Above: Poneke will be hoping to build on their win last week against the Upper Hutt Rams, while the Rams are back at home and searching for their first victory of the season against Petone. Photo: Peter Mcdonald.  There’s little rest over the Easter long weekend, with club rugby continuing on through. Round 3 of the Swindale Shield is already underway with one game in the books and six more to follow tomorrow with the real contenders looking to separate themselves from the rest at the head of the table...More

Northern United prop Mike Ioapo makes a busting run. PHOTO BY Stewart Baird. Northern United have kicked off the Easter round Swindale Shield rugby by defeating Wellington 33-8 at Jerry Collins Stadium in Porirua tonight. In a scrappy and sometimes fiery affair, the hosts eventually wore down a determined Axmen outfit. Honours were even at halftime, but Norths pulled away in the final quarter to claim the second-half 25-0. Early busts, on opposite wings, by Du’Plessis Kirifi and Denny To’o hinted danger for the visitors...More

Strange nights where I am right now, in Vanuatu. Punctuated by spectacular flashes that at first look like lightning, but which we work out are reflected flashes from an exploding volcano on Ambae island, 70 kilometres away.  As Men At Work once asked, Can’t you hear, Can’t you hear the Thunder? No, no, you can’t – which is even weirder.  So what’s that got to do with Super Rugby? Well, the Hurricanes play the Rebels this Friday.  It’s now round 6 (or 7) and yet this is the first cross-over match between a NZ and Aussie outfit...More

Above: Lise Soloa on the charge for HOBM against Petone last year and inset David Filipo calling the shots in the lineouts. Loyalty and friendship go a long way in binding rugby clubs together. None more so than at Hutt Old Boys Marist, where a core group of players have been together on and off the field since they were young. Loose forward Lise Soloa and lock David Filipo are two mates who have played together throughout their careers. “David’s my best mate,” said Lise. “We have grown up together and started playing for Hutt Valley Marist together at under sixes level and then all through school at St Bernard’s College and in the first XV together...More

Above: Alapati Leiua makes a break against Poneke this week in 2009 - Poneke won their season opener 34-19. In association with Lovelocks Sports Bar on Bond Street in Wellington, some highlights from this week in Wellington club rugby history are below. 27 March 1999: There are 35 tries scored in six matches today’s first round. Defending champions Western Suburbs impress in beating HOBM 34-13, MSP overcomes Avalon 46-14 and Lotu Filemu scores a hat-trick for Petone as they beat Harlequins 48-13...More

Off the Ball is in association with Rob Law Max , Lovelocks Sports Bar,  Motor Doctors and Sarah Kilner Real Estate  Looking at some of the news in briefs, milestones, happenings, statistics and observations from the weekend of rugby just gone and what’s coming up this week. Two rounds in the books and 11 to go in this year’s Wellington club rugby Premier and Premier Reserve first round competitions. The good news is fans only have to wait four days for it to come around again, with the Northern United and Wellington Axemen clubs mutually agreeing to play their third round fixtures under lights at Jerry Collins Stadium on Thursday night...More

Above: Northern United won this lineout, but Hutt Old Boys Marist won the match in today's second round Swindale Shield fixture at Jerry Collins Stadium.  A fired up Wainuiomata set the Swindale Shield alight this afternoon by toppling defending champions OBU 22-20 at home at William Jones Park, while Hutt Old Boys Marist, Tawa and Avalon won their second straight matches to head the standings after two weeks. HOBM rocked to a 47-19 win over Northern United at Jerry Collins Stadium, Tawa beat Ories 39-26 and Avalon defeated Johnsonville 34-10 in a trio of bonus point victories...More

Above: Jamie Booth at halfback playing for Manawatu against Wellington in a NPC pre-season fixture last year. Photo by Dave Lintott Photography.  "You've got to be resilient and take heart from the small victories," Jamie Booth suggests to those battling adversity. June 1, 2013, Booth is playing for his Varsity club side in Palmerston North when tragedy strikes.  "I went to clear the ball from a ruck and my left leg got shackled under some bodies. The clean out happened and knocked me to the ground...More

Above: The HOBM Eagles will be gunning for from two, but the Upper Hutt Rams and six other contenders will want to notch their opening wins tomorrow. After last weekend’s opening Gala Day in Upper Hutt normal service resumes tomorrow with club grounds playing host to Premier rugby. Seven sides will be looking to continue their winning starts to the season, while the seven others will be after their first wins of the campaign. Premier Swindale Shield This week’s Premier preview starts in the northern suburbs at leafy Lyndhurst Park where Tawa hosts Oriental-Rongotai...More

Ah, the joy of sitting back and watching the other Kiwi teams batter themselves. Strictly I am not watching it as the internet here in Vanuatu is problematical right now. But I can sense – alright, read the reports – that the Highlanders versus the Crusaders was a great derby. It is still early of course, but the game did two things. Obviously, it’s set up this Saturday as a battle royale at Westpac, and the chance to settle who is top dog out of the blocks in the NZ conference...More