Representative rugby rolls on this weekend

Above: The Catholic Colleges side after their 43-0 win over East Coast U18 in Levin on Thursday night, who will be backing up on Saturday against the U18 Centurions at Porirua Park. 

UPDATED: After last weekend when most rep sides were at home the reverse is true this weekend with the majority away, and spread across the North Island from Auckland to Levin.

Locally just four sides are at home on Saturday. The biggest clash of the day is at Jerry Collins Stadium where the Wellington Maori and the Hawke’s Bay Saracens (Development) clash at 1pm, with the two sides currently 1-2 in the Hurricanes Shield standings. With the bye to come in next week’s final round the Maori can sew up the title tomorrow but only if they notch a bonus-point win, hold the unbeaten Saracens without any bonus points, and the Manawatu Development don’t get a bonus-point win in their match against the Centurions. A win for the Saracens would put them in the box-seat to take the title next Saturday.

Also out there two more sides – the U18 Centurions and U18 Catholic College selections – meet on the back field, with kick-off in that game timed for 12.30pm. The Catholic Colleges side will be backing up from playing in Levin on Thursday night, where they beat the East Coast’s U18’s 43-0 after leading 14-0 at halftime. The Centurions will be without regular skipper Taine Plumtree who has been stood down by request of NZ Rugby ahead of the Schools camp next weekend with Kyle Preston handed the job this week.

The last side on home turf tomorrow are the U13’s - who we took a look at yesterday- who take on the Wairarapa-Bush U14 side in the second of their four-match season at the Petone Rec at 1.30pm.

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Teams on the road this weekend are headed by the Wellington Pride, with the ladies at Marist Park in Hamilton to take on Waikato in the Farah Palmer Cup at 1pm. Like the Pride, Waikato has one-win one-loss so far, opening with a win (over newcomers Tasman) before being shutout 0-48 by champions Counties-Manukau last Thursday; and the Pride will see this as a must-win game for their playoff hopes. In a late change, St Mary's College Top4 winning flyhalf Cheyne Copeland joins the reserves to make her debut. 

Their team this weekend includes first starts on the season for a pair of teenagers in prop Brooke Tauaneai and centre Monica Tagoai, while Sanita Levave, Angel Uila and Ayesha Leti-l’iga also return to the starting side. Waikato’s side includes two members of the World Cup-winning Black Ferns in hooker and captain Sosoli Talawadua and midfielder Chelsea Alley.

Further north, the U18 Girls are in the big smoke to take on their Auckland counterparts, where the game should be far closer and competitive than last weekend’s 112-0 romp over a rookie Tasman side. Kickoff in that match is at 12pm.

On the bye week from their Hurricanes Shield commitments, the Samoan men have hit the road and are in Tauranga this weekend where they’ll face the Bay of Plenty Samoan side at Greerton Marist RFC at 1pm. The Wellington Samoans edged their local clash with the Maori last Saturday, and will be looking to put in another 80-minute performance.

Four other rep sides are closer to home. Three of those are all at the Arena complex in Palmerston North; as mentioned above the Centurions men take on Manawatu Development at 2.30pm while before that the U16A and U16 Development sides take on the corresponding teams from Hawke’s Bay in a pair of 1pm kickoffs. The fourth are the U18 Samoans who are in Foxton to face Wanganui U18 at midday.

The final representative side in action on Saturday are the Wellington U19s, who will be looking to finish what can be considered as an underwhelming campaign at the Jock Hobbs Memorial Tournament in Taupo with a win over Manawatu in the 7th/8th place, with both sides having lost their two earlier matches this week. In Wellington’s favour is that they have already beaten Manawatu in the Hurricanes regional qualifying section, but that can also count for very little when the two meet at 12.30pm tomorrow.

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Sunday sees the Wellington Lions taking on Canterbury in the Men’s NPC at Westpac Stadium at 4.35pm, with the two sides (as of writing) topping their respective standings. Wellington will be looking to rebound from last Sunday’s loss to Tasman in Blenheim, but that’s easier said than done against a red-and-black side in rampant form having clocked up nearly 80 points in their last two matches against Southland and Counties-Manukau.

Julian Savea will captain the Lions from the right wing against Canterbury. There are five changes in the pack where All Black prop Jeffery To’omaga-Allen has been released from national duties and will start at tightead prop, with his return pushing Alex Fidow into an impact role off the bench.

Likewise, Asafo Aumua reclaims the hooking berth, switching places with Leni Apisai, while Isaia Walker-Leawere has been promoted to start in the second row alongside Sam Lousi.

