Wellington teams win well in representative rugby

Wellington representative teams piled on the points in today’s matches, with several teams making life hard for their opposition and winning by wide margins.

The Wellington Pride, U18s, U19s and Development teams all won high scoring contests.

The Pride made it two wins out of three to start their Women’s NPC campaign with a 43-18 victory over the Hawke’s Bay Tuis in Napier.

No. 8 Jackie Patea and Georgia Daals each scored two tries, while prop Noeleen Nonu, wing Ruby Finau and flanker Aimee Sutorius scored the other tries in the bonus point win for the Pride.

The Pride led 19-8 at halftime playing into a stiff wind and sailed home to win comfortably with it at their backs in the second stanza.

The Wellington U18s stride out to a comfortable 80-0 win over the Wanganui U18s at Cooks Gardens, whilst the Wellington Samoans U18s defeated the East Coast U18s 20-5 in Ruatoria.

Back home in two matches at the Petone Recreation Ground, the Wellington U19s defeated the Hawke’s Bay U19s 46-5 and the Wellington Development side pulled clear of the Wellington Samoans to win 50-31.

The Wellington U19s established their victory in the first half by scoring seven tries and bursting out to a 39-0 lead, Wellington’s forwards overrunning their opposites and the backs sparkling and running freely.

Lock Lui Luamanu was particularly prominent, making two early 50 metres breaks, which resulted in two early tries. He scored one first half try himself, while prop Tao-Roi Lupo and hooker Josh Houston-Tupou were the other tight forwards to score early tries.

Second five-eighth Lester Maulolo collected a kick by fullback Josh Robertson-Weepu to score their bonus try to make it 26-0.

Right wing Jarrod Adams ran in their fifth try after a lineout steal and another kick ahead, while left wing Malo Tuitama completed the first half scoring with a brace of tries.

Hawke’s Bay were stubborn in the second half. Their scrum and lineout functioned much better and they defended stoutly for long periods to prevent what could’ve been a rout with Wellington also playing with the wind in the second half.

Wellington eventually scored again 20 minutes into the second half, prop Tao-Roi Lupo barging over for his brace. But Hawke’s Bay fought on gamely and their lock Teina Huia scored a consolation try for them towards the closing stages.

In the other Hurricanes region U19 match, the Junior Manawatu Turbos sped to a 36-3 win over the Hurricanes Barbarians side.

Wellington and Manawatu meet next weekend in the final of this series, with both assured of playing in the top division of the National Tournament in Taupo next month and Hawke’s Bay to compete for the second tier silverware.

Wellington U19s 46 (Malo Tuitama 2, Tao-Roi Lupo 2, Lui Lumanau, Lester Maulolo, Jarrod Adams, Josh Houston-Tupou tries; Josh Robertson-Weepu 2 con; Alex Ropati con) beat Hawke’s Bay U19s 5 (Teina Huia try). HT: 39-0.

The Wellington Development side pulled clear of the Wellington Samoans to win 51-30 in an exciting 13-try extravaganza in the match that followed at the Petone Rec.

In a compelling contest, the Samoans were right in it up until the latter stages of the first half after both sides had gone try for try and hard running second five-eighth Ben Tuitatua crossed for his first try to put the Samoans in front 19-14.

The Samoans then dropped their concentration and the Development side capitalised by running in three tries in five minutes and taking what proved to be a match winning 31-19 lead into halftime.

The Samoans failed to find touch with an exit play, the Development team ran back the ball and halfback Adam Deck - who had earlier skipped through a hole 40 metres out to score a terrific solo try - popped a short pass to lock Nemani Waaka to score.

The Development team stole a defensive Samoans lineout and lock James Blackwell crashed over, converted from the sideline by fullback Jordan Simpson-Heft, and then left wing Fereti Soloa was on the end of an attacking chain to score in the corner with the last play of the first half.

After a long period of scoreless play in the second half, the Samoans gave the Development side a fright when a Development cross kick was easily fielded by the cover defence and Tuiatua set off on an 80 metre run to the line. This closed the gap to 31-24.

This was as close as the Samoans got, with the more structured game of the Development team eventually getting on top of the Samoan’s flair.

Replacement wing Max Pearson collected a chip kick and set replacement halfback Sheridan Rangihuna away for their next try to extend the lead to 38-24.

Right wing Paddy Hughes showed fancy footwork near the touchline to pass inside to his Wellington Axemen teammate Matt Goosen to score the match-sealing try, while fullback Simpson-Heft raised the half century at the end by finishing of a sweeping move from a scrum.

Next week, the Wellington Development side plays the Manawatu Evergreens at Jerry Collins Stadium and the Wellington Samoans team plays the Hawke’s Bay Saracens at Napier.

Wellington Development 50 (Michael Lealava’a, Nemani Waaka, James Blackwell, Adam Deck, Fereti Soloa, Matt Goosen, Sheridan Rangihuna, Jordan Simpson-Heft tries; Simpson-Heft 5 con) beat Wellington Samoans 31 (Ben Tuiatua 2, Nua Fono-Hunt, Faresa Tasele, Jeff Makapelu tries; Joyner Key 2 con; Ryan Setefano con). HT: 31-19.