Club rugby booming tries Part Four

Above: Petone supporters celebrating Eugene Smith’s match-winning try in their 28-21 125th anniversary day win over Poneke in 2010. Photo by Dave Lintott Photography.

As part of the build-up to the start of the 2017 Premier club rugby season, we’re recapping some of the memorable tries in Wellington Premier club rugby over the past 15 years or so.

There’s been approximately 10,000 tries scored in this period, so these are just the tip of the iceberg and ones that stuck out or we reported from our vantage point on halfway or through our camera lens. Part three below 2010-2011.

Swindale Shield Round 4 2010: Polonga Pedro for Hutt Old Boys Marist (22) v Petone (41)

The annual McBain Shield Shield match between HOBM and Petone, which dates back to 1935, has produced some real crackers in the modern era. However this wasn’t one of them. Fielding a front row of Thomas Tupuiovao, captain Eugene Smith and Tui Hunt with over 450 caps between them, home side Petone dominated possession and territory and led 29-5 at halftime. The damage done, HOBM nevertheless came back and won the second half 17-12. Included in this was a terrific team try scored by lock Polonga Pedro. The movement was started near their own 22 and the ball was moved through some 10 sets of hands to Pedro who dotted down next to the posts.

Swindale Shield Round 6 2010: Eugene Smith for Petone (28) v Poneke (21)

Petone had defeated Poneke 51-20 when they had travelled to Kilbirnie Park in 2008 to help celebrate Poneke’s 125th birthday. Poneke fans were hoping to do likewise when their team met Petone on the latter’s 125th anniversary weekend in 2010. It wasn’t a blowout, but Poneke led 21-16 with 10 minutes to play. Petone scored an unconverted try to level the scores up at 21-21. Pressing for victory but with time already up on the Petone Rec scoreboard, Petone launched an assault of pick and goes at the line. One was stopped by Poneke hooker Dane Coles, but through the melee of tired bodies, his opposite Eugene Smith was driven over for the match-winner with the last play of the game.

Jubilee Cup Round 8 (semi-final) 2010: Evan Belford for Poneke (13) v Petone (6)

Following on from their first round match (above), Petone had beaten Poneke 25-21 when they had met at the Petone Rec a second time. When they met for a third time in 2010 in poor conditions in the semi-final, nothing less than a hard slog in the mud was predicted. Both packs slugged it out and Poneke led 6-0 at halftime. The battle of attrition continued in the second half, but Poneke finally broke through to score what proved to be the only try of the match. The try came from an unlikely quarter, wing Evan Belford was not content to stand there and watch on so he joined the forward exchanges and darted over from close-range. Second five-eighth Sam Rasch converted and at 13-0 up, Poneke were heading to the final. Norths defeated HOBM in the other semi-final, and they went on to topple Poneke 24-5 in the last ever final at Westpac Stadium.

Swindale Shield Round 3 2011: Vailele Tauloa for Oriental-Rongotai (27) v Upper Hutt (25)

Ories went on to capture their maiden Jubilee Cup in 2011.Their comeback in this early season fixture installed a dose of championship-winning confidence in them. Upper Hutt were heading for a certain win when fullback Jason Woodward tapped and scored to put them ahead 25-8 midway through the second half. But Ories had other ideas and they stormed back into it. First, lock Dan Reddish strode through a large hole to score. Next Andre Pakau made a 50m break to set up a try to wing Ambrose Curtis. With only minutes remaining, Trevor Marama then sizzled through the Upper Hutt defence and combined with Reddish who transferred to fellow lock Vailele Tauloa to tie the scores. Marama then dramatically nailed the sideline conversion in front of a packed Maidstone Park grandstand.

Swindale Shield Round 9 2011: Jason Woodward for Upper Hutt (32) v Tawa (29)

The boot was on the other foot, as Upper Hutt reversed a series of last minute losses at Maidstone Park (see example above) to inflict one of their own on a visiting side. Tawa had made a hot start – racing to a 17-0 lead after just six minutes. Upper Hutt reduced the deficit to 17-6 at the break. The lead see-sawed throughout the second spell, but it was the second of two Jason Woodward tries that proved most decisive. This was a brilliant solo effort that he started inside his own 22. Woodward seized upon half a gap in Tawa’s ranks out wide and scorched past halfway and up to the tryline. He converted this try to put Upper Hutt ahead 34-22. Tawa capped off an entertaining match by scoring again just before the end but fulltime was blown before they could break through again.

Jubilee Cup Round 9 (Final) 2011: Dan Reddish for Oriental-Rongotai (40) v Northern United (18)

Playing in their first Jubilee Cup final, Ories recovered from a 3-13 deficit to rattle on four unanswered tries and take a 33-13 lead early in the second half just as a vicious southerly was taking effect. The first of these tries, started from 60 metres out and eventually finished off by lock Dan Reddish was a beauty. From deep inside their own half, centre Paulo Aukoso made a break that sparked the movement. Big left wing Afa Fa'atau handled twice and was caught short at the end trying to bulldoze his way through Norths centre Nene Va'alepu. Quick recycling and passing across the posts saw Reddish crash over for a seven pointer. Later, having established a 20-point lead, Ories spent the remainder of the match defending stoutly.

Hardham Cup Round 9 (Final) 2011: George Tilsley for Tawa (25) v Old Boys University (20)

Tawa could thank a massive defensive effort at the end and this try to replacement left wing George Tilsley for their Hardham Cup final win against Old Boys University. Momentum was see-sawing between both sides late in the first half with OBU ahead 8-6. Tawa then broke through to score to take a 13-8 lead, before scoring a second consecutive try here to Tilsley. The try was started from a defensive scrum deep inside their 22. Instead of clearing for touch, halfback Steve So’oialo popped a pass to his blindside winger Tilsley who danced with the touchline, beat two covering defenders and sprinted away to score an 85-metre try. Tawa extended their lead to 25-8 early in the second half and then held on for the next 30 minutes.