James Blackwell moves from lock to blindside in a reshuffled loose trio that includes openside Mateaki Kafatolu and Teariki Ben-Nicholas, who takes over at No.8 for the injured Brad Shields.

In the backline Thomas Umaga-Jensen takes over at centre for Wes Goosen, who will miss the match due to a rib injury, while Malo Tuitama comes onto the left wing for Losi Filipo.

The vagaries of the current format mean that this is the first meeting between the two since Wellington’s relegation from the Premiership in 2014. That match saw Canterbury win 46-12 in Christchurch, scoring seven tries to two with three-Test All Black Tom Taylor scoring 21 points.

The Lions will be playing to re-claim the Harry Saundercock Memorial Trophy. This was presented by the Saundercock family in 1965 in memory of Harry Saundercock who was the first member of the CRFU to represent Canterbury Rugby sub unions in 1935.
 
Current form aside, this clash is one of the great traditional matches in New Zealand domestic rugby. This will be the 47th championship meeting between Wellington and Canterbury since 1976, one of the most played meetings in the NPC competition. In that time Canterbury has won 23 contests to Wellington’s 21 with two draws; with the Lions scoring 1,068 points and 129 tries to Canterbury’s 1,184 points and 134 tries.
 
This mirrors their historical rivalry. After their first 118 encounters from 1883-1978 Wellington had scored 1492 points and Canterbury 1358; an average winning margin of just over one point after nearly a century of play.

Teamlists (as received, subject to change):

Wellington Pride
1 Angel Uila (Petone)
2 Alicia Print (Ories)
3 Brooke Tauaneai (Wainuiomata)
4 Petra Kriklanova (Petone)
5 Sanita Levave (Norths)
6 Kiri Mei (Wainuiomata)
7 Gina Williamson (OBU)
8 Jackie Patea-Fereti (Wainuiomata)©
9 Accacia Te Iwimate (Petone)
10 Kauna Lopa (Ories)
11 Ayesha Leti-l’iga (Ories)
12 Vaine Marsters (Norths)
13 Monica Tagoai (MSP)
14 Tove Svanborg (Pare-Plim)
15 Rejieli Uluinayau (Ories)
16 Rosie Stirling (HOBM)
17 Raylene Lolo (Ories)
18 Joanah Ngan-Woo (Ories)
19 Saua Ualesi (Poneke)
20 Cheyne Copeland (MSP)
21 Jane Bryce (MSP)
22 Lekah Leti (Norths)

Wellington Maori
1 Apanui Heemi (Upper Hutt Rams)©
2 Rei Heremia (Upper Hutt Rams)
3 Whetu Henry (Ories)
4 Jarrod Burnett (Poneke)
5 Mannasah Wineera (Jville)
6 Dean Ropata (Jville)
7 Bruce Kauika-Petersen (Petone)
8 Louis Karl
9 Eamonn Tawhiwhirangi (Jville)
10 Piri Paraone (Petone)
11 Taurima Morris (Petone)
12 Perry Hayman (Norths)
13 Greg Mullany (Poneke)
14 Tiwi Davies (Jville)
15 Randall Bishop (Tawa)
16 Joe Walding-Karaitiana (MSP)
17 Rhys Reiri (Poneke)
18 Mykel Herewini (Jville)
19 Sam Wasley (Upper Hutt Rams)
20 Declan Hay (Ories)
21 Jarrod Adams (Petone)
22 Levi Grace (Jville)

Wellington Samoans
1. Tui Yandall
2. Penieli Poasa
3. Aasa Sanerivi
4. Tito Ioane
5. Telea Seumanutafa
6. Jimmy Hewitt
7. Fa'alalo Wright
8. Fred Pule
9. Adrian Seumanufagai
10. Dudley Parsons
11. Aukuso Tuitama
12. Isaia Mamea
13. Jeff Makapelu (c)
14. Fereti Soloa
15. Pj Iosefo
16. Andrew Mamea
17. Johnwhite Silver
18. Fala Tuala
19. Matt Peni
20. Josh Brown
21. Elvis Madar
22. Elijah Va'a-Brooking
23. Ken Kapeli
24. Laman Ah-Wong
25. Taoroy Lupo

