Top 10 season openers

With the 2018 club rugby season starting this coming Saturday, we take a look back 10 noteworthy or exciting season openers from previous years.

1952 – University (37) v Poneke (0)

At the time, this result was described by both newspapers covering local rugby as “sensational”. Poneke were the defending Jubilee Cup champions and on paper were just as strong as they had been the previous August. University had gained some new players, including backs Jim Fitzgerald and Brian Fitzpatrick. The two Fitz’s added fizz, and together with superstar wing Ron Jarden (two tries in this game) and flanker Bill Clark, formed University’s All Black contingent. Fireworks erupted early in the main game at Athletic Park on opening day, University cutting loose for this big win. If not for errant kicking, it would have been more, in an era of three-point tries. This result impacted both sides; Poneke went on to lose its next five games, while University went on to dazzle all season. Poneke's loss here was the fifth time since 1945 that the defending champion had lost their first game the following season. In a golden age for club rugby, 10,000-strong crowds not uncommon and they won the Jubilee Cup for the first of three consecutive wins.

1992: Marist St Pat’s (48) v Hutt Old Boys (7)

Defending Jubilee Cup champions Hutt Old Boys were set on their heels in the first match of the new season, going down 48-7 to MSP, halfback Elton Montcrieff scoring 24 points, which included a try, four conversions and four penalties. In windy conditions, MSP flew to a 28-0 halftime lead, their forwards dominating both the lineout and loose forward exchanges, while midfielder Norm Broughton and wing Paul Schmidt-Uilli were dangerous in the backs. Elsewhere, the Wellington Axemen floored last year’s beaten Cup finalists Poneke 15-9 and new club Harlequins (now Old Boys University) beat Tawa 25-7 in their inaugural Premier outing.

1994 – Stokes Valley (17) v Upper Hutt (15)

Stokes Valley caused an upset in the first round beating established contenders Upper Hutt 17-15. A last-minute penalty from wide out by former Upper Hutt first five-eighth Alan Henderson propelled Stokes Valley to their win and to their second Premier win of the last two seasons. Upper Hutt outscored Stokes Valley two tries to one, but Henderson’s accurate boot bridged the gap between the sides. Stokes Valley, captained by former Wellington hooker and skipper Glen Fraser and featuring prominent halfback Tui Bradbrook got under Upper Hutt’s skin with a committed all-round performance and frustrated their bigger neighbours throughout at Delaney Park and deserved this rare win over them.

2000 – Marist St Pat’s (27) v Petone (22)

A battle of two of the then heavyweights of club rugby in this season opener at Rugby League Park, which is now Hurricanes HQ. Marist St Pat’s were the defending Swindale-Jubilee champions, having won the last ever final and club game on Athletic Park in 1999, while Petone would go on and win this year’s Jubilee Cup. MSP continued where they had left off the previous season, leaping to a 20-0 lead with the win in its favour. Turning into a strong northerly, MSP went further ahead 27-3, before Petone at last fired up its engines, albeit helped by the sinbinning of MSP players Rhys Johnson and Kas Lealamanua for separate offences. The Villagers backs hit back hard and they scored tries to fullback Temanu Martin and centre Lotu Filemu. Wing August Collins and flanker Steve Hager hustled, and Martin scored again to close the gap. But MSP were able to hold to the end. Elsewhere, young flanker Jerry Collins marked his return from a broken leg to steer Northern United to victory over Johnsonville and Old Boys University, formerly Harlequins, had a good first-up win over Tawa.

2002 – Johnsonville (13) v Marist St Pat’s (13)

Johnsonville let slip a golden chance of toppling defending champions Marist St Pat’s in this first round match at Kilbirnie Park. Johnsonville had won the 1997 Swindale Shield fielding a big pack and it was their forwards that took it to MSP’s and almost carried the day here for what would have been a big opening win. They also played 60 minutes of the match a prop down with Kepi Faiva’ai shown a red card for boxing on the rugby field. Johnsonville trailed 5-6 at halftime, and then missed three consecutive penalties. MSP scored a try, edging them ahead 13-5. In reply, midfielder Palepoi Nonu made a strong break and offloaded to fullback Matt Poutoa to score a five-pointer for the Hawks. Led by flankers Iva Motusaga and Rob Turuwhenua, Johnsonville put themselves in late penalty position and with a few minutes left Mike Finau finally succeeded to draw the match. MSP went on to defend the Jubilee Cup.

