Northern United go top with convincing win

Northern United played like it was 2010 and beat Wainuiomata 36-5 today at Jerry Collins Stadium, while Oriental-Rongotai knocked over previously unbeaten Old Boys University 32-11 at the Polo Ground to see Northern United shoot to the top of the Swindale Shield standings after eight rounds.

Northern United’s entertaining and emphatic bonus point win in dreary conditions and Old Boys University’s first taste of defeat in 2017 puts Northern United on top of the table on 36 points. Ories have leapftogged OBU into second on 35, with the Goats now third on 34.

Meanwhile, Hutt Old Boys Marist beat the Wellington Axemen 49-16 at home at the Hutt Rec to see them lie in fourth on 30.

Wainuiomata’s loss to Norths see them in fifth on 28, ahead of the Upper Hutt Rams on 26 and Tawa on 25, who both had bonus point wins today over Hardham Cup-bound sides.

The Rams overcame Johnsonville 35-14 at home at Maidstone Park and Tawa beat the Avalon Wolves 44-10 at Fraser Park.

Another significant result in today’s Premier rugby was Poneke defeating Marist St Pat’s 29-27; MSP’s third straight defeat and seeing them slip to eighth on the table on 24 points.

Poneke’s win keeps them outside the top eight, along with Petone who also won with a bonus point this afternoon, overcoming Paremata-Plimmerton 38-12.

Swindale Shield 

Northern United’s enthusiatic ball running forwards, the direction of first five-eighth Leon Ellison and fourth quarter impetus off their bench helped them power to their seventh win of the competition for the Alf Keating Memorial Cup over Wainuiomata. Blindside flanker Parekura Lalalaga (2 tries) and converted No. 8 Mike Ioapo both playing well in particular.

After weathering early and late first half pressure, Norths scored three tries and led 17-0 at the halftime interval. The second of these tries was like a Norths try of old, counter-attacking from 70 metres out and their forwards and backs combining to drive them up towards the chalk.

Wainuiomata started the second half strongly and Norths lost both openside flanker Antony Fox and lock Chris Middleton to the sin-bin for separate offences, the pair’s time in the bin overlapping each other. In this time, Wainuiomata scored their one and only try, speed merchant Jason Love latching on to a kick and chase in the corner.

From there it was all Norths, scoring a further three tries and racing to victory, their only blight being the loss late in the match to injury of Fox who was the best and fairest leader heading into this round. Halfback Frae Wilson was their best player on the day, while former Norths captain Henry Smith played well until being subbed and went close to scoring a try.

Oriental-Rongotai put in a complete performance to comfortably dispatch Old Boys University 32-11.

The win was built on the back of their defence, holding OBU - who were averaging over six tries per game - to just one try.

There were few holes in the Magpies' defence all game and with the ball in hand the home team were just as clinical, scoring four tries to earn a crucial bonus point.

Wing Andy Ellis was the first to score for Ories, scooping up a chip kick inside OBU's 22 to score, before his inside, Malo Tuitama, scored a try of his own just before half time to have Ories up 15-6 at the half.

OBU's sole try came shortly into the second half after capitalising on an Ories restart error. Building phases nicely, the Goats then spread the ball to the right wing where flanker Hugh Renton was waiting. He ran through a gap and muscled his way over to pin Ories' lead back to seven points but that was as close as OBU would get.

Finishing off the game in style, Ories first five-eighth Hayden Whelan took over on attack as he scored and assisted Ories' following two tries.

Ories' win is a real statement across the competition, while OBU will now be feeling the pressure to hit back next week against the table-topping Norths.

Dudley Parsons missed a penalty attempt from about 35-metres out just to the right of the posts to win the game for Marist St Pat's over Poneke.

Earlier on Evans Bay Park, Poneke's forwards climbed into their work early and the visitors built a 26-6 lead, feasting off frequent MSP errors.

Cole Stewart scored a fine individual try swatting aside two defenders Second-five Ivan Vaisagote finished off a sweeping team movement and first-five Hilton Gibbons collected a charge down early in the second half.

