![](https://clubrugby.nz/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Webp.net-gifmaker.gif")
Draws & Results HERE
#2 – OBU v J’ville
#3 – Petone v Marist St Pats
#4 – Poneke v Pare-Plim
#5 – Tawa v Ories
#6 – Upper Hutt Rams v Avalon
#7 – Wainui v Wellington
+++++
Fair play to the Petone Brotherhood Premier Reserve side. One of two sides that opted to step up to the second-tier competition when it became apparent their usual competition – the First Grade – wouldn’t run this year rather than go the other way and drop into Reserve grade, the team comprised mainly of blokes who play the game for the fun of it faced the impossible task of taking on a rampant Norths team stacked with Premier players. The resulting 122-7 scoreline was certainly steep, but no reflection on the Petone players who as a group also visited the Norths clubrooms after the game.
For all the comment about it not being a great look, at least they’ve fronted up.
+++++
That last line also applies to the Wellington Colts, who were also on the receiving end of a three-figure scoreline at the hands of their Norths ‘A’ counterparts, a week after conceding 80 to HOBM. Many other clubs have eschewed playing in the age-grade this year, and the Axemen could have been forgiven for thinking they’d be playing in a second division rather than a single top-flight.
+++++
A rough afternoon for the Wellington Axemen Premiers at Norths on Saturday, held scoreless for the first time since Round 11 of the 2018 Swindale Shield when they were beaten 55-0 by Petone. That’s 28 matches ago. Wellington has not conceded more than 77 points since rejoining the Swindale Shield in 2014.
+++++
The high scoring extended to college rugby in the match between Upper Hutt College and Hutt Valley High School. Upper Hutt won 91-0.
+++++
An unorthodox approach taken by the Petone Women on Saturday to put their team together, with Pride and Manu Sina lock Mary-Lee Sa’u lining up at second-five with her rep teammate and longtime Ories hooker Alicia Print debuting for her new club at centre after an extended break from the game. It paid dividends with a 51-0 win over Avalon.
But what must be concerning for those remaining at WRFU HQ is the parlous state of some teams. Both Petone and Paremata-Plimmerton could barely muster a XV and Avalon only a couple more, while Poneke couldn’t at all in defaulting to Ories.
+++++
They’ve long-threatened to, but this year no fewer than three sides from the Porirua basin will contest the College Premiership with Aotea returning and being joined by both Tawa and Mana. For the latter, it represents a remarkable return for a school that with TJ Perenara at the helm and coached by his father Thomas regularly contested the title a decade ago, but had fallen far from that perch in the years since. With Porirua College – beaten by Aotea in Saturday’s qualifying match – likely to again be one of the front runners in Premier 2, their should be some entertaining clashes in the north of the province this year.
+++++
HOBM’s Brandyn Laursen took home a 32-point haul on Saturday. That’s more than Avalon, Johnsonville, and Paremata-Plimmerton have each managed across the opening three weeks of the year
+++++
Some close games in the Reserve Grade competition on Saturday. This could be the most competitive grade of them all?
+++++
+++++
Pōneke Football Club Gala Dinner and Fundraiser
SAVE THE DATE: Circle Friday 7th August in your calendar, grab your friends and associates to book a table for the fundraising event of the year!
Please join us as we celebrate our 2020 “Return to Rugby” with a Gala Dinner and Fundraiser. We are thrilled to announce our Host for the evening is Newshub journalist and former Pōneke U85kgs player Patrick ‘Paddy’ Gower with current All Blacks Coach Ian Foster and Sky Sports Anchor Jeff ‘Goldie’ Wilson.
*Mingle with Colesy and Nisbo during pre-dinner drinks and canapés
*Entertainment provided by upcoming super star Annie Jamieson – fresh (and absolutely post quarantined) from New York
Wellington Rugby and Business Personality Grant Cederwall from Tommys will auction:
1 monogrammed jersey from Pōneke’s own Hollywood connection @Taika Waititi,
1 autographed Jersey from the NZ @Black Ferns,
1 autographed artwork by local artist and Former Pōneke Premier Player Ally Paine
1 autographed Pōneke FC Premier Jersey by All Blacks Hooker Dane Coles with his picture embossed on the front
Signed copies of Pōneke FC player and media personality Jamie Walls latest book “Facing the Haka”.
And many other items including Experience Vouchers and Holiday Home Weekends around NZ.
+++++
Spare a thought for the Upper Hutt Rams Colts side, whose season hasn’t actually started yet. Their opening round opposition Marist St Pat’s pulled the pin on the grade at the last minute and they had their bye on Saturday. They open their season this Saturday against OBU’s second team at Maidstone Park. OBU have had two matches so far, beating Tawa and losing to Petone.
The Ories Women’s team will also have two weeks off, after being defaulted to on Friday by Poneke and having their bye this coming Saturday in the Premier Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy grade.
Then there is the St Mary’s College First XV, that has had their fair share of defaults against them and cancellations over the past few years, to the point where a lack of rugby and match practice probably cost them a place in the Top 4 two years ago when they lost to Manukura for the first time in the Hurricanes final. It is only ‘pre-season’ with the competition starting up next term, but this past Wednesday their game was cancelled, not because of a lack of opposition but because they had nowhere to play. With Te Whaea currently closed for maintenance, their allocated ground at Hataitai Park was closed by the council.
+++++
When they knocked down the statue of Hamilton, Don Clarke might have been a suitable replacement or perhaps Jordie Barrett with his Boot-like penalty on Sunday.
Jordie Barrett’s 58-metre penalty might be the longest kick seen in Hamilton since Frans Steyn landed a 60-metre bomb for South Africa against the All Blacks in 2009.
He has come a long way since we first saw him a few years ago on a windy day at Evans Bay Artificial playing for Francis Douglas Memorial College against St Pat’s Town when he was almost blown over several times owing to his lean frame.
+++++
The lengths that Club Rugby covers the games on Saturdays was highlighted on Saturday with one contributor swapping rugby for motor racing on the way home and another’s laptop blowing up on arrival home.
After negotiating the Haywards, a mix of 50 kmh roadworks sections and 80 kmh zones, Steven White was heading along Grays Road east to west en route to his Kapiti Coast base only to be pulled over and presented with a speeding ticket for doing 83 in a 60 zone. Oops. Photographer Andy McArthur reported he got home from Kilbirnie Park and his laptop wouldn’t turn on. He later got his old laptop out and managed to get some of his photos up and out there on Instagram, with a full gallery to come later today.
+++++
Another rugby game under cover in Dunedin and another loser streaker. Read more HERE
Plus the previous streaker has been glorified in an interview with former Radio Sport hosts Marc Peard and Nathan Rarere – no wonder RS rolled over in under a week when the lockdown started.
“Ever since a young kid I’ve always been streaking here and there. But this was probably my big break – first time to crack the big scenes. It was a good opportunity to get out there with the boys,” he joked.
To repeat, the only thing that needs cracking his criminal record and his bank balance, like elsewhere in the world, not glorified. Why is that so hard?
+++++
The July Rugby News is out now. All that you need is on page 39.
+++++
is the Billy Wallace Best & Fairest competition still happening this year?
+++++
Three blowouts and two tight fixtures in the latest round of Hawke’s Bay club rugby.
Napier Old Boys Marist beat Clive 36-34 (see video highlights below) and MAC beat Napier Tech 32-31. Elsewhere, Hastings beat Napier Pirates 44-5, leaders Taradale beat Central 54-21 and Havelock North defeated Tamatea 73-20.
+++++
Below: the tightest try of the season so far?
A fair try for us.