Wellington Centurion U18s
1 Moala Katoa (Scots College)
2 Tai Misa-Bryce (Hutt Valley HS)
3 Tanara Haenga (Wainuiomata HS)
4 Tama Kapene (Scots College)
5 Jack Wright (Upper Hutt Rams RFC)
6 Eparama Salio (Scots College)
7 Alex Faifailoa (Wainuiomata HS)
8 Mitch Stringer (Hutt Valley HS)
9 Kyle Preston (Tawa College) ©
10 Matiu Samuel (Rongotai College)
11 Caleb Cavubati (Scots College)
12 Connor Fitzsimmons (Wellington College)
13 Maika Fifita (St Patricks Silverstream)
14 Elijah Tuigamala (Wellington College)
15 Jack Gray (Scots College)
16 Kaitu Ioane (Tawa College)
17 Tama Kirk (Rongotai College)
18 Taliauli Sina (Hutt Valley HS)
19 Olly Wrigley (St Patricks Silverstream)
20 Ish Perkins (Wellington College)
21 Olly Paotonu (Wellington College)
22 Josh Morgan-Ranui (Wellington College)
23 Sane Chut (Rongotai College)

Wellington Samoan U18
1 Bronson Aiono (Wellington College)
2 Manaaki Tiatia-Boyle (Scots College)
3 Werdna Maligi (Scots College)
4 Mellenniumma Leota (Wellington College)
5 Jayden Tiatia (Wellington College) or Shaquille Fiso (Rongotai College)
6 Junior Uelese (Scots College)
7 Adam Tone (Norths RFC)
8 Darius Patau (Bishop Viard)
9 Misi Faimalo (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
10 Malo Manuao (Scots College)
11 Jeremiah Lokeni (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
12 Eli Moata’a (Porirua College)
13 Jaylen Tuapolu (Scots College)
14 Jason Tuitama (Rongotai College)
15 Tominiko Maiava (Wellington College)
16 Chester Palanui Aiono (Onslow College)
17 Herman Seumanufagai (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
18 Steven Va’a (Rongotai College)
19 Junior Time-Taotua (Porirua College)
20 Gabriel Meredith (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
21 Josh Oloapu-Atoni (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
22 Denzel Leota (Wellington College)

Wellington Catholic Colleges U18
1 Anthony Pesamino (HOBM RFC)
2 Eli Afoa (St Bernard’s)
3 Puna Manaia (St Bernard’s)
4 Dominic Bell (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
5 Connor Wanden (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
6 Neyla Masina (St Patricks Silverstream)
7 Josh Mallon (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
8 Mike Alaifatu (St Bernard’s)
9 Waylon Tuhoro-Robinson (St Patricks Silverstream)
10 Te Aorere Wanoa (St Bernard’s)
11 Devon Bell (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
12 Chris Hemi (St Patricks Silverstream)
13 Ricky Manulaiatea (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
14 Adam McRandle (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
15 Emin Kaya (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
16 AJ Hart (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
17 Johnny English (St Patricks Kilbirnie)
18 Te Kirimaia Wanoa (St Bernard’s)
19 Oria Andrews (HOBM RFC)

Wellington U18 Girls (from)
Miracle Nua
Hope Sa’u
Leva Mulikiha’amea
April Pugatupuna
Hossana Aumua
Paige Misky
Precious Auimatagi
Syntyche Maiava
Lavinia Lea
Laina Semu
Emma Brown
Kaitlyn Peachey
Damaris Samani
Milly Mackey
Harmony Hunter
Rosi Lomani
Christina Lafaele
Grace Stewart
Tiara Nanai-Iafeta
Heidi Coleman
Luhia Tufele
Lomia Fa’amausuli
Shadal Tamatoa

Wellington Lions
1 Tolu Fahamokioa (Tawa)
2 Asafo Aumua (Avalon)
3 Jeffery To’omaga-Allen (Marist St Pats)
4 Sam Lousi (Marist St Pats)
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere (Poneke)
6  James Blackwell (Petone)
7 Mateaki Kafatolu (Petone)
8 Teariki Ben-Nicholas (Old Boys University)
9 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Tawa)
10 Jackson Garden-Bachop (Northern United)
11 Malo Tuitama (Oriental-Rongotai)
12 Regan Verney (Old Boys University)
13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Wainuiomata)
14 Julian Savea (Oriental-Rongotai) (c)
15 Ben Lam (Tawa)

16. Leni Apisai (Northern United)
17.Sitiveni Paongo (Tawa)
18. Alex Fidow (Oriental Rongotai)
19. Will Mangos (Old Boys University)
20. Du’Plessis Kirifi (Loan Player)
21. Sheridan Rangihuna (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
22. Dan Kirkpatrick (Petone)
23.Levi Harmon (Poneke)