MSP wing Michael Buckley scored a brilliant solo try, slicing through the Poneke midfield on an angled run to make it 29-13 which triggered an MSP comeback but it was enough for Poneke to win the Horan-Millar Trophy.

MSP only produced 20 minutes of decent rugby however and when a knock on 35-metres short of the Poneke line was rushed to touch Poneke had achieved a pivotal win.
 
At the Eagles’ Nest, Hut Old Boys Marist No. 8 Jordan Gillies swooped to score the game’s opening try when he shot through a ruck and crossed out wide. Halfback Sheridan Rangihuna converted from out wide. Prop Rei Manaia scored their second converted try, with the boot of Wellington flyhalf Hilten Mexted keeping the Axemen in the game at 9-14 down.

The Eagles launched into the second half by scoring two quick tries to take a 26-9 lead. The Axemen replied with their only try of the match to prop Jason Bird before Eagles blindside flanker Tasi Fidow scored again for the home side. The score remained 35-16 until two late tries put the result beyond doubt and completed three wins in the past eight days for the Eagles.

Likewise, the Upper Hutt Rams won their third straight win, after dropping their previous three. The Rams weren't really threatened by a depleted Johnsonville but nonetheless had to work hard for their five points at a misty Maidstone Park.

Missing 10 first-choice players the Hawks led after Levi Grace's converted try followed Daniel Schrijvers opener, but a try to Josh Brown had the Rams up 13-7 up there break. The Rams would cross three times after the break, two of them through Max Pearson, though the visitors’ resolve didn't drop away after Kane Thompson was forced off with injury and crossed through his replacement Simi Navoka, normally a prop, and a final scoreline of 35-14. Schrijvers was immense for the home team, ably supported by Brown while Pearson's workrate led to his double. Pint-sized fullback Jacob Walmsley was the visitors best while flanker Marcus Ale had a good first half.  

Tawa continued their ascendancy up the table following their sluggish start to the season.  No. 8 Folau Vea, a Wellington U19s player last year, scored Tawa’s first two tries and went on to score a hat-trick, while second five-eighth Dylan Reece crossed for Avalon to keep them in touch. Tawa led 15-5 at halftime.

Tawa put the afterburners on in the second half, second five-eighth Lorenzo Lolesio crossing for their bonus point try and a 20-5 lead. From there, they skipped clear and won well.

At the Petone Recreation Ground, the home side retained the Ken Gray Cup against Paremata-Plimmerton with a 38-12 win.

Petone opened the scoring with tries to both wings, James Twoney and Taurima Morris after breaks by Jared Kahu and Carne Green respectively. Petone scored two more tries in the opening 40 minutes and turned around leading 24-0. From there, they won the second half 14-12 and banked the five competition points.

Premier Reserve

Hutt Old Boys Marist continues to lead the Premier Reserve competition, after beating the Wellington Axemen’s second XV 55-13 this afternoon.

Old Boys University are a point back in second after smoking Ories 62-12, with Norths in third after beating Wainuiomata 32-15.

Norths led Wainuiomata at halftime, but the visitors came back in the fourth quarter to trail 15-22 when a Norths player was given an early shower for a high tackle. However, Norths finished strongly with two tries in the last five minutes.

The Upper Hutt Rams scored nine tries in dispatching Johnsonville 55-7, while MSP pipped Poneke 19-14 in the closest Harper Lock Shield match of the day, Tawa beat the Avalon Wolves 43-10 and Petone prevailed over Paremata-Plimmerton 45-6.

Women’s

There were big wins today in the Fleurs Trophy for Oriental-Rongotai and Northern United.

Ories beat Wainuiomata 64-5 in a replay of last year’s women’s championship final, while Norths defeated Hutt Old Boys Marist 71-7.

For Ories, left wing Ayesha Leti-l’iga scored a hat-trick, No. 8 Tina Paulo bagged a brace and centre Amanda Rasch scored 19 points.

