Above: Petone's Daniel Kirkpatrick was in hot form on Saturday against Norths on Saturday, scoring a try in the first minute of play and, alongside halfback Nua Fono-Hunt, helping to direct a confident backline. Photo courtesy of Chris Clifton.The Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles have emerged on top of a congested Swindale Shield points table after yet another thrilling round of matches on Saturday that saw three of the six match matches decided in the dying moments and two others being desperate struggles that were not entirely reflected on the scoreboards...More

Wet weather has struck Wellington this week but it hasn't dampened supporters' enthusiasm for this weekend's round seven set of Wellington club rugby matches. This Saturday's action features three club Old Timers' Days, three more interclub trophies contested in the Premier and Senior 2 grades, a top of the table Swindale Shield clash between Hutt Old Boys Marist and Upper Hutt and the first trophy presentation of the year in the Premier Women's grade. Northern United, the Wests Roosters and the Wellington FC are all holding their Old Timers' Days and their respective top teams all have much to play for in their respective Swindale Shield and National Mutual Cup matches...More

Former Samoan and Pacific Islands international and Wainuiomata stalwart Justin Va'a recently played his 100th game for the green and blacks. We spoke to him about reaching his personal milestone and about his club's current strong form. Tighthead prop Va'a said that there's much to be proud of at the moment at Wainuiomata's clubrooms, with their top team riding high in the Swindale Shield and their second fifteen leading the Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield. "We've got depth in a lot of areas at the moment and the competition within our wider squad is keeping everyone honest, "Va'a said...More

Midway through the first round, the 2012 Swindale Shield is fast unraveling as one of the closest in recent years. Results on Saturday proved again that teams are delivering on the field when they most need to, resulting in five teams being within striking distance of the lead and further down the table the race to finish inside the top eight heating up considerably. Features of the sixth round set of matches, played in bright autumnal sunshine, were decisive wins for Northern United over Hutt Old Boys Marist and Marist St Pat's over Oriental-Rongotai, a much-needed win for Poneke over the Wests Roosters and a draw at Williams Jones Park between home side Wainuiomata and Old Boys-University...More

As the Swindale Shield reaches its halfway point, two nearby games at Evans Bay and Kilbirnie Parks are key matches this weekend. At Evans Bay Park it's the battle of eastern suburbs heavyweights Marist St Pat's and Oriental? Rongotai, both hoping to remain firmly in the hunt for first round title honours. Across the road at Kilbirnie Park the match between home team Poneke and the Wests Roosters could ultimately have a direct bearing on the race to make the top eight for several contenders as well as themselves...More

UPDATED SUNDAY: The Wests Roosters threw the 2012 Swindale Shield wide open on Saturday by upsetting defending first round champions Northern United 27-11 at Ian Galloway Park. The Roosters stung Norths two tries to one in the Cage, scoring the only try of the first half to lead 11-6 at the break and then pulling away in the second half through penalties and a their second try. The return of Hurricanes openside flanker Scott Fuglistaller from injury and the inclusion of fellow Hurricanes Wider Squad Member Blade Thompson at No...More

Wellington club rugby players and fans alike have barely have had time to come up for air after Wednesday's rugby before it resumes on Saturday with the fifth round set of matches in the top three grades and all other competitions in full flight. Four days on from a thrilling and hard fought ANZAC Day round, Wellington's leading players will lace up their boots and do it all again in the Premier Swindale Shield, Harper Lock Shield and National Mutual Cup competitions. The action also continues in earnest with second round games in the Fleurs Trophy Women's Premier, the Senior 3 JDR Cup and the U85KG Restricted competitions, while the opening rounds of the Colts John E Kelly Memorial Trophy and JRD Cup are this weekend...More

Wainuiomata prop Justin Va'a scoring one of his side's tries against Ories. Wainuiomata beat Ories 37-20 and won the Bill Brien Challenge Cup.? Wainuiomata, Hutt Old Boys Marist and Upper Hutt were all bonus point winners on Wednesday's ANZAC Day set of fourth round Swindale Shield matches played in bright sunshine, that saw three hat tricks and plenty of exciting and absorbing rugby in equal measure. HOBM and Upper Hutt kept their unbeaten runs alive with emphatic wins over Petone and Rimtuaka respectively in front of bumper crowds, while Wainuiomata won the Bill Brien Challenge Cup with a resounding victory over defending champions Oriental-Rongotai at the Polo Ground...More

Wellington club rugby fans can expect a blockbusting set of round four Swindale Shield, Harper Lock Shield and National Mutual Cup matches on ANZAC Day on Wednesday. The midweek round of matches, the first in Wellington club rugby since 2003, also doubles as Derby Day with several mouthwatering match-ups predicted around the region. In five of six Swindale Shield matches on Wednesday the home team hosts their nearest neighbour with several big traditional clashes taking place all at once, including the first at Premier level between Upper Hutt and Rimutaka...More

Marist St. Pat's and Tawa scored decisive victories and Hutt Old Boys Marist and Oriental-Rongotai won big in the third round of Wellington Premier Swindale Shield matches on Saturday. MSP got up late to grab an exciting 35-27 win over defending first round champions Northern United away at Porirua Park and Tawa earned their opening win of the year with an emphatic bonus point 35-12 victory over Old Boys University at Lyndhurst Park. HOBM flew past the Wests Roosters 66-7 at Ian Galloway Park and Ories out played minnows Rimutaka 56-5 at Maoribank Park...More