So'oialo's club rugby scoring feats, tomorrow's interclub trophies and the 'Reform' game

Ahead of tomorrow's sixth round set of Wellington club rugby Premier, Senior 1 and Senior 2 matches, some statistics about James So'oialo's Premier club rugby scoring feats thus far for his previous club Northern United and his current one Tawa (pictured here playing recently for Tawa against Norths), some information about interclub trophies on the line tomorrow and how Victorian Rules Football helped hasten the formation of the WRFU.

So'oialo outscores the opposition

James So'oialo has achieved a lot in his rugby career. The Samoan international has won two Jubilee Cups, played professionally in France and is a member of a family that has produced three internationals. Brothers Rodney and Steve played for the All Blacks and Samoa respectively. Perhaps the most remarkable feat that James has achieved though is his prolific scoring in Wellington Club Rugby is that by himself he has outscored the opposition by himself 32 times in 65 games.

James So'oialo's Career Stats:

Games: 65

Tries: 24

Conversions: 201

Penalties: 104

Drop Goals: 2

Total Points: 840

James Outscores the Opposition:

Date	Opponent	James	Opposition Score
2014	Poneke	16	10
2014	North's	9	7
2014	Wainuiomata	21	13
2014	HOBM	20	14
2013	OBU	14	13
2013	HOBM	12	9
2013	MSP	15	13
2011	Poneke	4	3
2011	Poneke	8	3
2011	Tawa	16	8
2011	OBU	20	14
2011	Avalon	10	9
2011	MSP	18	10
2011	Wainuiomata	24	12
2010	Poneke	9	5
2010	HOBM	18	13
2010	MSP	10	3
2010	Johnsonville	24	10
2010	OBU	14	7
2010	Petone	13	8
2010	Wests	17	6
2010	Upper Hutt	27	16
2009	Poneke	15	10
2009	HOBM	23	17
2009	Ories	20	9
2009	MSP	14	13
2009	Wests	18	6
2009	OBU	17	11
2009	Wainuiomata	12	10
2009	Tawa	12	11
2009	Upper Hutt	16	0
2009	Avalon	29	0

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Interclub trophies being contested tomorrow in the Premier Swindale Shield are:

F.J Tilyard Shield: Poneke v Petone

Holders: Petone

Poneke (founded in 1883) and Petone (1885) have fought many titanic battles over the years. The F.J (Fred) Tilyard Shield t was first contested in 1958. The Tilyards were a famous Poneke family. There were four brothers. Fred and Jimmy were All Blacks while the other two, Harry and Brun, played for Wellington. Fred played for four club championship winning teams, was a Wellington Representative for seven years, was an All Black in 1923 and was a club administrator for 20 years. Petone won this match 25-24 last year.

Jack Lamason Memorial Cup: Old Boys University v Marist St Pat's

Holders: Old Boys University

Fittingly being played at Wellington College tomorrow. Jack Lamason was a legendary figure in Wellington sport before and after the Second World War. He played senior cricket for WCOB for 20 years, represented Wellington and toured England with the New Zealand team in 1937.He also played senior rugby for WCOB, being captain and later coach. He represented Wellington from 1929-36 and was part of the 1930 Ranfurly Shield winning team coached by the renowned Norman Millard. Also of note, Lamason was never in the 1st XV or 1st XI whilst at Wellington College. This trophy was originally established for competition between St Patrick's College Old Boys and Wellington College Old Boys. Following amalgamations. OBU won this match 21-15 last year.

To'omaga Alex Iona Memorial Cup: Northern United v Oriental-Rongotai

Holders: Oriental-Rongotai

This match was first played for in 2011. Alex was a life member of Northern United. He first played for Ories on his arrival from Samoa, then moved to Porirua to live and joined the then Porirua RFC where he continued to play before taking up coaching in the lower grades and later club administration. He also had a strong involvement in the Wellington Samoan Rugby Union. Ories are the current holders having won this match the last two years, 22-16 in 2012 and 50-19 in 2013. Previously, Norths won the first encounter 21-15, which at the time was their 12^th straight Premier win over Ories going back to 2003.

Carman Cup: Tawa v Johnsonville

Holders: Johnsonville (Senior 1 in 2013)

Tawa and Johnsonville play for the Carman Cup, named after Arthur Carman who was the first Patron of the Tawa RFC. He was also a member of the Johnsonville club. The trophy was first played for in 1952 and apart from one year (1994) it has been contested each year since. The Carman name is synonymous with the publication of the NZ Rugby Almanack, which they produced for many years. When the Tawa club started in 1947 Tawa trained on Johnsonville's training ground. Most of the Tawa players rode their bikes to training along the back road to Johnsonville. Tawa are also defending the Bill Brien Challenge Trophy in this match.

Bill Jones Cup: Wainuiomata v Wellington

Holders: Wellington (Senior 1 in 2013)

We welcome information about the Bill Jones Cup

Interclub trophies being contested tomorrow in the Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield are:

Forsyth Trophy: Tawa v Wests Roosters

Holders: Tawa (Premier in 2013)

We welcome information about the Forsyth Trophy

Interclub trophies being contested tomorrow in the Senior 2 National Mutual Cup tomorrow are:

Patterson Memorial Trophy: Hutt Old Boys Marist v Stokes Valley

Holders: Hutt Old Boys Marist

We welcome information about the Patterson Memorial Trophy

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Rugby and the Reform game in the Nineteenth Century

Ahead of tonight's AFL match at Westpac Stadium, it is poignant to note that prior to the formation of the Wellington Rugby Football Union, the game now played in the AFL, then as the 'Reform' game, also had a foothold in Wellington.

It is well known that the WRFU was officially established on Monday, 20 October 1879, following a meeting at the Star Hotel in Wellington.

A key reason why they chose to form the WRFU and when they did was to distinguish themselves from the Reform Football Club who were actively? promoting the Victorian (Australian Rules) version of the game at the time.

The Rules of the new Wellington Rugby Union Football Association were drawn up on the model of the laws in force at the time in England for the Rugby Union Association there.

All Clubs in Wellington were invited to join and submit delegates for the first Annual Meeting of the Association to be held in April the following year (1880) and rugby union became the dominant code in Wellington.