Title wins for Norths Women’s, Tawa Titans and Petone Brotherhood teams

Above: With Hutt Old Boys Marist ahead 28-27, Petone right wing Belgium Tuatagaloa sets sail for the tryline with only a few minutes left on the clock in today’s Jubilee Cup opener between the two Hutt Valley sides. Tuatagaloa was dragged down just short of the line by HOBM centre Tomasi Alosio, but Lester Maulolo (inset) was in support to score the match winning try for Petone and they won 34-28.

Wellington club rugby today was played in memory of Jerry Collins, who died in a car crash on Friday afternoon (NZT).

Collins first captained Northern United when he was 18 and helped shape a decade of success for the club until his departure from New Zealand rugby at the end of 2008.

Three of Jerry’s sisters, Brenda, Helen and Tiana, plus cousin Phoenix, play for the Norths Women’s team. Another cousin, Maryann, recently played for Norths and latterly Wainuiomata. Today, the Norths Women’s team won the first round Fleurs Trophy with a week to spare, beating Wainuiomata 96-0. Norths, play Old Boys University in next week’s final round, but can’t be headed for the first round title by nearest challengers Oriental-Rongotai whom they beat three weeks ago.

The Tawa Titans also won their first round U85kg Division 1 title this weekend with a round to spare, beating the Avalon Wolves 32-10 under lights last night. Tawa moved four points clear of second placed Avalon who have their bye next weekend and six clear of third placed Poneke.

Likewise, the Petone Brotherhood have won the First Grade Thomson Memorial Cup with next week to spare.

The Brotherhood’s match against Hutt Old Boys Marist was called off today owing to a serious injury, but the Brotherhood still have enough points in the bank to ensure that win, lose or draw in next week’s final round against the other Petone side playing in this grade they will take the title.

Meanwhile, the opening round of the 2015 Jubilee Cup and Hardham Cup was exciting, with some thrilling high scoring and tense low scoring results in the Jubilee Cup and two notable ones in the Hardham Cup.

In the feature match of the Jubilee Cup, Petone scored a late runaway try to register a pulsating 34-28 win over first round round champions and defending Swindale Shield champions the Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles.

At the other end of the points scoring spectrum, Tawa came back to pip Wainuiomata 16-14 at home at Lyndhurst Park.

The two other Jubilee Cup matches saw Oriental-Rongotai beat Marist St Pat’s 34-6 at the Polo Ground and Old Boys University overcome the Wellington Axemen 30-22 at Hataitai Park.

In the Premier 2 Hardham Cup, Avalon and Paremata-Pimmerton both recoded their first wins of the season.

In the early match at the Petone Recreation Ground, an injury hit Avalon fought back from a 5-8 halftime deficit to defeat Petone B 29-8. Under pressure on their own try line throughout the early stages of the second half, Avalon broke out and ran in three unanswered converted tries.

In the main match at Ngatitoa Domain, a spirited Paremata-Plimmerton defeated Poneke 12-8. The home side fought back from an early try to Poneke wing Samoa Momoemausu to land four penalties to win the game.

The two other Hardham Cup results saw the Upper Hutt Rams signal their intent in the second round, beating first round Harper Lock Shield champions 64-6, and Johnsonville beat Norths 62-33.

For the Upper Hutt Rams, halfback Hayden Schrijvers and wings Tafa Tafa and Max Pearson each scored two tries, while fullback Joyner Key scored a try and kicked seven of 10 tries overall for 19 points overall.

For Johnsonville, halfback Jack Taulapapa and centre Roy Kinikinilau both scored hat-tricks, while No. 8 Sean Bridge bagged a brace of tries to go his three last week.

In a Jubilee Cup thriller at the Petone Rec, the home side raced to a 22-0 lead against HOBM.

Petone started like it was 1973 and scored three tries, to second five-eighth Nick Grigg and right wing Belgium Tuatagaloa (2). Halfback Jared Kahu set up the second of Belgium’s tries and also kicked a penalty. Kahu was then sin-binned for throwing the ball away, allowing HOBM to re-group.

Enter Johnny Bentley. The HOBM pivot’s last act in Wellington club rugby was helping his side beat MSP in the 2007 Jubilee Cup final. Playing with punch and precision, and aided by the accuracy and control around the breakdowns and committed driving and mauling of his forwards, Bentley stepped up to score two tries and then set up a third for halfback Sheridan Rangihuna. Petone’s lead had been cut to 22-21.

