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Paremata-Plimmerton and Tawa to contest Senior 1 final

Ed Chaney Cup Prem Reserve 1 | 15 August 2013 | Steven White & Scott MacLean

Above: The Paremata-Plimmerton team on Ngatitoa Domain at the start of last week’s semi-final win over Hutt Old Boys Marist.

UPDATED WITH TEAMS (below): The major club rugby prize being decided this weekend is the Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup final being fought out by Paremata-Plimmerton and Tawa at Ngatitoa Domain at 2.30 pm. This promises to be tightly contested final after both sides emerged from tight semi-finals tussles last weekend. Paremata-Plimmerton chalked up yet another tight low-scoring win, 15-13 over Hutt Old Boys-Marist, while Tawa were successful on the road winning 26-22 at Wainuiomata.

Both sides have enjoyed relatively successful 2013 seasons. Paremata-Plimmerton have won 12 and drawn 1 of their last 13 matches and last lost in early May. They made a slow start to the season, losing their first three matches, and then two untimely home defeats in later rounds probably cost them a place in the Hardham Cup, but they have gone undefeated in the second round and will want to go one better than last year when they narrowly lost to Wellington in the final of this competition.

Tawa’s second side has benefitted greatly from the work to build the depth of the club and will be able to boast several players on Saturday with Premier-level experience; and will want to add another piece of senior silverware to those amassed by the Premier side this season.

Paremata-Plimmerton? has won both the matches between the two sides this year, winning the first-round match 17-7 and the more recent game six weeks ago 20-14. Both matches were at Ngatitoa Domain.

In their respective points for and points against records this season, Tawa has scored a total of 528 points and conceded 375 and Paremata-Plimmerton has compiled 409 points and let in 348 points.

Individually, Paremata-Plimmerton fullback Ryan McLean is their leading try and points scorer. Including scoring 11 tries, McLean has scored 172 points.

For Tawa, centre Maka Ioane is a key threat out wide, havng scored seven second round tries, while first five-eighth Kalim Kelemete has scored four tries and also kicked 36 points since the start of June. Halfback Nick Butterworth has kicked 64 points as well.

Home ground advantage could be key. Paremata-Plimmerton’s record at home this year is played 11, won, lost three and drawn one and they have won their last five matches there.

Paremata Plimmerton has built its team around sturdy defence. In the second round, six of their nine wins have been by a winning score of inside a converted try and their other match was a 27-27 draw with MSP.

Paremata-Plimmerton co-captain and No. 8 Tane McMillan-Parata said his team is looking forward to the final and the chance go one better than last year when they lost to the Wellington Axemen 13-15. “This is unfinished business from last year and the boys are ready and hungrier than ever. I expect a big game.”

“The coaches and managers and the boys have worked hard all year to give ourselves this chance of going one better than last year,” added co-captain McLean, “It’s going to be tough but we are all excited about it.”

Paremata-Plimmerton is jointly coached by Alphonso Parsons and David Birnie and Lyall Hedges is the manager.

“The majority of the team have been together for over five years, and this year we were fortunate to attract 12 new players who have fitted into the club like they have been with us from day one, “ explained Hedges. “Saturday’s home game will be a great day for the club and our team, with the local support we attract at home everyone is looking forward to the day, “ Hedges added.

Parsons said the team is well led and well-balanced: “We have two great co-captains and the crew have served us well for the last 13 games that we have been unbeaten for. Our whole team stands out when we stick to our game plan, but look out for our hard working tight five, loose forwards, skilful inside backs, speed and power out wide and impact from our bench.”

Tawa captain and lock Toa Madar said winning on Saturday will mean a lot to his side.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to play in a final, it's not often that our club play finals footy so we are very ecstatic about it, “ Madar explained.? “This would mean a lot to the boys especially those who have ground it out over the past two years.? Paramata-Plimmerton have beaten us in the last two encounters this year already, so it would be good to finish off an historic season for our club and get one over them to end off the season.”

Madar said his team should offer plenty on attack, adding: “look out for our deceptive loose forwards - they’re not your typical looking loosies but they’re very effective around all ends of the field, and people should expect to see a free flowing game of rugby.”

Madar said that discipline will be key on Saturday. “Paramata-Plimmerton play a good team game. They also have a solid kicker [McLean], so we will need to minimise penalties otherwise we will be kicked off the park.?“

The curtain-raiser for this game will be a contest between the clubs’ two Under 13 junior teams.

About the Ed Chaney Cup

The Ed Chaney Cup was originally presented in memory of the late Ed Chaney for competition in Senior 2nd Division.? Ed Chaney played for Johnsonville in the 1920s before the forming of Tawa and also served the WRFU as an administrator and B selector for many seasons.? His son Rewi Chaney, a well-known rugby identity, also played for Tawa.? Appropriately Tawa were the first club to win this Cup in 1968.

Recent Winners have been:
2005 Oriental Rongotai
2006 Petone
2007 Oriental Rongotai
2008 Stokes Valley
2009 Old Boys University
2010 Old Boys University
2011 Petone
2012 Welligton

Match Information:

What: Wellington club rugby Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup final
Who: Paremata-Plimmerton (1) v Tawa (3)
When: Saturday 17 August, 2.30 pm
Where: Ngatitoa Domain

HELL Pizza is the match day sponsor.