-finals; Reserve Grade Division 2 final.

23 August: Lower grade College finals day, St Pat's Silverstream; Under 85 kg Division 1 Paul Potiki Shield and Division 2 The Moody Cup semi-finals.

30 August: Under 85 kg Division 1 Paul Potiki Shield and Division 2 The Moody Cup finals.

Also City/Suburbs/Wellington Maori/Wellington Samoan series:

16 August at Porirua Park. 1.00 pm: Wellington City v Wellington Maori.
2.30 pm: Wellington Suburbs v Wellington Samoans

23 August at the Hutt Recreation Ground. 1.00 pm: Wellington City v Wellington Samoans. 2.30 pm: Wellington Suburbs v Wellington Maori

30 August at Hataitai Park 1.00 pm: Wellington City v Wellington Suburbs. 2.30 pm: Wellington Maori v Wellington Samoans

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