Petone then ran in a stunning try off the back of a scrum 60 metres out just before halftime, to take a 27-21 lead into the break. Grigg combined with fullback Sam McNichol and left wing and try scorer Aleks Noble-Campbell.

HOBM surged on to attack again early in the second half. From a penalty and a lineout in the corner, Bentley ripped a bullet pass across to centre Tomasio Alosio and he ran through to give the Eagles a 28-27 lead.

The run of play remained on tenterhooks throughout most of the second half, with both sides holding off concerted raids.

The winning play came five minutes from fulltime when two-try hero Tuatagaloa made a steaming long-range break up towards the line, only to be cut down a metre short. But he got a pass away to replacement back Lester Maulolo and he crashed over to score the winner.

Meanwhile at Lyndhurst Park, 2013 champions Tawa can thank the right boot of fullback James So’oialo for getting them home.

Wainuiomata dominated territory and possession throughout almost the entire first half but could only cross for one try. Tawa, who had two of the Fermanis brothers sin-binned for separate incidents, stayed in the contest courtesy of a So’oialo dropped goal and then a 55-metre So’oialo penalty.

Tawa lock Pati Gaualofa made a big bust up the middle of the field early in the second half, leading to a try to Ezra Fermanis and Tawa led 13-8. Wainuiomata re-took the lead, 14-13, with two consecutive penalties, before So’oialo sealed victory with a 45-metre penalty.

At Hataitai Park, Old Boys University took the lead off home side the Wellington Axemen early in the second half with a try to lock Augustine Escalona. This put the Goats ahead 16-15. They then finished off a length of the field breakout to increase their lead and propel them to victory.

Earlier, the Axemen had scored a try off a lineout drive and added a second through the sheer individual brilliance of Vaea Fifita who broke out from a scum under his own line and galloped 95 metres to score a seven-pointer.

Across at the Polo Grounds, power up front combined with dynamism on the counter-attack and out wide propelled Ories to their 34-6 win over MSP.

Ories led 7-6 midway through the first half, a solo try to fullback Hayden Whelan replied to by two penalties to MSP first five-eighth Fa’atonu Fili, starting his 16th season of Jubilee Cup rugby.

Ories extended their lead with more tries, one after a Fili penalty hit the upright and Ories broke out to score. Another after MSP halfback Ken Kapeli was sinbinned and left wing Afa Fa’atau completed another long-range raid.

Paris Memorial Trophy Colts

Northern United remain out in front of the Paris Memorial Trophy competition, after beating HOBM Green 21-5 today. Norths have won all eight of their games so far.

The Upper Hutt Junior Rams held off Petone 11-3 in a tight struggle on the Petone Rec, to register their seventh win and eight games and remain second on the standings.

OBU Green and Poneke are right behind with six wins each, OBU defeating Avalon 46-0 and Poneke beating Paremata-Plimmerton 40-12.

In two close games, Wainuiomata edged Johnsonville 22-20 and Tawa pipped Wellington 16-12, while MSP beat OBU Black under lights on Friday night.

Phillip Wiggins Trophy (Under 85kg Div 2) – Week 9: Stokes Valley 45 - Wellington 5; Johnsonville 65 - Paremata-Plimmerton 6; Wainuiomata WBD - Hutt Old Boys Marist ; Western Suburbs WBD - Marist St Pat’s Green.

Reserve Grade – Week 8: Johnsonville Cripples 52 - Poneke Panthers 7; Upper Hutt Rams J8’s 31 - OBU Porters Pink Ginners 6 ; Paremata-Plimmerton Punters 30 - OBU 69er’s 14; OBU Righteous Brothers 15 - Upper Hutt Rams Pirates 5 ; Marist St Pats Internationals 54 - Western Suburbs Mixed Veges 21 ; Upper Hutt Rams Thirsty Rams 33 - OBU Teddy Bears 19; Bye: Poneke Ruffnuts

WelTec Premiership

Scots College were given a scare by St Pat’s Silverstream and Rongotai College upset St Pats Town in two notable results of today’s third round of First XV matches in Wellington.

Scots saw off Silverstream’s challenge to retain the Moascar Cup, 16-12, whilst Rongotai College fought back from a 0-19 deficit to beat St Pat’s Town 22-19.

The other two matches saw Wellington College defeat Tawa College 47-13 and Wairarapa College defeat HIBS 34-7.

These results have Scots College out in front with three wins from three, ahead of Wellington College, St Pat’s Silverstream and Rongotai College with two wins each.

Wellington College and St Pat’s Silverstream meet this coming Wednesday in town.