Tawa and Old Boys University emerge unbeaten on darkest day

Above: OBU flanker Mitch Clarke emerges from the gloom with hooker Zeke Sopoaga in support. Clarke scored two second half tries and halfback Danny Tusitala another as the Goats won their third straight championship round-robin match today.

Tawa and the Old Boys University Goats have come through as the two unbeaten teams from the pack, while last year’s finalists, Hutt Old Boys Marist and Wainuiomata, remain winless after three rounds of the 2015 Jubilee Cup.

Under ashen skies, Old Boys University lit up the Basin Reserve with three barnstorming second half tries to sink an injury hit Wainuiomata side 26-8, while Tawa kept their noses ahead of previously unbeaten Oriental-Rongotai to win 31-22 at the Polo Ground.

OBU and Wainuiomata were locked up at 3-3 at halftime, but it was back-to-back tries and then a third soon after that completed OBU’s win. Both sides were forced into making late changes, with Wainuiomata losing halfback Frae Wilson and OBU openside flanker Adam Hill. Wilson’s absence was telling, but Hills’ replacement at seven was compelling, with that man Mitch Clarke having a blinder and scoring two tries for the Goats.

Tawa went ahead to 18-3 just before halftime, with tries to flanker Telea Seumanutafa – his twelfth of the season – and hooker Matt Treeby. Ories struck back with a 50-metre try to NZ Sevens fullback Ambrose Curtis to trail 18-8 at the interval. With a powerful scrum and awarded a penalty try, Ories closed the gap to 21-17, but Tawa pulled clear with another try and more points off the tee to fullback James So’oialo.

Multiple champions Marist St Pat’s held on to defeat defending champions and first round Swindale Shield winners Hutt Old Boys Marist 27-23 at Evans Bay Park, while in the other match at the Graveyard at Hataitai Park, home side Wellington grabbed their first win of the Jubilee Cup round with a 27-17 victory over Petone.

After conceding an early deficit, HOBM clawed their way back to 11-13 behind MSP at halftime, but MSP pulled ahead to 27-11 in the second half. Aided by a yellow card to MSP’s first try-scorer and flanker Josh Toomaga, HOBM bridged the gap but it was too late to stave off defeat.

Wellington and Petone shaded each other throughout the first half and it was 14-14 at halftime. The key play of the second half was another individual try to lock Vaea Fifita as both sides trades penalties and the Axemen kept themselves ahead.

These results see 2013 champions Tawa and 1966 winners Old Boys University out in front on 13 points with three wins from three, with Ories and MSP lurking with two wins each, Petone and Wellington with one win each and HOBM and Wainuiomata yet to win in the second round and probably gone from semi-final contention.

With a month of regular season rugby remaining, nothing can be taken for granted, but the teams at the top have a significant jump on those at the bottom.

It was also a dramatic day in the Premier 2 Hardham Cup, with the Upper Hutt Rams winning their third straight match of the second round, beating Poneke 25-23 who couldn’t escape with a second last-gasp win a fortnight. Match report of this encounter below.

Johnsonville bounced back from their late loss to Poneke last week to account for Avalon 38-13 and move into second, while Norths beat Tawa B 31-7, after the Tawa side had led 7-5 at haltime. Paremata-Plimmerton re-joined the winner’s circle with a 24-7 win over Petone B.

In the opening round of the Women’s second round, there were three one-sided wins.

Defending champions Ories beat HOBM 87-7 in the Victoria Tavern Trophy, while Poneke defeated Johnsonville 89-0 and Wainuiomata beat Tawa 57-0 in the Senior Women’s division. The other fixture saw OBU beat Avalon 33-14 in the Victoria Tavern Trophy.

Northern United have cemented their grip on the top of the Paris Memorial Trophy Colts standings, beating Petone Blue 17-7 today for their 10th straight win.

Old Boys University Green have eased into second, after beating Johnsonville 76-5, with the Upper Hutt Rams slipping to third on account of having their bye today.

Poneke and Hutt Old Boys Marist Green are fourth equal, Poneke beating Old Boys University Black by default and HOBM taking the field and accounting for Wainuiomata 33-0. In other U21 games Taw beat Ories 24-0, Wellington defeated Paremata-Plimmerton 18-7 and MSP beat the Avalon Wolves 15-10.

