A week ago Hutt Old Boys Marist would have pencilled in for themselves another four or five competition points from this week’s round five Swindale Shield fixture with Old Boys-University at the Prime Finance Basin Reserve. After all the Hutt high-flyers began 2006 by upstaging three of the top four 2005 Jubilee Cup sides, before overhauling third placed Marist St. Pats for a 29-28 win last week. On a role, HOBM need one more win to secure their place in the top eight. However, OBU’s surprise winning result in round four makes a fifth win on the trot for the Eagles less certain...More

In a round full of surprises, Old Boys-University and Tawa both set the Swindale alight with unexpected big wins over more fancied opposition. OBU and Tawa were the giant killers in a remarkable pair of round four results, both sweeping past their opposition with disdain, OBU for their first win in almost two years, Tawa against defending Jubilee Cup champions Petone. OBU ended their 19-game Swindale Shield losing streak in style by thrashing Western Suburbs 52-17 at Ian Galloway Park and consigning Wests to their previously occupied wooden spoon position on the points table...More

It's been a bright start to the 2006 Swindale Shield for Hutt Old Boys Marist. The Eagles are the early joint leaders with Northern United, having played and beaten three of the top four Jubilee Cup teams from last year. After beating Poneke 28-18 and then Upper Hutt 32-29, they took the scalp of Cup champions Petone 24-13 in round three. This week HOBM play perennial contenders Marist St. Pats for the Father Cleary Shield at the Hutt Recreation Ground in what shapes for them as another clash of the titans...More

Northern United and Hutt Old Boys Marist are the joint leaders after three rounds of the Swindale Shield. With 14 competition points, unbeaten Norths and HOBM are four points clear of third placed Marist St. Pats, after contrasting Easter weekend victories over Western Suburbs and Petone respectively.HOBM fought hard for a popular 24-13 victory over big brother neighbours Petone in their McBain Shield clash at the Petone Recreation Ground, while Norths ran in eight tries at home to dispatch Wests 58-10 in this week’s feature game...More

Three teams remain unbeaten after a closely fought opening two rounds of the Swindale Shield. Last year’s Jubilee Cup finalists Petone and Northern United, along with Hutt Old Boys Marist are the early front-runners. The stage is set then for a fast action round three match-up between Petone and HOBM at the Petone Recreation Ground, where the 74-year-old McBain Shield is on the line. Holders Petone head into this game fresh from a Tana Umaga-inspired 31-5 win over Old Boys-University, following on from a 15-13 victory against Marist St...More

Hutt Old Boys Marists’ Michael Pihi and Petone’s Tana Umaga were the two star attractions in round two of Wellington premier rugby. Pehi’s try-scoring feats and Umaga’s on-field presence helped their respective sides to second successive Swindale Shield wins. Umaga’s rare club rugby appearance, off the bench at second five-eighth, helped Petone to a 31-5 win against Old Boys-University at Nairnville Park. Left wing Pehi scored four tries and helped create another as HOBM defeated Upper Hutt 32-29 in the match of the round at the Hutt Recreation Ground...More

This week’s feature Swindale Shield match sees Hutt Old Boys Marist hosting defending champions Upper Hutt at the Hutt Recreation Ground. HOBM were the convincing first round victors in a set of otherwise close matches, with a come-from-behind 28-18 victory over Poneke at Kilbirnie Park. With four converted second half tries they were the only first up bonus point winners. With Upper Hutt also starting their new season on a winning note with a 24-17 win over Old Boys-University at Maidstone Park both teams will want to maintain their positive starts...More

Hutt Old Boys Marist were the significant winners in round one of the 2006 Swindale Shield in a closely fought set of opening round matches this weekend. HOBM ran in four second half tries to beat Poneke 28-18 away at Kilbirnie Park, after Poneke had led the Eagles 8-0 at halftime.The result could have gone the other way in four of the other five venues, with only Upper Hutt emerging as clear-cut winners over Old Boys-University, 24-17 at Maidstone Park. Only a late flurry of scoring from OBU narrowed the margin...More

Look out for a new wave of talent to stamp its mark on Wellington club rugby in the 2006 premier competition, which kicks off this weekend with the first round of the Swindale Shield. New Zealand’s new domestic competition structure, players going overseas and retirements have all increased player emigration from Wellington’s club rugby ranks this season. Some familiar faces will be missing from the team sheets of several clubs this year. Upper Hutt appear to be the most affected by a player drain, with at least ten players from their winning Swindale Shield side unavailable, including forwards Mike Robinson and Nathan Russell (both retired), Justin Va’a and Joe Ritchie (England) and backs Cory Aporo (Bay of Plenty), Chris Puketapu (Canterbury) and Brad Baker (Australia)...More

The 2005 Hardham Cup was won by Oriental-Rongotai on Sunday, rounding off a great second half of the season for the side. The team never really looked in doubt as they confidently sailed to a 38-16 win over Johnsonville at Westpac Stadium.The game began quickly with Ories wasting no time, as fullback Justin Wilson ran in his first try in for the day illustrating that they had come to play. A penalty put Ories out to a comfortable eight point lead until top point?s scorer and stand out player Corey Burt slotted three consecutive penalties for Johnsonville, snatching the lead from the Ories side...More