Ories and Norths meet next week in the first round Fleurs Trophy decider.

In the two Division One encounters today, Marist St Pat’s won their third straight bonus point victory for 2017, beating Tawa 45-7. Petone defeated Paremata-Plimmerton 27-10 in the other game. MSP play Pare-Plim next weekend and if they win that they will take out the first round.

Les Mills Colts

The Petone Colts will be one of the teams to beat this year, winning their second straight match of the Les Mills Paris Memorial Trophy first round competition. Petone accounted for Poneke 51-0 today.

Defending champions OBU Green also won their second straight match, but did it much tougher than Petone in beating Ories 18-15.

The Upper Hutt Rams Colts beat Tawa 29-12 for their first win of the competition, while MSP also opened their account with a 16-9 victory over Poneke.

In JRD Cup Division 2 matches, Paremata-Plimmerton beat OBU Black 53-5 to register their second bonus point win. In other games, HOBM beat the Wellington Junior Axemen 65-5 and Kapiti beat the Avalon Wolves 22-12. Johnsonville, Marist St Pat’s B and Wainuiomata all had byes.

First Grade

OBU, the HOBM Barbarians and the Norths Usos all opened their Thompson Memorial Trophy campaigns with bonus point wins.

OBU beat Norths B 52-12, HOBM beat MSP 55-18 and the Norths Usos beat Poneke 33-17. In the closest result of the afternoon, the Petone Brotherhood defeated Stokes Valley A 10-7.

U85kg

The first round of the U85kg JC Bowl saw the Wellington Light Axemen take maximum points in their 29-6 win over Eastbourne, while Tawa also won with a bonus point but by default over the OBU Bunnies.

Avalon beat Johnsonville 20-5 and HOBM edged the Wests Roosters 15-11 in the other two encounters.

In Division 2 matches, Kapiti cracked the ton, beating MSP Green 100-0 while Poneke beat MSP Green 33-22.

First XV - Hastings and Dilworth on fire in Wellington

Hastings Boys' High School have reinforced their status as serious National title contenders, trouncing Wellington College by 50-10 in the capital today.

In the first-half, Hastings failed to hold the ball for more than half a dozen phases, but still led 45-3 at the interval.

Hastings scored seven unanswered tries with Kini Naholo (brother of All Black Waisake Naholo) bagging a hat-trick and centre Dennon Robinson collecting a brace.

Hastings dominated the set-piece attaining two tight heads and pilfering a handful of lineouts. This allowed impressive New Zealand Schools First-five Lincoln McClutchie to run amok as Hastings almost broke at will.

Both teams emptied the bench in the second-half which resulted in Hastings losing some structure and Wellington putting up a more respectful fight.

In addition to Robinson, Naholo and McClutchie, openside Jeriah Mua (a try scorer) tighthead Josiah Metcalfe and No.8 Devon Flanders impressed for Hastings with their aggressive carries and defence.

Wellington's solitary try was scored by centre Kei Tamo. Openside Fergus Murray and No.8 Denzel Leota played with plenty of heart.

Hastings are 5-0 in 2017 and Naholo who looks like Martin 'Chariots' Offiah scored three tries in their 43-5 win against Mount Albert Grammar School and four tries in their 53-0 win against Kelston BHS.

Dilworth College from Auckland impressively accounted for St. Pats Town 32-18 at Evans Bay Park.

Dilworth never surrendered the lead which at one stage was as large 25-3. Town pulled it back to 25-18 with Boston Hunt scoring 13 points and No.8 Keelan Whitman scoring a try, but when reserve outside back Kwlima Tafea crashed through for Dilworth's fourth try the game was won for the visitors.

Earlier Isi Manu, Tevita Hala and Lolo Liava'a scored tries as Dilworth feed off Town mistakes to build a handy lead. Hala was impressive at first-five varying his options nicely and frequently turning Town around with his educated left boot.

Dilworth are a big and well drilled team who could improve on the three wins they had in 1A last year.