Club Rugby booming tries Part Six

Above: Peniasi Tokakece scoring a key try for Marist St Pat's against Tawa in their 2015 semi-final. 

As part of the build-up to the start of the 2017 Premier club rugby season (starting in 18 days), 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 six below 2014, 2015, 2016. 

Swindale Shield Round 8 2014: Jack Taulapapa for Johnsonville (23) v Marist St Pat’s (33)
Johnsonville were competitive in their re-introduction to Premier rugby in 2014 and the crowds returned to Helston Park. A large contingent was there on Old Timers’ Day to see the Hawks run Marist St Pat’s close. It was game on midway through the second half when halfback Jack Taulapapa plucked out a high kick and proceeded to jink and jive through a sea of scarlet jerseys, emerging in the clear to out sprint his opposite Peter Sciascia and cross for a terrific solo try.

Jubilee Cup Round 5 2014: Eugene Smith for Petone (27) v Wainuiomata (25)
Heading into this match, Wainuiomata had won eight straight over Petone. It appeared this streak was going to continue when they led 25-13 with the clock counting down. First, Petone replacement Keanu Moran crossed and then a poor Wainuiomata re-start gave Petone a sniff and veteran hooker Eugene Smith pounced. Regaining possession, Petone swarmed into the 22 and Smith dived over the chalk to make it 25-25. Halfback Cam Incledon stepped up to add the extras and win the match.

Jubilee Cup Round 6 2014: Chase Tiatia for Hutt Old Boys Marist (17) v Tawa (16)
Hutt Old Boys Marist qualified for the semi-finals with a week to spare and livewire first five-eighth-turned wing Chase Tiatia was the player who flew into score the match-winner here in extra time. Hunting a winning opportunity, a kick into Tawa’s in-goal earned a 5-metre scrum. From the set-piece, Tiatia found room on the blindside and scored. Tiatia went on to score three more tries to finish with 17 for the season for the 2014 champions.

Jubilee Cup Round 6 2015: Vaea Fifita for Wellington (29) v Oriental-Rongotai (22)
Dynamic Hurricanes utility forward Vaea Fifita has scored several length of the field runaway tries over the past couple of seasons. This one here helped the Axemen to their maiden Jubilee Cup win since re-introduction to Premier rugby. With the Axemen already up by two tries but pressed into several minutes of defending, Ories let the ball squirt free at a ruck and Fifita scooped it up and sprinted 70 metres to score a hugely popular try. Fifita went on to score a second try in this match, this one more conventional. Playing at lock and loose forward, he scored 12 tries in club rugby in 2015.

Jubilee Cup Round 8 2015 (semi-final): Peniasi Tokakece for Marist St Pat’s (27) v Tawa (23)
The lead changed five times in an epic semi-final at Evans Bay Park. The match was ultimately decided on penalties in a shootout between MSP’s Fa’atonu Fili and Tawa’s James So’oialo. But this second half try to MSP No. 8 Peniasi Tokakece – his second of the match – proved the difference. Tawa had just taken a 17-13 lead but MSP pounced on a kick-off error, surging up into the 22 and onward towards the whitewash. From the next ruck, Tokakece barrelled over to score and MSP were in the box seat again. Tokakece went on to play for Tawa against MSP in the 2016 Jubilee Cup final.

Victoria Tavern Trophy Round 7 2015 (Women’s Final): Patsy Schwalger for Northern United (24) v Oriental-Rongotai (22)
After scoring from virtually the opening kick-off, Norths pulled well clear of Ories and appeared to be heading for a comfortable victory. But Ories came roaring back and threatened a comeback win. Norths had to dig deep and their answer was this match-winning try. Pinned in their own territory, Norths broke out, No. 8 Tiana Collins making a big burst. Quick recycling inside Ories’ 22 allowed hooker Patsy Schwalger to crash through and score under the poles.

Swindale Shield Round 4 2016: Willie Fine for Petone (27) v Hutt Old Boys Marist (23)
Another McBain Shield classic between the two Hutt Valley sides, with Petone scoring 27 points in the second half to come from behind and beat Hutt Old Boys Marist. In the dying moments of the game, Petone turned down a shot at goal to tie the game up at 23-23. That decision paid off for Petone as the Villagers stole the game on the hooter, scoring on the left wing through Willie Fine for his hat-trick and the win as the home fans went home in raptures.

Swindale Shield Round 5 2016: Maile Koloto for Old Boys University (25) v Oriental-Rongotai (24)
Oriental Rongotai’s fans were crestfallen at the end of the match at Nairnville Park as replacement OBU wing Maile Koloto scored in the corner with the last play of the game. Ories were leading 24-20 and looked to be holding on, but a final long assault on the Magpies’ line resulted in the winning try. Later in the first round, OBU beat Tawa 34-22 in a similar edging, on their way to winning the first round Swindale Shield title.

Jubilee Cup Round 4 2016: Mitchell Markov for Upper Hutt Rams (46) v Oriental-Rongotai (29)
Openside flanker Mitchell Markov rose from his sick bed to play and regular wing Max Pearson moved to centre to cover for injury. Both players had blinders in this win, the comeback of the season. The Rams were 7-24 down late in the first half but instead of folding (Ories had won their first round clash 50-25) they rallied. Pearson pierced for gaps out wide while Markov was a menace closer in. Markov scored the second of three quickfire tries that set up what proved to be a decisive Rams victory.

Victoria Tavern Round 7 2016 (Women’s Final): Maryann Collins for Wainuiomata (24) v Oriental-Rongotai (12)
Maryann Collins played a captain’s hand in this win in the final over Ories in perfect midwinter conditions at William Jones Park. A tense first half saw Wainuiomata leading 5-0 at the break. Just after halftime, Collins rushed up on defence from a back peddling scrum on her own side of halfway and intercepted an Ories pass and raced away to score for a 12-0 lead. Ories hit back, but Wainuiomata closed out the final with two more tries including a second to centre Collins, this time charging down a clearing kick and winning the race to the loose ball.