Wellington Samoans teams finish with a flourish

The two Wellington Samoans representative teams in action today finished their seasons with a flourish, the Samoans U18s beating the Wairarapa Bush U18s 46-20 and winning the Trust Bank Central Shield (pictured above, see report below) and the Samoan Men’s team beating Manawatu Development 32-25 and leapfrogging the Wellington Development side into second at the end of the Hurricanes Development competition.

The Wellington Development side missed out to the Hawke’s Bay Saracens 34-44 this evening, handing the Hurricanes Development title to the Hawke’s Bay team.

The final Hurricanes Development Competition points table was (to be confirmed): Hawke’s Bay Saracens 15; Wellington Samoans 9; Wellington Development 6; Manawatu Development 2.

In Palmerston North, right wing Fereti Soloa scored a brace of tries, while halfback Ken Kapeli and replacement back Paulo Aukuso also dotted down for the Wellington Samoans in their win over the Manwatu Development team. Five-eighths Fa’atonu Fili and Joyner Key shared the kicking and slotted two penalties and three conversions between them.

In Napier, a three-try burst early in the second half propelled the Hawke’s Bay Saracens to their six tries to five win over the Wellington Development side.

Wellington led 19-13 at halftime and extended their lead in the 43rd minute when first five-eighth Piri Paraone kicked a penalty. However three tries in seven minutes to the Saracens effectively settled the contest. Wellington knocked the ball on five metres out from their own line and Saracens halfback Ellery Wilson scored from the scrum. Substitute fullback Star Timu crossed and then standout second five-eighth Cole Eru burst 30 metres to make it 34-22.

Eru scored again in the 59th minute, running 45 metres, to make it 41-22. Wellington finished with plenty of gusto but the lead was too great to run down. Tries to Paraone and halfback Adam Deck - triggered by a breakout by wing Salesi Rayasi and multiple pairs of hands - both scored. Breaks by prop Jonathan Fuimaono and Rayasi were both defended by Hawke’s Bay, snuffing any chance of a late Wellington comeback.

Earlier, the first half was an even affair. Wellington scored first half tries to centre Aukuso Tuitama, prop Ha’amea Ahio and Rayasi, while Hawke’s Bay kept in touch with two tries of their own.

For Wellington, loose forwards Sam Gard’ner and Sam Conventry, wing Max Pearson and hooker Joe Walding Karaitiana played well.

The Wellington side has matches to come to finish their season against their Auckland and Canterbury counterparts

The Centurions U85kg side beat the beat North Harbour U85kgs 21-8 in difficult conditions at Northcote.

The Centurions scored three converted tries, through halfback Matt Fowler, first five-eighth Jamie Hargreaves and second five-eighth LA Moemai.

North Harbour led a tight match 8-7 at halftime, but the Centurions dug deeper and took the lead on the 60th minute mark and held on throughout a tight fourth quarter. Then, with two minutes on the clock, LA Moemai broke through to score his try and seal the match.

The win for the Centurions U85kgs reversed consecutive defeats to North Harbour in 2014 and 2015. Next week they play the Auckland U85kg side at Evans Bay Park.

The Wellington Pride reached the end of their road for 2016, losing 7-60 to Counties Manukau in their Women’s NPC semi-final at Pukekoke this afternoon.

The Counties Manukau Heat were fast out of the gates and raced to an early 17-0 lead, which the Pride never recovered from. They went on to lead 36-0 at halftime and then clinched the match just after the break with another try.

For the Heat, New Zealand Sevens star and left wing Portia Woodman scored four tries, while flanker Sharnita Woodman dotted down twice. The Pride got on the board early in the second with substitute halfback Lizzie Goulden scoring their only try of the day.

The Wellington U18s missed out 22-28 to the Auckland U18s in Auckland, after trailing 12-13 at halftime.

For Wellington, left wing Tai Neli and right wing Malachi Unasa dotted down for tries, while halfback Luke Georgeson (3) and first five-eighth Toka Sopoaga kicked penalties.

The Wellington U18s return home next weekend to play the Canterbury U18s.

The Wellington U13s defeated their Auckland counterparts 23-12 in their representative match at the Petone Recreation Ground. In front of a healthy, vocal crowd, both teams played positive end-to-end rugby.

The match was in the balance over the final 15 minutes. The Lion Cubs held a 16-12 lead and Auckland went desperately close to scoring. The ball was turned over and Wellington broke down field, almost leading to a try in the left-hand corner. Wellington maintained the pressure and their centre broke through to score the match-winner with just a few minutes to play.

The Wellington Samoans U18s beat the Wairarapa Bush U18s 46-20 in the match that followed on the Petone Rec, to win the Trust Bank Central Shield, in the concluding match of the competition also involving U18 teams from East Coast, Horowhenua-Kapiti, Poverty Bay and Wanganui.

The Wellington Samoans U18s out-scored the Wairarapa Bush U18s eight tries to three, with centre Norman Fatialofa, out of Rongotai College, scoring a hat-trick.

The match was much closer than the margin of victory suggests, with Wairarapa-Bush playing constructively and dominating possession and territory for long periods, particularly in the second half. Their tighthead prop Sam Siaosi was busy, while first five-eighth Guy Percy ran their backline and kicked well.

The difference was the extra size and physicality of the Samoans, who broke through to score several long-range tries.

After conceding an early penalty, the Samoans carved them up to the tune of three tries and led 17-3. Wairarapa- Bush came back to close the contest up to 17-10 with a try to hooker Ryan Hargood.

The Samoans then scored two telling tries just before and just after halftime, extending their advantage to 29-10. Just before the break, the Samoans turned down a penalty kick in front of the poles and packed down a scrum instead. They swung play one way and then the other and lock DJ Taoipu crossed. Right after halftime, Wairarapa Bush turned over the ball from the kick-off, the Samoans pounced and replacement flanker Kevin Fauatea scored.

Soon after, the Samoans’ fullback, Tom Maiava, was sin-binned and Wairarapa-Bush scored through left wing Aseri Waqa. But centre Fatialofa then completed his hat-trick for the Samoans with a 50 metre try from a scrum. Wairarapa Bush scored again through lock Jacob Morrison, but 20-36 was as close as they were to get.

The Samoans scored twice more, including another lovely try to replacement back Gerrard Ah Nau after a lovely break by second five-eighth El Nino Peniamina.