New Zealand club rugby round-up 20 June

Wet weather throughout the central North Island led to councils closing their grounds and unions postponing their rugby competitions on Saturday.

In an extraordinary move, all club rugby was called off across Taranaki putting the race for the semi-finals on tenterhooks for another week.Likewise, Wanganui club rugby players stayed home and there was one postponement in Manawatu club rugby.

Elsewhere, rugby on the shortest weekend of the year went ahead in gloomy conditions for the most part throughout the North Island, but failed to dull several exciting championship competitions that are unfolding.

In Hawke’s Bay, there were two draws and a first loss of the second round for Hastings Rugby and Sports. There are five teams separated by five points with five rounds to play.

Havelock North are the leaders (on 16 points) after drawing 22-22 with Napier Pirates (15), while Hastings (15) lost to first round Nash Cup winners Taradale (11) 24-15. Napier Technical (11) drew with Clive (6) 16-16 in another result of note.

In Waikato, the top two semi-finals places are all but sewn up with a fortnight of regular season rugby to play. Otorohanga are now on 64 points after beating Melville 19-14 and defending champions Hamilton Marist are on 57 after their 25-19 win over Hautapu. University are in third on 54 after holding off winless Matamata 17-13, ahead of Hamilton old Boys on 51 after their bonus point 34-26 win over Te Awamatu Sports and Melville now on 48.

In the Bay of Plenty Baywide competition, Tauranga Sports eased past Greerton Marist 49-14 to maintain their lead at the top of the table on 40 points, ahead of Te Puke Sports on 37, who blanked Rangataua. Mt Maunganui continue their ascent up the table to 30, beating Paroa 68-0. In the day’s closest result, Whakarewarewa defeated Rotoiti 27-20 in a key mid-table clash.

Counties-Manukau McNamara Cup club rugby sees Karaka out in front on 69 points after they beat Waiuku 40-10, ahead of Bombay on 67 who beat Pukekohe 15-10 in the match of the day. Elsewhere, Ardmore Marist defeated Onewhero to see Ardmore Marist move into third on 61 points, ahead of Pukekohe on 58 and Patumahoe on 51.

In Auckland, the Manukau Rovers beat previously unbeaten Grammar TEC 19-13 in the fourth round of the Alan McEvoy Shield Premier competition. University are out in front after their 36-10 win over Papatoetoe. Ponsonsby flexed their championship rugby muscles with a 38-6 win over Marist to move into fourth, behind third placed Pakuranga who defeated Waitemata 15-10. College Rifles are unbeaten after four rounds of the Premier 2 Portola Trophy, beating Otahuhu 36-7.

Over the bridge, North Harbour leaders Massey continue to set the pace, but the race for the semi-finals among the chasing pack is heating up. Massey beat Northcote 38-27, while Glenfield and East Coast Bays drew 12-12 and North Shore beat Silverdale 54-0. The unofficial points table with three rounds to play before the playoffs reads: Massey on 46, North Shore 42, Glenfield 39, Western Pioneers 37, East Coast Bays 36 and Takapuna 31.

Round 11 of the Southern Districts Premiers in Northland was expected to be close. Results unavailable on Sunday morning TBC.

Further south, the Manawatu club competition was affected by transfers and the match between Kia Toa and Fielding being deferred. In matches played, College Old Boys continued their winning ways, beating Old Boys Marist 29-6, Varsity beat Te Kawau 41-7 and Feilding Old Boys Oroua defeated Freyberg 79-10.

In Wellington, Tawa and Old Boys University both won their third straight Jubilee Cup matches, while multiple winners Marist St Pat’s all but knocked out defending champions Hutt Old Boys Marist. Tawa defeated Ories 32-21, Old Boys University beat last year’s finalists Wainuiomata 28-6 and MSP defeated HOBM 27-23. In the other match of the day, Wellington defeated Petone 27-17.

In Tasman, the Nelson Bays and Marlborough competitions resumed. Last week’s Tasman Trophy winners Wanderers beat Nelson 35-20 and beaten finalists Waimea Old Boys defeated Kahurangi 29-19. In three close matches, Marist beat Stoke 24-17, Waitohi edged Moutere 25-22 and Central beat Harlequins 20-17.

In Christchurch, Lincoln University continued its winning ways, beating Canterbury University 46-31 in the battle of the students. Marist Albion eased to their second section 1 bonus point victory by smoking Sydenham 76-5. Christchurch pipped New Brighton 18-16 in a thriller.

In Otago, Southern defeated Dunedin 25-17 to maintain their grip on the top on the top of the standings after 15 rounds. University beat third placed Taieri 29-28 to leapfrog Dunedin into the top four, while second placed Harbour overcame Allambra-Union 50-22, mid-table Kaikorai beat winless Green Island 44-12 and Zingari-Richmond defeated Pirates 51-30 in another battle of the teams down the table.

The Southland Galbraith Shield has a topsy-turvey feel about it, with previous frontrunners Marist losing 17-5 to the Eastern Northern Barbarians, to see Star regain the lead they last held a fortnight ago after they beat Midlands 52-12. Pirates Old Boys were the day’s big winners, beating Blues 81-7.

To view the results from the competitions we run, summed up above, and our current Heartland Championship partners Wairarapa-Bush, Wanganui, West Coast, Buller, East Coast and Mid Canterbury (coming shortly) please click on the map of New Zealand on our home page www.clubrugby.co.nz

For a result wrap-up of some other club rugby competitions please see below (note of the results available as at Sunday morning):

Bay of Plenty
Baywide Premier 
Te Puke Sports 40 vs Rangataua 0
Whakatane Marist 20 vs Te Puna 16
Mount Maunganui 68 vs Paroa 0
Opotiki 33 vs Waikite 6
Whakarewarewa 27 vs Rotoiti 20
Tauranga Sports 49 vs Greerton Marist 14

Counties Manukau
McNamara Cup
Bombay 15 - Pukekohe 10
Patumahoe 23 – Manurewa 15
Ardmore Marist 19 - Onewhero 10
Karaka 40 – Waiuku 10

Manawatu
Varsity 41 - Te Kawau 7.
College Old Boys 29 - Old Boys Marist 6
Feilding Old Boys Oroua 79 - Freyberg 10. 
Kia Toa v Feilding - match postponed
Linton Army =BYE

Northland
20 June -TBC

North Otago
Old Boys 58 – Athletic Marist 13
Kurow 35 – Valley 25
Excelsior 58 – Maheno 8

Otago
Southern 25 – Dunedin 17
University 29 – Taieri 28
Harbour 50 - Allambra-Union 22
Kaikorai 44 – Green Island 12
Zingari-Richmond 51 – Pirates 30

Southland
Eastern Northern Barbarians 17 – Marist 5
Star 52 – Midlands 12
Pirates Old Boys 81 – Blues 7
Woodlands = BYE

South Canterbury
Celtic 30 – Mackenzie 7
Old Boys 35 – Geraldine 0
Waimate 22 – Harlequins 13
Temuka 47 – Pleasant Point 19

Tasman
Marist 24 – Stoke 17
Waimea 29 – Kahurangi 19
Wanderers 35 – Nelson 20
Waitohi 25 – Moutere 22
Central 20 – Harlequins 17

Thames Valley
Cobras 38 – Bay 8
Waihou 25 – Waihi 7
West 30 – North 27

Waikato
Hamilton Old Boys 34 - Te Awamutu Sports 26
Hamilton Marist 25 - Hautapu 19
Fraser Tech 24 - Morrinsville Sports 14
University 17 - United Matamata Sports 13
Otorohanga 19 - Melville 14