Senior Women?s and lower grades rugby kicking off this weekend

Above the Wainuiomata Women’s team celebrating winning the second round title in August last year.

The Wellington club rugby Senior Women’s competition kicks off this Saturday with the opening weekend of first round Fleurs Trophy matches.

Six teams, representing seven clubs, will play each other once over five rounds between this weekend and the end of May to determine the first round champions. This will be followed by a short gap and some non-competition games and then the seven-week Victoria Tavern Trophy competition, which is a round-robin leading to semi-finals and a final and for many leading and aspiring women’s players is the stepping stone to higher honours such as the Women’s NPC at the end of the winter.

There are two new teams for 2013, Avalon and a new combined Poneke-Marist St. Pat’s side. Avalon replaces Stokes Valley, while Poneke-Marist St Pat’s take the place of 2011 Fleurs Trophy champions Eketahuna who are now playing in the Manawatu club competition.

The two new sides are joined by Oriental-Rongotai and Old Boys-University, returning from last year, and by traditionally strong Northern United and last year’s second round champions Wainuiomata.

Wainuiomata came back from an 8-0 deficit to beat Norths 13-8 in last year’s Victoria Tavern Trophy final and claim their first Women’s club title.

Earlier in the season, Norths reclaimed the Fleurs Trophy off 2011 winners Eketahuna after winning all five first round games and scoring 199 points and conceding just 20 along the way. ?

First round women’s matches this weekend are:

• Northern United v Old Boys-University, Porirua Park 3 at 11.30 am
• Oriental Rongotai v Wainuiomata, Polo Ground 2 at 11.30 am
• Poneke -MSP v Avalon, Kilbirnie Park 3 at 11.30 am

For more visit the Draws & Results section across the top this page

As well as Senior Women’s grades, all other grades are underway from this Saturday.

The 85 kg Restricted competition has been particularly well contested in recent years and this year shapes as being no different.

The champion lightweight MSP Blues are back to their defend their overall title, beating the Tawa Titans 26-6 in the 2012 final of the second round Paul Potiki Shield.The MSP Blues and Tawa Titans are joined by nine other teams on the starting line of the first round JC Bowl on Saturday.

First round JC Bowl U85 kg Division 1 matches are as follows:

• Upper Hutt Stallions v MSP Reds, Maidstone Park at 3.00 pm
• Wellington v Petone Vipers, Hataitai Park at 3.00 pm
• Eastbourne v MSP Blues, HW Shortt Park at 3.00 pm
• Poneke Cav’s v OBU Onslow Bunnies, Kilbirnie Park 3 at 3.00 pm
• Tawa Titans v HOBM, Lyndhurst Park at 3.00 pm

First round U85 kg Restricted Division 2 matches are as follows:

• Johnsonville v Avalon, Helston Park at 3.00 pm
• Paremata-Plimmerton v Poneke Ravns, Ngati Toa Domain at 3.00pm
• Wainuiomata v Stokes Valley, Mary Crowther 2 at 3.00 pm
• Wests Roosters v OBU Onslow, Ian Galloway Park at 3.00 pm
• MSP Green BYE

First round U21 Paris Memorial Trophy matches are as follows:

• Tawa v Ories, Te Whaea at 1.00 pm
• Petone Blue v Wellington, Petone Rec 2 at 1.15 pm
• Norths Blue v HOBM Green, Porirua Pak 2 at 3.00 pm
• OBU Green v MSP, Te Whaea at 1.00 pm

Second round Senior 3 JDR Cup matches are as follows:

• Ories v Petone, Polo Ground at 3.00pm
• Upper Hutt Kings v Wellington, Maidstone Artificial at 1.45 pm
• HOBM Barbarians v Tawa, Hutt Rec 2 at 3.00 pm
• Rimutaka v MSP, Maoribank Park 1 at 3.00 pm
• HOBM Originals BYE

Second round Reserve Grade Division 1 matches are as follows:

• Poneke Ruffnuts v Tawa, Kilbirnie Park at 1.15 pm
• MSP Internationals v OBU Therapists, Martin Luckie Park Park at 3.00 pm
• OBU Righteous Brothers v OBU Pink Ginners, Te Whaea at 5.00 pm
• OBU 69ers v Johnsonville Cripples, Te Whaea at 7.00 pm

Second round Reserve Grade Division 2 matches are as follows:

• OBU Dead Ants v OBU Yardies, Prince of Wales 2 at 1.00 pm
• Poneke Hammers v Ories J8s, Kilbirnie Park 3 at 1.15 pm
• OBU Bergs v Paremata-Plimmerton Punters, Prince of Wales 1 at 3.00 pm
• OBU Teddy Bears v Wests Mixed Veges, Prince of Wales 2 at 3.00 pm
• Upper Hutt J8s v Upper Hutt Pirates, Maidstone Artificial 4 at 3.30 pm.