Club Rugby Hat-tricks Part 3: Hat-tricks in a losing cause

Above: Wests wing Tupeni Kamakorewa keeps a close eye on the late Nene Va'alepu in this match in 2013. Norths won 97-48, but Kamakorewa scored a hat-trick for the Roosters.

Of the 98 Premier Swindale Shield and Jubilee Cup individual try-scoring hat-tricks and the 27 Premier 2 Hardham Cup try hat-tricks in Wellington club rugby in the decade between 2006-15, a select few were scored by players in a losing cause.

Six players scored hat-tricks in this period, including two in one game, but their team still lost the match.

Additionally, another two hat-tricks were scored in this period in drawn matches.

Below are short summaries of these hat-tricks:

Julian Tupai 3 tries
2006 Swindale Shield
Round 4: Marist St Pat’s 28 – Hutt Old Boys Marist 29

Marist St Pat’s were leading this Father Cleary Shield contest until deep into the second half when HOBM fullback Mike Kingsbeer stepped up to kick the match-winner. MSP wing Julian Tupai had scored all three of his side’s tries in the first half as MSP led 22-13 at halftime. Player of the Day Polonga Pedro scored for HOBM in the corner and Kingsbeer converted to put HOBM ahead for the first time. MSP came back with penalties, but the Eagles had the last say.

Mathew Luamanu 3 tries
2009 Swindale Shield
Round 11: Upper Hutt 28 – Old Boys University 30

Old Boys University saved their best until last in this 11th round win over Upper Hutt at Maidstone Park in 2009. Both teams’ second round fates had already been sealed; Upper Hutt guaranteed to finish inside the ‘top 8’ and make the Jubilee Cup round, and OBU winless up to this point and Hardham Cup bound. OBU’s Mike Scott galloped the length of the field to put the Goats ahead 8-0. Upper Hutt came storming back with the first two of three tries to 2008 New Zealand U20 No. 8 Matt Luamanu to grab a 19-8 lead, followed by his third to give the home team a 28-13 lead at halftime. But OBU came back with 17 unanswered points to claim victory.

George Tilsley 3 tries
2010 Swindale Shield
Round 7: Tawa 29 – Northern United 58

This match was a classic game of two halves. From the moment schoolboy halfback TJ Perenara opened the scoring, Norths mowed Tawa down in the first half and led 48-3 at the break. They scored 38 points in 17 minutes. It was all over. But Tawa rallied and they won the second half 24-10. Hurricanes wing David Smith scored one and George Tilsley scored three. Tilsley later played for the All Blacks Sevens and for Manawatu and is currently playing in France.

Tupeni Kamakorewa  3 tries
2013 Swindale Shield
Round 7: Wests Roosters 48 – Northern United 97

If the combined 145 points scored in this entertaining match at Jerry Collins Stadium aren’t Wellington club record for most points in a Premier match we’d like to know what is. What made this even more extradornary was that that Norths led 12-10 after 30 minutes - and then burst to a 45-17 halftime lead. Both teams continued to score almost at will in the second half. For Norths, wing Ajay Va’alepu and fullback Johnny Teleaga scored hat-tricks, while Wests right wing Tupeni Kamakorewa also three tries. Kamakorewa also played for Hutt Old Boys Marist and the Upper Hutt Rams.

Ross Taurima 3 tries
Ato Fa’amau 3 tries
2015 Jubilee Cup
Round 7: Tawa 38 – Marist St Pat’s 44

Two hat-tricks by players in the losing team in the same match. Both Tawa and MSP were playing for home semi-finals the following week, with MSP holding on to book a home semi-final berth against the same opposition. MSP’s win here was only decided over the final 10 minutes, which also coincided with Tawa midfielder Tu Umaga-Marshall being sinbinned. After conceding a 7-21 halftime lead, Tawa came back in the second half to shadow MSP and Tawa led 31-28 with the clock winding down. MSP pivot Fa’atonu Fili kicked a penalty to make it 31-31 and then they raced clear to lead 44-31. Tawa came back with a consolation try at the end. For Tawa, both left wing Ross Taurima and No. 8 Ata Fa’amau scored hat-tricks.

Shahn Eru 3 tries
2014 Swindale Shield
Round 4: Wainuiomata 30 – Marist St Pat’s 30

Lock Shahn Eru scored a hat-trick in this midweek drawn match under lights in Porirua. Wainuiomata led MSP 13-10 at halftime and the close run of play continued to the end. Both sides scored four tries. MSP would go on and win the 2014 Swindale Shield, whilst Wainuiomata would reach their maiden Jubilee Cup final.

Max Pearson 3 tries
2015 Swindale Shield
Round 1: Upper Hutt Rams 35 – Poneke 35

This opening round Gala Day opener at a hot, dusty Trentham Memorial Park had it all. In the end, Poneke were left heartbroken at the end by the Upper Hutt Rams, who also came roaring back to score two late converted tries to draw. With Poneke leading 35-21, Rams wing Max Pearson ran in his third try of the match to close the gap up to seven points, and then from close range openside flanker Josh Hunt darted through and fullback Jordan Simpson-Hefft kicked a wobbly but accurate conversion with the last act of the game. Pearson went on to make the NZ Sevens Development Squad.