Eruption of rugby this weekend

The Wellington U19s, Wellington Pride, Wellington Development and Wellington Samoans sides are all in action this weekend at home and in Taupo.

The Wellington U19s pulled clear of their Otago counterparts yesterday in their Jock Hobbs Memorial Tournament quarter-final in winning 37-14 and on Sunday they play Auckland A in their semi-final, kick-off 5.00pm. Should they win this, they will contest the final next Wednesday against either Canterbury or Waikato. Read a day one wrap of the U19 tournament here 

The Wellington Pride are the headline act in Wellington representative rugby tomorrow, playing their final match of the regular season, against the Bay of Plenty Volcanix at home at Porirua Park.

The Pride will be hoping that tomorrow’s seventh and final round Farah Palmer Cup Women’s NPC match isn’t their last for 2016, with a semi-final place still firmly in their sights.

To make the Women’s NPC semi-finals and have a crack at the final for the second successive year the Pride must beat Bay of Plenty and also rely on Canterbury defeating Manawatu in their fixture in Palmerston North.

With Auckland, Counties Manukau and Canterbury all assured of playoff berths, the fourth spot will go to either Wellington or Manawatu. The Cyclones are currently ahead of the Pride, but Wellington can leapfrog them if they win and Manawatu stumbles against Canterbury.

The Pride have made several changes to their side that missed out to Counties Manukau last weekend, including a new inside backs trio. Amanda Rasch returns from injury to first five-eighth where she will partner Mary-Ann Collins in the midfield, after Fa’asua Makisi broke her hand against Counties Manukau.

Vaine Marsters starts at halfback, in place of the injured Acacia Te Iwimate, while Lizzie Goulden is on the bench as halfback-flyhalf cover.

St Mary’s College captain Monica Tagoai earns her first start in Pride colours, coming on to the left wing.

Alice Soper swaps with Alicia Print at hooker, while Janet Taumoli trades places with Mo Aiatu off the bench.

Kat Whata-Simpkins joins the reserves bench and will play some of the curtain-raiser match between the Wellington Pride Development side and the Wellington Tongan Women’s team which kicks off at 11.15am.

With rain forecast, a forwards dominated clash could be on the cards.

As well as qualifying for the semi-finals next week, the Pride’s focus will be on keeping their winning record at home alive. Their winning streak at home currently stands at six, last losing in their own territory in 2014.

Bay of Plenty head into this match hoping to finish their season on a high after losing all five of their contests so far in 2016. They are coming off their bye last weekend, but prior to that have missed out to North Harbour (11-31), Canterbury (0-31), Auckland (0-62), Waikato (3-32) and Counties Manukau (12-45).

The Pride defeated BoP 69-5 when they met in the last round in 2015, tomorrow’s fullback Georiga Daals scoring a hat-trick and tomorrow’s left wing Ayesha Leti-l’iga scoring two tries.The Pride also won in 24-5 in 2014, current players Mo Aiatu and Daals scoring tries. 

The Wellington Development side and the Wellington Samoans side both return to the Petone Recreation Ground tomorrow – to play each other.

Last week at Petone, the Wellington Development team pulled clear of Manawatu to earn a 30-13 victory, while the Wellington Samoans gave the Hawke’s Bay Development team a 26-0 head-start before closing the gap to finish 21-38 behind.

No. 8 Sam Gardner captains the Wellington Development side this week, in a team of several changes, partly because wing Malo Tuitama, hooker Valentine Meachen and No. 8 James Blackwell have been called up to the Lions side tonight.

Kick-off at Petone is at 2pm.

The curtain-raiser at Petone at 12.30pm is the Wellington U16 Development against Wairarapa-Bush U16.

In away matches on Saturday involving Wellington teams, the Wellington Maori Development side meets Wanganui B in Levin at 12.30pm, the Wellington U16A side plays Manawatu U16A in Otaki at 1pm, the Wellington Samoans U18s play Wanganui U18s in Levin, and in Palmerston North, the Wellington Under 18 Girls meets their Manawatu counterparts at 10.30am and the Lions Cubs U13s play the Hawke’s Bay U14s at 1pm.

Three scheduled matches have been called off. The Wellington U18s v Wellington Centurions Development, Wellington Maori v Canterbury Maori and Centurions U85kg v Counties Manaukau U85kg contests won’t go ahead.

Teams (as received, subject to change):

Wellington Development:

1. Ha’amea Ahio, 2. Lotu Nuku, 3. James Coburn, 4. Kane Le’aupepe, 5. Anthony Pettett, 6. Will Mangos, 7. Issac O’Connor, 8. Sam Gardner (Captain), 9. Waiariki Koia, 10. Greg Mullany, 11. Salesi Rayasi, 12. Mike Lealava’a, 13. Pepesena Patafilo, 14, Joe Hill, 15. Teegan Minkley RESERVES 16. Joe Walding Karaitiana, 17. Finnbarr Kerr-Newell, 18. Jonathan Fuimaono, 19. Hemi Fermanis, 20. Sam Coventry, 21. Piri Paraone, 22. Aukuso Tuitama, 23. Willie Tufui

Wellington Pride:

1. Janet Taumoli, 2. Alice Soper, 3. Brooke Tauaneai, 4. Sanita Levave, 5. Joanah Ngan-Woo, 6. Saumoana Solia, 7. Carol Sio, 8. Jackie Patea, 9. Vaine Marsters, 10. Amanda Rasch, 11. Monica Tagoai, 12. Mary-Ann Collins, 13. Bernadette Robertson, 14. Aysesha Leti-l’iga, 15. Georgia Daals RESERVES 16. Alicia Print, 17. Raylene Lolo, 18, Moana Aiatu, 19. Atalina Molivale, 20. Lizzie Goulden, 21. Kat Whata-Simpkins, 22. Anna Engels

Wellington Samoans:

1. Poasa Poasa, 2. Eli Hunt, 3. Steve Fa'atau, 4. Fala Tuala, 5. Tovio Apolo, 6. Pago Haini, 7. Tutasi Masoe, 8. Matt Peni, 9. Ken Kapeli, 10. Fa'atonu Fili, 11. Fereti Soloa, 12. Joyner Key, 13. Ope Pelesesuma, 14. Josh Robertson-Weepu, 15. Ryan Setefano RESERVES 16. Junior Makapelu, 17. TBC, 18. TBC, 19. James Tuia, 20. Tuga Mativa, 21. Isaia Petelo, 22. James So'oialo