Wellington teams playing Taranaki, Canterbury opposition tomorrow

Above: Wellington U18 captain and No. 8 Henry Stowers leading from the front in last weekend's match against Hawke's Bay

Matches this weekend at a glance

• Women’s NPC: Wellington Pride v Taranaki, Petone Recreation Ground, 12.30 pm

• Hurricanes U18 competition: Wellington U18 v Taranaki U18 Ngatitoa Domain, 1.00 pm

• Wellington Development XV v Canterbury Development XV in Renwick, near Blenheim, 1.00 pm

• Hurricanes U20 competition: Wellington U20 v Taranaki U20 in Inglewood, 1.00 pm

• Hurricanes U18 B competition: Wellington Centurions v Horowhenua Kapiti U18 Levin

• Hurricanes U20 B competition: Wellington Samoans U18 v Horowhena-Kapiti U20 in Levin, 2.30 pm

• Club match: Petone Rugby Academy v HOBM Academy, North Park 1.00 pm

?

Three of Wellington teams are up against their Taranaki counterparts and the Wellington Development side is meeting the Canterbury Development side in representative rugby matches tomorrow.?

The Wellington U18s and Wellington U20s are both chasing their second straight wins in their Hurricanes region competitions when they meet Taranaki teams at Ngatitoa Domain and Inglewood respectively.

Last week the Wellington U18s defeated Hawke’s Bay 31-20 and the U20s beat Manawatu 36-19, while the Taranaki U18s beat Manawatu 23-8 and the Taranaki U20s lost to Hawke’s Bay 18-54.

Wellington teams are also lining up in the B divisions of these Hurricanes region competitions. The Wellington Centurions, who beat Wanganui 65-0 last Saturday, meet Horowhenua-Kapiti in Levin, while the Wellington Samoans U18s play the Horowhenua-Kapiti U20s, also in Levin.

The Wellington Pride are hunting their first win of the Women’s NPC in their round four clash at the Petone Recreation Ground against Taranaki, who are also winless thus far.

The Pride, who lost to Otago (17-21) and Manawatu (12-25) in the opening fortnight of women’s NPC matches, were unlucky not to register their opening win of the competition last Sunday against Waikato (22-23). Leading at halftime, and again late in the match, they conceded a penalty and missed out at the death. The squad’s depth will also be tested in this match, with several first choice players expected to be sidelined through either injury or unavailability.

Taranaki have lost their first three games, to Manawatu (12-49), Canterbury (12-92) and Otago (10-42). The Canterbury game aside, Taranaki have been more competitive than the scorelines suggest. Last week at Yarrow Stadium they only trailed by 10-13 early in the second half before Otago pulled clear.

Ories skipper and tighthead prop Whetu Henry captains the Wellington Development side against Canterbury at Renwick near Blenheim at 1.00 pm.

The Development’s engine room features seven of eight members of the pack with Wellington Lions experience, including Api Naikatini returning from injury at lock, Tawa captain Taniela Korori partnering Henry at prop and flanker Adam Hill who was harshly red carded for the Lions against Canterbury’s top side last Saturday. The only member of the pack without ITM Cup experience is No. 8 Ian Kennedy, whose brother Ross is a former Lion and Hurricane and now resides in Canterbury.

The Wellington side can expect a high-tempo, expansive game from the Cantabrians as past Development? or ‘B’ fixtures between these sides have proven. There’s been several high scoring clashes between the two? Development teams in this corresponding game, one example being in 2009 when Robert Fruean scored four tries and led Wellington to a big win over Canterbury in his final match for Wellington before moving south to join his new red and black teammates.

Some teamlists for matches on 28 September (subject to change):

Wellington Development:

1. Taniela Koroi; 2. Eugene Smith; 3. Whetu Henry (captain); 4. Api Naikatini; 5. Vaea Fifita; 6. Pau Halafihi; 7. Adam Hill; 8. Ian Kennedy; 9. Simon Tevita; 10. Brandyn Laursen; 11. James Kusel; 12. Nick Grigg; 13. Marvin Karawana; 14. Paulo Aukuso; 15. Hayden Whelan RESERVES: 16. Donal McNamara; 17. Lotu Nuku; 18. Issac O’Connor; 19. James Wall; 20. Shahn Eru; 21. Jono Boyd; 22. Jeff Makapelu

Wellington Pride

1. Muteremoana Aiatu (captain); 2. Patsy Schwalger; 3. Noeleen Nonu; 4. Jackie Patea; 5. Sanita Levavae; 6. Carol Sio; 7. Kirstin Stewart; 8. Aimee Sutorius; 9.Kauna Kopa; 10. Elizabeth Goulden; 11. Brenda Collins; 12.Faasua Makisi; 13. Maryann Collins; 14. Helena Lawrence; 15. Katarina Simpkins RESERVES: 16. Sharleen Fagalilo; 17. Raylene Lolo; 18. Joanah Ngan-Woo; 19. Mary-Anne Leota; 20.Accacia Claridge; 21. Lekah Leti; 22. Ruby Finau

Wellington U20

1. Donald Brighouse; 2. Zeke Sopoaga; 3. Adam Stewart; 4. Zac Power; 5. Taamilo Va’a; 6. Gabe Papuni; 7. James Prescott; 8. Dylan Hayes; 9. Luke Campbell; 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop; 11. Andrew Ellis; 12. Tyler Tane; 13. Aukoso Tuitavia; 14. Sosi Tuimavavave; 15. Andrew Wells RESERVES: 16. James O’Reilly; 17. Eti Sului; 18. Nick Harrison; 19. Joshua To’omaga; 20. Issac Marriner; 21. Faamanatuga Mativa; 22. Ken Kapeli

Wellington U18

1. Andrew Mamea; 2. Tony Coburn; 3. Anthony Mamea; 4. Lui Okeamoa-Luamanu; 5. James Blackwell; 6. Peter Pili; 7. Sam Dawson; 8. Henry Stowers (captain); 9. TJ Va’a; 10. George Boyhan; 11. Varani Komaisavai; 12. William Tufui; 13. Francis Tanuvasa; 14. Aleks Noble-Campbell; 15. Josh Robertson-Weepu RESERVES: 16. Lewis Ngatai; 17. Hezron Neru; 18. Jack Ross; 19. Jason Monton; 20. Chase Tiatia; 21. Jarrod Adams; 22. Luke Coulston