Sizzling opening round sets up big season ahead

Above: Tawa's Player of the Match against Upper Hutt Joketani Koroi with ball in hand, surrounded by opposition players

Two boilovers, three comfortable wins and a close-run victory for the first round defending champions. The opening round of the 2013 Wellington Premier club season had it all and there's much more to come in the next 10 rounds of the Swindale Shield.

Heading into the new season, there was much talk about who would hit the ground running on opening day and, as predicted by many, 2012 form was turned on its head.

The two clubs that met in last year's Premier 2 Hardham Cup final, Old Boys University and Poneke, both started the new season with a bang by bagging wins over 2012 Jubilee Cup giants Marist St. Pat's and Northern United respectively.

OBU conquered last year's Jubilee Cup champions MSP 21-15 away at Evans Bay Park, while Poneke lowered Norths' colours 22-17 on neutral ground at Ian Galloway Park.

In beating MSP, OBU retained the Jack Lamason Memorial Cup and also won the Bill Brien Challenge Shield. Poneke won the Cyril Collett Memorial Shield off Norths for the first time.

There were bonus point wins for Hutt Old Boys Marist, Oriental-Rongotai, Tawa and Petone.

HOBM pulled clear at the end to defeat last year's first-time Jubilee Cup semi-finalists Wainuiomata 38-31, Ories were too strong for Rimutaka in winning 50-7, Tawa over-ran Upper Hutt 32-0 to re-claim the Mexted Motors Cup and Petone were too strong for the Wests Roosters 58-20 to win back the Gareth Head Memorial Trophy.

In the Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield, there were bonus point wins to Tawa, Avalon and Old Boys University and three knife-edge results in the other games.

Tawa made it two from two against Upper Hutt teams, winning their match 35-10, Avalon overcame Petone 30-22 to retain the Morgan Family Trophy and Old Boys University beat MSP 32-0 on the artificial at Te Whaea.

Johnsonville and the Wellington Axemen slugged it out for the Mick Kenny Memorial Cup. Scores were locked up at 0-0 at halftime before home side Johnsonville eventually won 5-3.

In two other close Senior 1 opening round results, Wainuiomata beat Paremata-Plimmerton 14-12 and Northern United defeated Poneke 15-12.

Norths also got the points against Poneke in their Senior 2 National Mutual Cup match, winning by default.

Norths were one of five teams that got bonus point wins in round one of the Senior 2 competition. HOBM were the most convincing winners of the afternoon, beating neighbours Wainuiomata 53-5. Ories beat Stokes Valley 37-5, OBU beat Johnsonville 41-10 and Petone edged out the Wests Roosters 36-29.

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See below for individual match reports from five of the six games courtesy of the Dominion Post.?

WAINUIOMATA 31 - HUTT OLD BOYS MARIST 38

WHAT HAPPENED: Nine tries, five lead changes, three yellow cards, this game had a trifle of drama. Both sides, evenly matched up front, showed a willingness to play expansively. Greater impact from the Hutt Old Boys' bench ultimately settled the contest.

After an error ridden start Wainuiomata scored the first try when impressive centre Teru Time busted and put Jason Love away. Hutt Old Boy's, on the back of a favourable penalty count, led at halftime though when an Elisala Soloa surge led to Brandyn Larsen's first try and Michael Kingsbeer collected a fortunate bounce, chasing a Glen Waters nudge with typical industry.

2013 School leaver Dylan Hayes opened the second half with style when he roared down the side-line for a 25 meter try before the game became a referee's symphony. Both sides struggled to adapt to Gordon Noble-Campbell's interpretation of the breakdown and both were reduced to 14 men at different times.

The last twenty minutes showed these clubs should be excited about their prospects this season. Wainuiomata created two tries from 25-17 down with vigour in the forwards and speed and initiative out wide. While Hutt Old Boys' won the game on the back of fine contributions from prop Lake Manaia, hooker Manual Efaraimo and centre Ope Peleseuma from the bench.

