Wellington Development and Centurions U85kg teams in action tomorrow

The 2016 representative rugby season in Wellington continues tomorrow with two matches, the Wellington Development team in action at the Petone Recreation Ground and the Centurions U85kg representative team playing at Evans Bay Park.

The Development team host their Canterbury counterparts at Petone at 2.00pm.

The Centurions U85kg side lines up against the Auckland U85kg representative team at Evans Bay at 2.30pm.

The third match tomorrow sees the Wellington U13s travel to Palmerston North to play the Manawatu U14s at 1.00.pm.

The Wellington U18s were supposed to be hosting the Canterbury U18s in the early game at Petone, but that match has been cancelled for reasons that are unclear. The U18s season has thus concluded.

The Development side’s tussle with Canterbury promises to be a cracker, against an expected well-drilled and cohesive red and black unit.

Canterbury is coming off a 43-15 win over the Hawke’s Bay Saracens in Napier on Wednesday, kicking clear and scoring four second half into-the-wind tries. Wellington lost 34-44 to the Saracens last weekend and the week prior to that went down 17-26 to the Wellington Samoans, so will be motivated to put in a stellar performance.

Wellington Development’s season doesn’t end there either; they have one more match to come next Saturday at Porirua Park against Tasman Development. Of note, Canterbury Development beat Tasman Development 38-20 last Saturday in the rain.

There’s much to look forward to in the match between the Centurions and Auckland U85kg representative teams.
 
Both teams are undefeated this year, with Auckland beating Counties (18-6), North Harbour (18-6), and Waikato (15-8) and the Centurions having a big win over Waikato (48-11) before beating North Harbour (21-8).
 
The two sides have not meet since 2013 when Auckland won 25-7 in the NZ Barbarians Tournament (40 minute games), reversing the 20-3 win in 2012 by the Centurions who then went on to win that year’s Barbarians tournament.

Last weekend Wellington had a great win over a very good North Harbour side, scoring three tries in terrible conditions and more importantly showing amazing defence to repeatedly hold Harbour out. 

Openside flanker Michel Findlay was Player of the Match against North Harbour, making several crucial turnovers on defence. Prop Artie Flux and lock Yianni Hilder also had big matches while halfback Matt Fowler organised things well and second five-eighth LA Moemai making several typically powerful runs.

Teams for tomorrow (subject to change):

Wellington Development

1. Finnbarr Kerr-Newell (OBU), 2. Joe Walding Karaitiana (MSP), 3. James Coburn (Tawa), 4. Vern Sosefo (Upper Hutt Rams), 5. Anthony Pettett (J’ville), 6. Will Mangos (OBU), 7. Sam Coventry (OBU), 8. Alex Dazell (Wellington), 9. Adam Deck (Wellington), 10. Piri Parone (Petone), 11. Salesi Rayasi (Upper Hutt Rams), 12. Matt Goosen (Wellington), 13. Aukuso Tuitama (Ories), 14. Max Pearson (Upper Hutt Rams), 15. Teegan Minkley (OBU) RESERVES 16. Ben Power (HOBM), 17. Valentine Meachen (MSP), 18. Sitiveni Paongo (Tawa), 19. Hemi Fermanis (Tawa), 20. Sam Gardner (Wellington), 21. Waiariki Koia (Wainuiomata), 22. Greg Mullany (Poneke), 23. Randall Bishop (Tawa)

Centurions U85kg

1. Gareth Stokes (Avalon), 2. Bevan Wood (HOBM), 3. Artie Flux (Avalon), 4. Jared Martinovich (OBU), 5. Jack Coles (Eastbourne), 6. Cam Prestidge (Captain, Tawa), 7. Michael Findlay (MSP), 8. Yianni Hilder (J’ville), 9. Matt Fowler (VC, OBU), 10. Jordan Walsh (MSP), 11. Tane Heremia (Tawa), 12. LA Moemai (HOBM), 13. Shane Mathie (J’ville), 14. Daniel Burgess (Wellington), 15. Aki Tuangalu (Norths) RESERVES 16. Brad Young (J’ville), 17. Keegan Lane (Wellington), 18. Gano Perez (Avalon), 19. Jordan Wilson (MSP), 20. Jake Galuva'a Avalon), 21. Phillip Leaupepe (MSP), 22. Alistair McDermott MSP), 23. Richard Tume Tawa) One to be omitted on Saturday