Upper Hutt Rams remain in the Jubilee Cup hunt in congested table

Above: The teams form a guard of honour for cancer survivors before today's Swindale Shield & Spud Lindsay Memorial Trophy match between Poneke and Wellington Axemen. Photo by Dave Lintott

The Upper Hutt Rams remain alive in the race to finish inside the ‘top 8’ and qualify for the 2016 Jubilee Cup after spoiling Wainuiomata’s Old Timers’ Day today with a bonus point 36-29 win, on Wellington club rugby’s inaugural RUCK Cancer Day.

Wainuiomata gave up an 18-point lead. 

Upper Hutt’s win and some other close losses involving other mid-table contenders, including defeats for Poneke, Avalon and Hutt Old Boys Marist, has closed the points table up considerably with just three weekends to play in the first round Swindale Shield.

For the first time in 20 years, Petone are probably gone from the Jubilee Cup, losing 17-25 to Marist St Pat’s today and slipping 13 points outside of eighth place, which is occupied by Wainuiomata despite the latter’s loss today. MSP also shipped the Bill Elvy Memorial Trophy and the Bill Brien Challenge Cup back up to their clubrooms.

For the second time this season, Old Boys University used their get out of jail card, edging Tawa 34-33 in a thriller at Nairnville Park and securing their 10th straight win in 2016 and their 19th overall. The Goats scored two quick tries and led 14-0, but Tawa came back to lead 19-14 and it was game on. OBU dug deep and got their noses in front and won a tight victory in the end.

OBU (on 47 points) hold a 6-point buffer to second placed Oriental-Rongotai (41) who earned a commanding 45-25 win over the HOBM Eagles at the Hutt Recreation Ground. Wing Tuga Mativa scored a hat-trick and NZ U20 player Malo Tuitama and Manawatu fullback Ambrose Curtis were also among the try-scorers in the 7 tries to 3 Bondy Memorial Cup victory over the Eagles who are all but likely ready to start plotting their Hardham Cup campaign.

For their part, Ories are just a point short of officially qualifying for the Jubilee Cup. They scored 40-plus points for the sixth time in 10 games this season, punishing the inaccurate Eagles. HOBM enjoyed most of possession and territory, but poor handling resulted in several turnover tries. HOBM was in the contest when trailing 31-18 midway through the second-half, but two fumbles saw Andrew Ellis and Malo Tuitama score long range tries and settle the contest. Ipou Ipou had a huge first-half. Mativa finished supremely well. Whetu Henry, Kane Leaupepe, Sean Hay and Tuakana Metuarau were other standouts in a fine all-round effort

The Wellington Axemen were the day’s other big winners, tearing into Poneke on Old Timers’ Day at Kilbirnie and winning 35-13. They retained the Spud Lindsay Trophy as well. The Axemen (35), who scored first three half tries into the wind to lead 17-6 at halftime, are now up to third behind OBU and Ories.

Northern United (31) also bounced back from recent losses to earn what could be a hugely important 35-27 win over the Avalon Wolves at home at Jerry Collins Stadium. With a strong wind advantage, Norths sailed to a 26-7 lead late in the first half, but had to withstand a strong comeback from Wolves. For Norths, right wing Te Kahui Bishop sored two of six tries.

The end result of this is that throw a blanket over the next contenders with MSP (32), Poneke (31), Norths (31), Tawa (30) and Wainuiomata (30) rounding out the top eight and the Upper Hutt Rams (27) just back, with a clear gap to 10th placed Avalon (20).

The day’s final Swindale Shield, which had little bearing on events further up the table, was between Paremata-Plimmerton and Johnsonville. On their Old Timers’ Day at Ngatitoa Domain, Paremata-Plimmerton beat Johnsonville 22-8. They led at tight tussle 5-3 at halftime, before the Hawks got back to 8-8 at one point. The home side sailed home in the second half on forwards ascendancy, to register their first win in the Swindale Shield since 1987.

Fleurs Trophy Women’s

Fullback Lizzie Goulden scored four tries and kicked 20 conversions for a personal tally of 60 points in Oriental-Rongotai’s 150-0 win over the Upper Hutt Rams in the seventh round of the Fleurs Trophy on Friday night.

Since records began on this website (Premier men in 2005 and women in 2014) this is an individual record for most points scored in a match, surpassing the 52 points that Hutt Old Boys Marist sharpshooter Brandyn Laursen scored in a Swindale Shield match in 2013.

After losing to Wainuiomata last week, the Ories women bounced back to slay the Upper Hutt Rams , with a total of 15 players scored 22 tries, with fullback Lizzie Goulden scoring four tries (as part of 60 points, see above), Tina Paulo scoring a hat-trick and Timena Tumaai crossing for a double.

Ories remain in second spot on 30 points, behind leaders Norths on 34, who battled to a 10-5 win over third placed Wainuiomata. Norths led one try to nil at halftime, which proved the difference as both sides scored tries after the break. Tighthead prop Mau Tavita and halfback Vaine Marsters scored tries for Norths.

First five-eighth Georgia Daals scored a hat-trick in the Old Boys University Impalas 39-7 win over the Avalon She-Wolves, MSP beat Poneke 33-10 and HOBM defeated Johnsonville-Tawa 55-5 in the other game.

There are two rounds remaining in the Fleurs Trophy , with the first round decider on Friday 27 May.

Harper Lock Shield

They still lead, but the Marist St Pat’s Premier Reserve side lost its first match of the season today. MSP lost 17-20 to Petone, who are now third on the table.

Poneke hold second, six points adrift of MSP, after beating the Wellington Axemen 45-15.

In other results, Norths slayed Avalon 106-12, scoring 20 tries, whilst Wainuiomata defeated the Upper Hutt Rams, OBU defeated Tawa 41-22, Ories beat HOBM 35-24 and Paremata-Plimmerton defeated winless Johnsonville 36-17.

Paris Memorial Trophy

The inaugural Misiluni Memorial Shield match between Poneke and Wellington Axemen Colts was played at Kilbirnie Park, with Poneke winning a lively contest 47-26 (9 tries to 4).

OBU Green extended their lead at the top of the standings to five points with a hard-fought 18-10 win over Tawa in a top of the table clash. Tawa have dropped from second to fourth.

MSP are now second on the Colts ladder after beating Petone 24-17, while Ories are third after their 55-0 win over last year’s champions Hutt Old Boys Marist, who have just one win so far this season. Norths have won just once this season too, going down 31-12 to mid-table Upper Hutt Rams.

U85kg JC Bowl

Defending champions the Tawa Titans and the Wellington Light Axemen continue to set the pace in the U85kg Division 1 race. Both have won six and lost one of seven matches, following contrasting victories this afternoon.

The Tawa Titans know how to win tough, beating the Poneke Cavs 15-5 today, whilst the Wellington Axemen had a convincing win 46-0 win over Stokes Valley.

Avalon are third after edging Eastbourne 15-14 and Johnsonville defeated the OBU Bunnies 20-11 in the other match.

First XV Rugby

The second round of the Tranzit Coachlines First XV Festival took part at the Petone Rec and at Westpac Stadium today.

There were two thrillers in the early games at the Petone Rec, with Gisborne BHS beating St Pats Silverstream 29-28 – coming back from 12-28 down - and Wellington College defeating Napier BHS 21-19.

Scots College continue to struggle in the new season, defeated 8-29 by Palmerston North BHS.
In the 5pm curtain-raiser at Westpac Stadium, Hastings BHS defeated St Pat’s Town 43-7.