2004: Avalon (43) v Johnsonville (16)

Avalon should have made the Jubilee Cup final and perhaps gone on and won it in 2004, losing 6-17 to Poneke in their home semi-final at Fraser Park. They played positive, attractive rugby throughout this season, with their two best players the Waldrom brothers always leading the way when playing. The brothers set the scene in this opening round fixture at home. Openside flanker Scott scored four tries, including a 50m try soon after the opening kick-off, and No. 8 Thomas scored a solo stunner. Other players to impress were lock Jason Goble, hooker Mo Schwalger and halfback Mitchell Forbes. Johnsonville never recovered and finished dead last in the Swindale Shield. Scott Waldrom is now Avalon’s Premier coach and Thomas is coming home from England soon and could don the Wolves jersey once more later this season.

2005: Upper Hutt (30) v Petone (27)

Upper Hutt were the previous year’s Hardham Cup champions, while Petone were the defending Swindale Shield holders. This win would be the first of 10 on the trot for Upper Hutt and they went on to win the 2005 Swindale Shield and then made the Jubilee Cup semi-finals . The visitors rolled a big pack on to the Petone Rec for their season opener, which was to prove a telling factor in this match and throughout the season. Upper Hutt had first use of a strong wind and led by 6 at the interval. Petone supporters pinned their hopes on their exciting backs upping the tempo with the wind in the second spell. Upper Hutt scored tries to Fraser Tane, Damien Mei, James Russo and Clinton Whiu to lead by 3 with time ticking down. Petone first five-eighth Riki Flutey had already landed 5 penalties and a conversion but he was unable to land two dropped goals and a penalty. At the end of the season, Petone won two incredibly tight playoff matches to win the Jubilee Cup.

2007: Poneke (18) v Marist St Pat’s (17)

The 2007 season opened with the Battle of Kilbirnie between the two fierce rivals, and this game lived up to its billing. MSP took the early ascendancy and raced to a 14-3 lead. Hooker Ged Robinson crashed over from a lineout drive and left wing Mark Le pounced on a Poneke dropped ball and scampered 40 metres to score. Right on halftime, Poneke left wing Ambrose Plaister finished off a break from prop Kwain Auelua, closing MSP's lead to 14-8. The second half was an arm-wrestle. Miah Nikora inched MSP ahead to 17-8 with a penalty on 65 minutes, but it was MSP's defence that was showing signs of cracking, with Poneke increasingly finding holes around the fringes. Eventually they broke through to score, halfback Blair Bradley making a break, and finding hooker Dane Coles on his inside to put fullback Tevita Latu in for the try. More concerted pressure followed, and when No. 8 Chris Brightwell spun around in a tackle to score again, Poneke held a one-point advantage with five minutes on the clock. Stung into action, MSP swung hard on to attack in the final minutes. Nikora missed with a long-range penalty attempt, and then they tested Poneke's line with a series of scrums and lineouts at the death but came up short in an epic. Poneke were to finish second and MSP fourth in the 2007 Swindale Shield. The two teams met once more later in the season with two Fa’atonu Fili penalties giving MSP a 6-0 win.

2015: Hutt Old Boys Marist (37) v Wellington Axemen (36)

The 2015 Swindale Shield season started in sweltering sun at Trentham Memorial Park. There were a number of dramatic encounters, including a 34-34 draw between Wainuiomata and Norths and a 35-35 draw between Upper Hutt and Poneke. In the Wainuiomata versus Norths fixture, Tyler Tane scored 29 points for the Green and Blacks, but two tries off the bench by Inoke Rasabale earned Norths a share of the spoils. In the latter affair Upper Hutt and Poneke produced a seesaw tussle each scoring five tries. Rams winger Max Pearson bagged a hat trick for the hosts while Greg Mullany scored 20 points for Poneke. The most dramatic match of the day however featured defending Jubilee Cup champions Hutt Old Boys Marist against Wellington. HOBM built a 16-10 lead at halftime, but a rampant display by Axeman flanker Vaea Fifita soon turned the game in Wellington’s favour. Fifita scored a try and played a hand in creating another as Wellington surged ahead 36-23. HOBM showed their championship credentials though rallying to reclaim the lead 37-36. Fereti Soloa’s 85-metre solo try was one of the best of the season. The drama wasn't over. Fifita poached an intercept and dashed 95-metres only to be called back for a forward pass.

2017 – Upper Hutt Rams (33) v Hutt Old Boys Marist (23)

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, overhauling their deficit and pulling clear to register a bonus point win over the previous year’s Hardham Cup champions. On the adjacent field, a replay of the 2016 Jubilee Cup final between Marist St Pats and Tawa kicked off. Defending champions Tawa started ominously when Ben Lam burst through half a dozen tackles for the opening try. MSP wing Michael Buckley responded with a similar effort as MSP began to dominate.Tawa was held scoreless in the second half as MSP started the season by extracting a measure of revenge, eventually winning 31-10. The MSP lineout was a major factor in their triumph and James Zino was awarded with a try. Neither side would feature in the Jubilee Cup final in August.