Wellington U19s and Development teams win well against Manawatu

The Wellington U19 and Development representative teams both enjoyed wins over Manawatu opposition today in matches at Palmerston North and Petone.

The Wellington U19s defeated their Manawatu U19s counterparts 38-13 to win the Central Region Shield competition (pictured above), also involving the Hawke’s Bay U19s and the Hurricanes Barbarians sides. They also earned the top qualifier’s position from the Hurricanes region for the National U19 tournament, starting in Taupo next Wednesday. Summary of this match below.

The Wellington Development team beat the Manawatu Development side 30-13 at Petone to open their representative season. Summary of this match below.

In the curtain-raiser at the Petone Rec, the Wellington Samoans missed out 21-38 to the Hawke’s Bay Saracens [Development] side, conceding a 0-26 lead before launching a spirited comeback. Summary of this match below.

Also at the Petone Rec, the Wellington U18s squad defeated a New Zealand Institute of Sport side 59-5. Flanker Adam Tone, back Malachi Unasa and left wing Todd Svenson all scored two tries each in the nine tries to one win. The U18s led 21-0 at halftime.

Across the road at North Park, the Wellington U13 reps defeated Horowhenua-Kapiti U14 32-24.

At Fraser Park, the Wellington Tongans Women defeated the Wellington Samoans Women 22-15, after leading 17-5 at halftime. For the Tongan side right wing Lee Isa’ako scored a hat-trick, while flyhalf Shar Fagalilo scored their other try.

At Gisborne, the Wellington Samoan U18s beat Poverty Bay U18s 62-17.

At Palmerston North, the Wellington U18 Girls defeated the Hawke’s Bay U18 Girls 64-7, the Wellington U16A side lost to Hawke’s Bay U16A 22-32 and the Wellington U16 Development team beat Hawke’s Bay U16 Development 60-5.

Round-ups of the Wellington U19s, Development and Samoans matches below.

Wellington U19s (38) – Manawatu 19s (13)

The Wellington U19s will play the Otago U19s first-up in the Jock Hobbs Memorial U19 tournament, with the final squad being announced on Monday.

Wellington scored six tries against the Manawatu U19s at CET Stadium, second five-eighth Lester Maulolo scoring two tries and Josh Brown, Kemara Parapara-Hauiti, Losi Filipo and Kerrod Foaese each finding the whitewash once. For Manawatu, flanker Liam Giltrap scored their only try and fullback Arjun Singh kicked the balance of their points.

Wellington led 19-10 at halftime, but turning with the wind in their favour had to withstand a concerted Manawatu assault for the best part of 20 minutes. It took a breakout try to Maulolo to tip the scales and Wellington pulled clear from there.

For Wellington, halfback Kemara Parapara-Hauiti was a standout, directing play well and combining well with Maulolo, while captain and No. 8 Josh Brown carried strongly. Wellington’s rolling maul was also effective. For Manawatu, their halfback-first five-eighth combination Matt Hathaway and Tyla McNeill were standouts for Manawatu.

In the other Hurricanes region U19 match today, the Hawke’s Bay U19s beat the Hurricanes Barbarians 76-0.

Wellington meets Otago on Wednesday, Manawatu meets Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay plays Southland in the bottom eight section.

Wellington Development (30) – Manawatu Development (13)

Pakai Turia put Wellington on the scoreboard just a minute into the game with a penalty and Manawatu had their chance to respond immediately, winning a kickable penalty from the kick-off, but instead chose to attack Wellington's line.

Wellington's defence, though, held strong and Manawatu were eventually forced to take the points on offer, as standout first five-eighth Ben Wyness opened Manawatu's account.

It took until the 25th minute for the first try of the game to be scored. Malo Tuitama, coming in off his wing, shrugged off three defenders and drew in the last, putting the lingering Valentine Meachen in for a try in the left corner.

Tuitama then got himself on the scoreboard just two minutes before the half, getting on the end of a well-placed Turia grubber which was put behind the aggressive Manawatu defensive line, sending Wellington up 15-3 at the break.

Manawatu opened the second half how Wellington did the first, slotting a quick penalty goal, but it took only two minutes for Turia to restore Wellington's 12-point lead.

Replacement prop Sean Rankin burrowed his way across Wellington's line to score Manawatu's first try and make the deficit just five points, though that was as close as the green and whites would get on the scoreboard as tries to Max Pearson and Salesi Rayasi put the game to rest.

In his return from rugby after missing much of the premier season due to injury, James Blackwell got through a lot of work and was well helped by Galu Taufale.

Malo Tuitama impressed in his 40 minutes on the pitch under the eyes of Lions coach Earl Va'a and regular Lion Joe Apikotoa was impressive in his stint off the bench.

Hawke’s Bay Saracens (38) - Wellington Samoans (21)

Hawke's Bay raced out to a 12-0 lead after 18 minutes thanks to tries from Star Timu and George MacPherson.

The Samoan's misery was added to just three minutes later when Joyner Key was sent to the bin for a high shot and Hawke's Bay capitalised, being awarded apenalty try for an obstruction near the line after a kick and chase in broken up. 

Up 19-0 at the break, Hawke's Bay soon made their advantage 26 points through wing David Benson, though that sparked an entertaining Samoans resurgence.

Joyner Key jigged his way in to score the Samoans' first try of the game, then James Tuia scored the try of the game just minutes later, capitalising on a Fereti Soloa break down the left wing. Soloa linked up with Ken Kapeli, who looked to have been wrapped up, but managed to get the ball away, before it was spread through a further four sets of hands for the Tuia score.

Pago Haini dotted down for the third Samoan try in 10 minutes to make the score 26-21 to Hawke's Bay, though it was all Hawke's Bay from that point on as replacement hooker Jorian Tangaere scored a quick brace to seal the win.