Petone win McBain as part of tight round of matches

Results & Standings HERE 

The Petone clubrooms were packed late this afternoon following the home side’s 32-24 win over Hutt Old Boys Marist in the 85th McBain Shield encounter between the two clubs.

Three pile up Petone tries and six lead changes were the major talking points of McBain.

The turning point occurred with about 20 minutes remaining and when Hutt Old Boys Marist led 24-20. Branyden Laursen had a hand penalty directly in front 25-metres out and cannoned the ball into the left hand upright.

Two Petone penalties later and a maul try had the home team in front 25-24 and riding a wave of sudden momentum to the finish.

The Petone maul would be a weapon that struck at pivotal moments. Down 18-13 at halftime, Petone rumbled over from 25-metres out to warn the Eagles that their sometimes-leaky midfield defence would not be emulated in the forward confines.

Petone halfback Logan Henry opened the scoring with a penalty before a slashing break by elusive Hutt centre Tomasi Alosio stunned the home crowd.

Petone captain Jack Ross was at the heart of the Villagers forward industry and he profited from nimble Tupou Sopoaga hands to crack the Eagles defence.

HOBM looked to play with width and speed in the first half and a try out wide to wing Todd Svenson justified that approach and saw a 12-10 lead established.

Up 18-13 at halftime Hutt changed their strategy to a more ‘around the corner’ method but found holes hard to find. However, penalties were frequent as the Eagles controlled territory and regained the ascendancy.

The Petone bench is a growing weapon and the impact of Josh Houston-Tupou (replacing injured captain Jacob Gooch), halfback Cam Ferreira and prop Niko Manaena was palpable.

The winning try was scored by Manaena after a thrust by Fullback Piri Paraone ended narrowly short.

Other standouts were hooker Jarrrod Hirstich who missed three lineout throws in the first half before swapping to flanker and playing like a man posseted. Lock Vern Sosefo was a busy and bustling presence alongside powerhouse tighthead Pasi Uluilakepa.  Henry and Paraone were perhaps the pick of the Petone backs.

For Hutt hooker Ben Power and lock David Fillipo were industrious while Alosio starved of the ball in the second half could have had further impact of the game.

Petone’s win was one of a clutch of close wins in a tightly contested sixth round of Swindale Shield matches that saw one draw and three other games decided inside the margin of victory of a try.

The result of today’s action is there now a four-way tie at the top of the standings, with Petone, Marist St Pat’s, Old Boys University and Tawa all on 24 points.

Northern United beat Tawa 5-0 for the Sammy Saili Memorial Trophy, a glorious eighth minute try to second five-eighth Kienan Higgins the difference at Porirua Park.

Both sides blew numerous chances in the Battle of the Bridge fixture, that was dominated by the referee’s whistle and numerous scrum re-sets throughout the game. Tawa were left rueing three distinct periods of being in total control and camped inside the Norths 22. But each time they failed to come up with any reward.

The game finally opened up somewhat over the final 10 minutes, during which time both teams missed tries in the opposing far corners that would have levelled the scores with the kick to come (Tawa, foot in touch) or sealed victory (Norths, knock-on with line open). Earlier, Tawa were held up over the line at least twice and bundled into touch at least twice more, while Norths were not without their chances, the closest being centre Jayden McCarthy crossing but also held up in a try-saving tackle.

Marist St Pat’s came from behind to beat Old Boys University 22-18 in their Jack Lamason Trophy fixture at Evans Bay Park on MSP’s Old Timers’ Day.

OBU led MSP 15-8 at halftime. after a flurry of scoring midway through the first half saw MSP halfback Ken Kapeli crossing for the game’s first try, followed by OBU scoring from the next re-start and then OBU halfback Kyle Preston scoring a try from a chip kick. OBU advanced their lead to 18-14 through penalties, before MSP hit the lead through a try to flanker James Tuia and then a match-sealing dropped goal to flyhalf Aidan Morgan.

Paremata-Plimmerton were presented with a late penalty try to beat the Johnsonville Hawks 23-20 on their Old Timers’ Day at Ngati Toa Domain.

The Upper Hutt Rams scored a try out-wide late in the game to draw level 19-19 with the Wellington Axemen. The conversion was missed and that was the final score on the Axemen’s Old Timers’ Day at Hataitai Park.

Poneke beat the Avalon Wolves 29-18 at Fraser Park, with No.8 Brandon Feterika in tankish form in scoring two tries. Poneke were faster out of the blocks than Avalon, scoring the game’s first two tries and going to a 17-8 halftime lead. Poneke pulled ahead again, before Chris Aumua scored to peg the deficit back to 24-15, before a Tony Smith runaway try sealed victory for Poneke.

Oriental-Rongotai were the day’s biggest winners on the scoreboard, beating Wainuiomata 46-19 on their Old Timers’ Day at the Polo Ground.

The Ories Premier Women’s side had beaten the Avalon She-Wolves 114-0 in the first match of the day on the Polo Ground in the sixth round of the Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy.

The OBU Impalas defeated Hutt Old Boys Marist 29-25 at Nairnville Park and the Petone Ponies beat Marist St Pat’s 44-36.

Norths beat Poneke by default.

Norths retained their unbeaten record at the head of the Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield – but just.

Norths kicked a penalty with the last play of the game to beat Tawa 24-23. This was after Tawa had kicked a late penalty to go up 23-21, and after Norths had come back from 0-17 down at halftime to score three tries and lead 21-20.

MSP and Ories are just behind Norths with five wins from six, after MSP beat OBU 29-8 and Ories overcame Wainuiomata 41-5.

Elsewhere, Poneke beat Avalon 40-14, HOBM beat Petone’s top team 46-22, Johnsonville beat Paremata-Plimmerton 40-18 and Stokes Valley beat the Petone Brotherhood 44-24.

There was a minor upset in the Paris Memorial Trophy Colts grade with Tawa beating Norths Blue 19-17.

Petone Blue beat the HOBM Green side 31-17 to slip into second on the standings behind OBU Green who had their bye.

Meanwhile, OBU Black beat Poneke 61-10, whilst Norths White beat Johnsonville 36-25 and the Upper Hutt Rams beat Wellington 44-10.

In the U85kg JC Bowl, MSP took down the Avalon Light-Wolves and defending champions 29-12.

The Upper Hutt Rams have eased into the competition lead with their 53-19 win over the OBU Scallywags in a top of the table encounter. In other games, Wellington beat neighbours Poneke 38-19 and Eastbourne pipped the Wests Roosters 29-25.

In round one of the Premiership First XV college season, Rongotai College held off Aotea College 19-18 in the closest match of the day.

At the other end of the scales, Scots College weighed in on Wairarapa College to win 58-3 and St Bernard’s College beat Tawa College 55-27.

Wellington College scored four converted tries, two in each half, in subduing the spirited challenge of Mana College 28-17. Wellington College led 14-5 at halftime.

Round two starts on Wednesday with St Pat’s Silverstream playing Wellington College.

College Rugby Draws & Results HERE