Old Boys University and Ories are the two unbeaten teams in their respective Ed Chaney Cup and HD Morgan Memorial Trophy divisions, each with two wins each against teams from their own section. OBU beat Wainuiomata 40-21 in a cross-over game, while Ories defeated fellow HD Morgan side the Upper Hutt Rams 17-12.

First round First Grade winners the Petone Brotherhood opened their second round Johnsonville Centennium Cup campaign with a 29-22 win over Norths. Both sides scored four tries.

Poneke, OBU and the HOBM Barbarians all also opened the competition with bonus point wins. Poneke beat MSP Avele 35-15, OBU beat the Petone Saxons 31-17 and the HOBM Barbarians won by default over the other MSP side.

First round U85kg winners the Tawa Titans and the OBU Bunnies both won their opening Paul Potiki Shield second round division 1 matches with bonus points. The Titans beat first round second divisions champions Johnsonville 32-15 and the Bunnies beat Eastbourne 29-5. In the other two Paul Potiki matches, Avalon beat MSP Reds 17-0 and promoted HOBM Howlers knocked over the Wellington Light Axemen 8-0.

U85kg Division 2 Week 1 results: Kapiti 12 - Paremata-Plimmerton; 0 Western Suburbs 28 - Marist St Pats Green 7; Wainuiomata 29 - Upper Hutt Rams 12; Stokes Valley WBD –Wellington

Reserve Grade Week 10 results: Reserve Grade –OBU 69’ers 38 - Poneke Panthers 29; Poneke Ruffnuts 55 - Upper Hutt Rams Pirates 5; Johnsonville Cripples 10 - Marist St Pat’s Internationals 8; OBU Teddy Bears 22 - OBU Porters Pink Ginners 12; Upper Hutt Rams Thirsty Rams 39 - Paremata-Plimmerton Punters 21; OBU Righteous Brothers 35- Western Suburbs Mixed Veges 14. Bye: Upper Hutt Rams J8’s

The Poneke Ruffnuts are the Reserve Grade frontrunners with eight straight bonus point wins and 40 competition points. The Upper Hutt J8’s, who had their bye today, are also unbeaten and a point back on 39. The MSP Internationals and the Johnsonville Cripples have both win six from eight to be on 31 and 28 points respectively.

Scots College marched on to their WelTec Premiership title defence, defending the Mosacar Cup and beating Wellington College 34-3 today. Their fifth straight win puts them in the box seat to be the top qualifier as they prepare to host Lindisfarne College this coming Tuesday.

Wellington College are now in fifth, over a win back from fourth placed St Pat’s Town who defeated Wairarapa College 50-12.

In the two other matches played today, second placed St Pat’s Silverstream beat winless HIBS 25-3 and third placed Rongotai College grabbed their fourth win with a 17-13 victory over Tawa College.

Hardham Cup report: Upper Hutt Rams (25) v Poneke (23)

Lessons from the first round were not forgotten by the Upper Hutt Rams, who backed their table-topping goal kicker instead of a set-piece play to ensure their status as the only unbeaten team in the Hardham Cup competition thus far.

Both teams were held hostage by the greasy ball and conditions underfoot, yet Upper Hutt responded more urgently and negotiated the terrain more efficiently to come out on top. The Rams were relentless in the use of their big men - their ruck/maul stats at least double what Poneke put up. This forced solicitous decisions from tired combatants, resulting in two red and black players being sent to the bin on either side of the halftime whistle for defensive lapses in judgment.

Uncalculated options and delayed responses to the action in front meant Poneke were always playing reactively and - given the conditions - the plays that Poneke offered would've been more ideal on a dry, running patch. That they were unable to adjust or modify their play is more a reflection of timing as opposed to a lack of discipline or imagination. That stated - if the last play kick to the Poneke wing had stuck moments from full time, the Rams would not be chanting their team song post-match.

Rams centre Joyner Key notched up all his points from his kicking duties and remains top of the table for the Hardham Cup. Congratulations also to Poneke's Sam Johnson running out for his blazer match (30th Premier start).