Tries of the Season: Men’s Club Rugby Part 1

Above: Pepesana Patafilo streaks clear to score one of his two tries for Tawa against Marist St Pat’s in early May. PHOTO: Barry Stead.

A torrent of tries were scored this season in Wellington club rugby.

In the first part of our try-scoring clips highlights this year, we take a look at some of action from the Swindale Shield.

1.Petone started 2019 with much promise, taking down Tawa 41-22 on their own home patch at Lyndhurst Park on the opening afternoon of the Swindale Shield, with Willie Fine bagging a brace:

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2. Esi Komaisavai grabbed this winning try at the end of the match in Northern United’s 30-25 win over Old Boys University in week 2, in what was a replay of the previous year’s final:

3. HOBM centre Jordan-Glen Bradbrook scorched through to score this clutch try in their 36-34 win over Poneke in what was an early season top-of-table-clash at Kilbirnie Park. This fixture lived up to its billing, as soon-to-be Swindale Shield champions HOBM raced ahead early and led 36-19 midway through the second half, only for Poneke to come roaring back and almost snatch a draw.

4. Left wing Rueben Va’a scored a try from club rugby heaven in his side’s entertaining 32-25 win over Northern United at Jerry Collins Stadium in the sixth round of the Swindale Shield. Ories had led 22-15 at halftime but both sides launched sublime passages of play in the second spell to spark the late April crowd. 

5. Pepesana Patafilo scored two classy, clinical and determined tries for Tawa when they hosted Marist St Pat’s in early May. The tries were in a losing effort, with MSP winning this Swindale Shield match 46-29 in a 6 tries to 5 spectacle. Patafilo later played several eye-catching games in the NPC for the Wellington Lions.

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6. Salesi Rayasi scored this match clinching try in HOBM’s Swindale Shield Round Round 9 41-31 win over Ories –  the game and probably the try that gave HOBM the first round title with the following week’s final round set of matches to spare.

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Still to come in the ‘Tries of the Season’ series: Men’s club rugby tries parts 2 and 3, Women’s tries, College rugby/First XV tries and Representative rugby tries.