MSP, Upper Hutt Rams shine in Gala Day Blockbuster

UPDATE TO CAPTION: Above: Members of the Northern United and Petone teams after their Murray Henderson Trophy interclub trophy match. Norths won the fixture 25-19.

Marist St Pat’s reversed last year’s Jubilee Cup final result to beat Tawa and the Upper Hutt Rams came back from a big early deficit to record bonus points in two matches played side-by-side in today’s Tranzit Coachlines Gala Day in Upper Hutt.

With five players away at a wedding, MSP celebrated an opening day 31-13 win over the defending champions, while the Upper Hutt Rams came back from 3-20 down to defeat the Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles.

Elsewhere on Awakairangi Park, Northern United won the Murray Henderson Trophy match over Petone, 25-19. 

Defending first round champions the Old Boys University Goats beat Poneke for the Beet Algar Rosebowl interclub Trophy, winning 27-14, while Wainuiomata pipped Avalon 14-13 with a late penalty sealing their match on the far field.

In two Swindale Shield matches played across the river at Maoribank Park, the Wellington Axemen got up to beat last year’s wooden spooners Johnsonville 37-27 retaining the Mick Kenny Memorial Cup, and Oriental-Rongotai pulled clear to beat Paremata-Plimmerton 30-13.

There was also a round of Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield matches today, and most of these were close. Poneke, Tawa and HOBM all reversed their clubs’ Swindale Shield results that were to follow, Tawa pipping MSP 17-12, Poneke edging OBU 23-19 and HOBM overcoming the Rams 24-10.

Northern United’s Premier Reserve side had a 19-17 win over Petone’s, scoring two first half converted tries, while Johnsonville kicked clear from a 10-point halftime lead to beat Wellington 31-19. Wainuiomata beat Avalon 25-12 and Ories beat Paremata-Plimmerton 25-15. Johnsonville’s win was their first victory by their second XV in 25 outings.

In cloudy, breezy conditions, Tawa scored the first 10 points over MSP, with All Blacks Sevens wing Ben Lam scoring a thrilling try after a stop-start beginning. Lam ran 45 metres, beating five defenders on his way to the chalk.

MSP replied with an outstanding team try to standout lock Sean Bridge, after the ball was exchanged between multiple pairs of hands. Pivot Fa’atonu Fili converted to cut Tawa’s lead to 10-7.

Fili put in a cross-kick, leading to a second MSP try. Wing Mike Buckley gassed 40 metres to score a third just before halftime, to make it 21-10.

Returning Tawa flyhalf James So’oialo kicked a long-range penalty early in the second half to make it 21-13, but that was as close as the defending champions got. Fili responded with a penalty and then, after a long period of scrappy play, MSP’s pack pushed Tawa off the ball at scrum time and replacement halfback Peter Sciascia scored the match-sealing try.

Sciascia, who came on as a replacement during the first half, showed all his experience and guile and was the Player of the Match. Fili and flankers James Tuia and Josh Toomaga and lock forward Bridge were also standouts. For Tawa, last year’s Best and Fairest winner Peniasi Tokakece was strong and lock Hemi Fermanis tried hard in general play, despite lineout woes.

The Upper Hutt Rams found themselves 17-points behind the HOBM Eagles midway through the first half, before closing the gap to 14-20 at halftime.

The Rams kept their foot on the pedal in the second half, pulling clear to register a bonus point win over last year’s Hardham Cup champions.

On an adjacent field, Northern United rocked Petone early with a break off a lineout and a 7-pointer to centre TK Bishop.

Petone, fielding a rearranged backline owing to injury and Hurricanes U20 commitments, responded by building pressure but they couldn’t convert. Norths broke out again through fullback Rawiri Barnsley who kicked ahead a loose ball and regathered possession, leading to a forwards try in the far corner to Player of the Match and lock Quiad Martin-Laumatia and a 12-0 lead.

Once more, Petone exerted pressure but failed to break through. Lock Jack Ross put a foot in touch going for the corner, before halfback Logan Henry and prop George Ta’eiloa crossed in quick succession to lock the contest up at 12-12. Perry Hayman slotted a penalty to give Norths a 15-12 at halftime.

Ten minutes into the second half, Norths came up with the key try of the match, their pack driving to the line like their forwards of old and lock Martin-Laumatia coming up with his brace.

Norths continued to dominate territory, before Petone rallied late and halfback Henry scored a try off an 8-9 move off the back of an attacking scrum, cutting Norths’ lead to 20-19. But Norths sealed victory with about five minutes to play when centre Bishop kicked ahead and regathered a dropped Petone ball in general play.

Over on the number one field, the OBU Goats also took an early lead against Poneke when fullback Jono Ihaka streaked clear to score an unconverted try.

Poneke’s first five-eighth Pakai Turia put his side on the board with a penalty but a clinical OBU forwards pack was climbing into its work and they took a 12-3 lead after being awarded a penalty try after scrum pressure on Poneke’s line.

Turia closed the gap to 9-12 at halftime with two further penalties, but OBU’s forwards continued to hammer away in the set-pieces. Poneke lock Ray Treviranus was sin-binned twice in the second half, leading to a red card. OBU extended their lead to 17-9 with a try to former Colts prop and captain and now Premier No. 8 Morgan Poi off a 5-metre scrum. Poneke came back to close the margin to 17-14 with a try to flanker Greg Foe, with Turia’s conversion from in front also being charged down by returning wing Te Wehi Wright.

The Goats then pulled clear with a penalty and then a converted try to their Wellington Axemen recruits Dale Saabagh and Matt Goosen.

The other match on Awakairangi Park to start the 49th season of Swindale Shield rugby since its resurrection from an Athletic Park broom cupboard in 1969 was more of a turgid affair, between Avalon and Wainuiomata.

Wainuiomata’s option taking was poor; with Avalon scoring a first half try to fullback Cameron Cross and taking an 8-6 lead into the halftime interval.

The green and blacks knuckled down after the break, scoring a crucial try to former Best and Fairest winner and No. 8 Ben Tupuola. With time almost up, Wainuiomata replacement flanker Matt Jacobs stepped up to win the game with a penalty.

It was all locked up at 13-13 between Johnsonville and Wellington at halftime, before the Axemen pulled away to win with a bonus point; while Ories led Paremata-Plimmerton 13-10 at the oranges before they too pulled clear to win 30-13.

The next 21 rounds of the season promise to be exciting.