THE BIG PLAY: Wainuiomata surged ahead midway through the second half with two tries in two minutes. That angered huge Hutt Old Boys' replacement prop Lake Manaia! Manaia rumbled up field, from inside his own 22, to commence a sweeping attack that culminated in Manaia trampling over the helpless Wainuiomata defence, from close-range, to score the try that ultimately won Hutt the game.

STAR TURN: Twenty-three points from Hutt Old Boys' Brandyn Laursen completed an active afternoon for the second-five. An incisive runner and good link player, Larsen was never far from the action. By Adam Julian.

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NORTHERN UNITED 17 ?- PONEKE 22

WHAT HAPPENED: Poneke won the Cyril Collett Shield against Northern United for the first time since its introduction in 2008 with a new wave of aggressive forward play best exemplified by the trio of Presley Tufuga, Sam Tui and Greg Foe.

In a role reversal the Poneke forwards provided plenty of ball for their backs with incisive darts from new fullback Tauasosi Tuimavave which resulted in the first try.

Norths will rue their many opportunities to dot down but were cut short frequently in the red zone with committed defence and solid options to clear the ball quickly with the steady boot of Tevita at the base. The score line reflects a better second half for Norths who'll be happy to earn a bonus point after Naikatini scored at full-time under the post.

BIG PLAY: Presley Tufuga's athleticism to literally 'Inspector Gadget' the length of his body and score in the corner over a Norths player impressed the sidelines of both club supporters at Ian Galloway.

STAR TURN: This was hard to narrow down to just one player. Keep your eye on Tauasosi Tuimavave who can run, tackle (making 2 try saving tackles for Poneke) and kick goals. ?Jackson Garden-Bachop will grow into his role as a feeder to his back line and Simon Tevita earned his first cap with aplomb, marshalling his new forwards with ease. By Flo Masoe

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MARIST ST PATS 15 - OLD BOYS UNIVERSITY 21

WHAT HAPPENED: It was a strong start to the season for OBU who confidently won their first round match against a rusty MSP.

Due to injury the OBU backline was shuffled before the game as Hamish Buick took the number 10 jersey, moving Seminar Manu to centre. Throughout the first half collective groans came from the crowd as both sides made basic passing and handling errors. OBU appeared to dominate in territory while MSP often lost forward momentum when they dropped the ball at the tackle.

MSP number 10 Andrew Wells looked unconfident in contrast to his opponent Buick, whose consistent kicking proved to be one of OBU's strongest assets.? OBU went to half-time ahead by 13 after a brilliant try by Buick.

MSP gained some momentum in the second half as they managed to gain a strong foot hold in OBU territory. OBU made their opposition work hard for their second try which after a lot of persistence went to MSP number 8 Tevita Ah Wong.

?While there were some nice moments in MSP's game, their overall failure to convert territory into points and kick consistently mean they go into the second round still looking for their first win. OBU however can feel confident if this game is an indication of their season ahead.

THE BIG PLAY: Hamish Buick's try at the end of the first half cemented OBU's dominance as the number 10 picked up the MSP drop ball and darted around two defenders to score beside the posts.

STAR TURN: Hamish Buick shone at number 10 with an accurate boot especially under pressure and confident handling of the ball. By Jessica Roden

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RIMUTAKA 7 - ORIENTAL-RONGOTAI 5

WHAT HAPPENED: The first game of the season kicked off with a significant difference for these two clubs, with the match being played on an artificial turf instead of the usual field due to the outdoor water ban. Oriental-Rongotai got on the attack straight away. However, Rimutaka made good use of the few handling errors Oriental-Rongotai committed, putting in solid runs. Both teams looked slick in the first half, but Oriental-Rongotai was relentless on attack -- and that showed as they overwhelmed their opponents by eight tries to one.

Just before the end of the first half, Rimutaka had a great opportunity to score with possession right on the try line after a great breakaway, but the effort was stifled. Tensions rose in the second half, with the referee having words with both teams.

In the second half Rimutaka again had promising moves, but apart from a consolation try for the home supporters to Issac Marrier, it remained one-way traffic.

A finalist last year, Oriental-Rongotai sent out a clear message: We're one to watch this season.

BIG PLAY: The combination of Thomas Russell and Paulo Aukuso was a standout feature, and resulted in a superb try by Aukuso. By Adam julian

STAR TURN: Paulo Aukuso played a blinder, making good breaks, showing fantastic hands and covering a lot of ground. Also solid in the tackles. By Kirsty Lawrence

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TAWA 32 - UPPER HUTT 0

WHAT HAPPENED: The industrious play of Tawa's Koroi brothers, Joketani and Taniela, was a feature in their team's season opening bonus point win over Upper Hutt in front of a spirited home crowd.

Starting No. 8 Joketani and replacement prop Taniela, who entered the fray late in the first half, were both at the forefront for Tawa as they laid on a physical onslaught? and overpowered Upper Hutt five tries to nil.

The pair combined 10 minutes into the second half to score Tawa's third try that shut the gate on Upper Hutt, who were then a player down with prop Richard Wasley in the sin-bin. Key lineout jumper Joketani secured set-piece possession and Taniela crashed over to score a popular try in front of the clubrooms, converted from out wide by fullback Randall Bishop.

For Upper Hutt, mistakes and ill-discipline - promising openside flanker Hayden Schrijvers was also later sinbinned and first five-eighth Ben Aoina failed to find touch with three consecutive penalties - helped cost them any chance of mounting a comeback.

Tawa captain and lock Filisione Koloamatangi, flanker TJ Fermanis and prop Tolu Fahamokioa also had strong games, while replacement hooker Lotu Nuku stood out towards the end.

Earlier, both sides made numerous mistakes, before Tawa finally scored their first try on 25 minutes and then added another on halftime to take a 15-0 lead into the break.

THE BIG PLAY: With a wind at their backs and having struggled to turn a big territorial advantage into more than just a one-try lead, Tawa scored their most important try on the stroke of halftime. Tawa attacked off the top of a lineout and second five-eighth Alfred Pelenise scored off the shoulder of centre Timoli Seruwalu, giving them some breathing space at the turnaround.

STAR TURN: It was Joketani Koroi who also secured ball in the middle of the lineout in the lead-up to Pelenise's try on halftime. That and his high work rate around the field for the full 80 minutes bodes well for a big season ahead for him.

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PETONE 58 - WESTS 20

WHAT HAPPENED: Normal serviced resumed on a surprisingly grassy Petone Rec with the Villagers putting on an eight-try Easter fest to hearten a large crowd gathered for the season opener.

Petone hit the ground running and two quick tries left the Roosters a little stunned and from that point on Petone were in full control.

Petone's back row of Josh Hirstich, Mateaki Kafatolu and new man Darren Munroe seemed to be everywhere, dominating all the loose ball on offer and from this the Petone backs prospered, running in six tries between them.

The Villagers tight five also dominated their opposites and if experience counts they had it in spades full with no fewer than four players featuring who have played over 100 premier games.

Wests had their moments as well and it was their very quick outside backs that shone on the few times the Rooster were able to get the ball wide. Fullback Inoki Rasabale scored a try off a scorching run while little Mika Rabukatoka was as elusive as he is fast but ran too much into traffic for a man of his stature.

The match overall was of a reasonably high standard for this time of year, was played in good spirits and well refereed by Christopher Graham.

THE BIG PLAY: Whilst Petone's defence was sound all day it was an exceptionally bone jarring tackle by winger Sam O'Leary on his opposite that left the crowd gasping, the spilt ball from the tackle enabled the home team to bring up its 50 points.

STAR TURN: Captain Mateaki Kafatolu was outstanding for the Villagers, ably supported by a very fit and committed Petone side; also featuring prominently were prop Tyral Vigne and winger Sam O'Leary. By Doug Smith

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