Lunchtime updates: The Wellington club rugby Jubilee Cup and Hardham Cup finals are this Saturday at Porirua Park.
In the deciding consolation Hardham Cup final, Oriental-Rongotai and Od Boys University will meet and Petone and Northern United will contest the championship Jubilee Cup, Petone and Northern United. Kick-off times both to be officially confirmed, but we understand 12.30pm and 3.00pm.
A third final this coming Saturday sees Stokes Valley and Petone’s second side meeting for the Premier 2, Division 2 HD Morgan Memorial. Time and venue for this to be confirmed.
The first round Paris Memorial Cup Colts final comes down to a ‘virtual final’ for the silverware this coming Saturday, between Petone and Old Boys University Green at the Petone Rec at 1.00pm.
Plus full rounds of rugby in Premier 2, Division 1, U85kg Division 3 and Reserve Grade, while several Wellington Division 1 and 2 U85kg teams meet each other in National Knockout Cup matches.
It’s the second week of school holidays, so no competition school rugby again this coming Saturday. But St Pat’s Town are playing St John’s Hastings at Arena Manawatu at 1.00pm in their rescheduled traditional.
For more about the above and everything else see our preview at the end of the week.
+++++
Petone fullback and winning try-scorer on Saturday Ben Brooking has started 14 of Petone’s 15 games this year. Only Carne Green can match that record.
+++++
Most points in a Jubilee Cup semi-final last 20 years (since our complete records started):
28: Jackson Garden-Bachop, Norths (38) v HOBM (24) 2022
25: AJ Va’alepu, Norths (29) v Poneke (3) 2011
23: Sam Clarke, Norths (53) v Petone (22) 2020
18: James So’oialo, Norths (38) v HOBM (13) 2010
17: Fa’atonu Fili, MSP (27) v Tawa (23) 2015
+++++
Because we love lineout drives!
+++++
The clickbait media was in super-overdrive yesterday. Being predominantly government funded, why do these organisations need to worry about hits? Perhaps the worst of the lot was the state television operation that peered their cameras through the Inter-Continental hotel in Wellington whilst the All Blacks were having breakfast.
Poneke’s Jamie Wall wrote an enlightening piece on his Radio New Zealand website yesterday though. Worth a read, and his message can just as well apply to many provincial rugby unions who know who they are. Read more HERE
+++++
College Old Boys won the Manawatu Hankins Shield final on Saturday, beating Old Boys Marist 24-5.
With new Manawatu flyhalf Sam Clarke (see most points in a semi-final list above, no relation to Helen below) out, College Old Boys first five Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula was a leading player for the winning team. First year out of school from St Andrew’s in Christchurch, he will feature in Manawatu’s upcoming representative teams.
This was College Old Boys’ 30th Hankins Shield title win.
+++++
The mascot has landed:
GET HYPED 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/BSIiz6IkGk
— USA Rugby (@USARugby) July 16, 2022
Chile beat the USA 31-29 in a heart-breaker for the home side – to qualify for next year’s Rugby World Cup.
+++++
High drama in the Horowhenua-Kapiti Ramsbotham Cup semi-finals on Saturday.
Waikanae safely negotiated the challenge of Levin College Old Boys 36-24 at home but Shannon and Rāhui drew 23-23. They then played extra time and they were still al square so the next countback was who scored the most tries. Shannon outscored Rahui four tries to three to progess to this coming weekend’s final on neutral territory on the Levin Domain.
+++++
In the Whanganui club rugby final at Cooks Gardens, Border upset Taihape 16-15 – to win a three-peat of titles, only the third team to do this.
+++++
Some more club rugby finals results from around the country:
Taradale beat Napier Tech 33-28 in overtime in the Hawke’s Bay Maddison Trophy final.
Manurewa beat Patumahoe 22-16 in the Counties-Manukau club rugby McNamara Cup final.
Hamilton Old Boys beat Fraser Tech 27-26 in the Waikato Premier club rugby final.
Takapuna beat North Shore 29-19 to win the North Harbour final.
Woodlands beat Pirates Old Boys 28-27 to win Southland’s Galbraith Shield.
+++++
When media organisations have “exclusive” rights, which is insidious enough on its own, but when they don’t exercise those rights everyone loses.
Shout out to the @WgtnRugby Pride fans around the rohe & motu. Disappointingly the #ETuWhānauFootyShow won’t be at JCS for live commentary @farahpalmercup v Canterbury apōpō As @SKYNZ & @nzme haven’t given us permission. 🥲 @BlackFerns @ClubRugby
— Te Upoko o Te Ika 🎙 (@TeUpokoRadio) July 15, 2022
+++++
The Wellington Pride found out they are 40 points off the pace in their loss to Canterbury in the opening weekend of the Farah Palmer Cup. This coming weekend they play Counties Manukau away, who lost by 20 points to Auckland.
+++++
A Billy Wallace Best & Fairest competition update could be interesting this week.
+++++
Clifton versus Tukapa in the Taranaki final this coming final – and the TRFU are charging a $10 entry fee.
+++++
Petone was last in the Jubilee Cup final in 2005. What happened in 2005?
We Belong Together by Mariah Carey topped the Billboard charts.
- A regular litre of petrol was $1.76.
- Pope John Paull II passed away.
- The leading points scorer in the Jubilee Cup was Poneke’s Brad Cooper with precisely 100.
- Makybe Diva retired after winning her third and final Melbourne Cup.
- Helen Clarke won a third term and the Foreshore and seabed legislation came into effect.
+++++
The only teams to win a test series in New Zealand are:
The 1937 Springboks lost the first test but beat the All Blacks in a three-match series 2-1. South Africa beat Australia 2-0 prior to their arrival. On the whole tour they won 27 of 29 games.
The 1949 Wallabies beat the All Blacks twice but it should be noted that many of the leading All Blacks were in South Africa. On September 3, 1949, the All Blacks lost to Australia and South Africa on the same day!
The 1971 Lions prevailed 2-1 in a four-match series. The final test was drawn 14-14 at Eden Park.
The 1986 Wallabies thrashed New Zealand 22-9 at Eden Park to secure a 2-1 victory in a three-match series. Infamous broadcaster Alan Jones was the Australian coach.
The 1994 French series was famous for the debut of Jonah Lomu, aged 19, in Christchurch and the “try from the end of the world” to win the deciding fixture at Eden Park.
+++++
The Black Ferns 134-6 victory over Germany at the 1998 World Cup was the world record for the biggest victory in a women’s international until July 2022 when Fijiana beat Papua New Guinea 152-0 in the Oceania Women’s Championship.
The Fijiana 15s side created history, scoring the third-highest points in both Men’s and Women’s Rugby, thumping Papua New Guinea 152-nil in the today.
Fiji was first to score at the kick-off, and within the next half an hour, they were already up by 57-nil. The Fijiana scored a total of 24 tries, taking full control of the match with their trademark fast rugby pace to a 72-0 lead at halftime.
Tries were from Fulori Nabura, Mereoni Vonosere, Talei Wilson, Evivi Senikaviri, Sulita Waisega, Vika Matarugu, Adita Milinia, Reijieli Laqereqeretabua, Joma Rubuti, Bulou Vasuturaga, Ilisapeci Delaiwau, Kolora Lomani, Merewalesi Rokouono, Unaisi Tagabale, and Vitalina Naikore.
Naikore, Rokouono, and Wainikiti Vosadrau converted 15 tries between them.
In 2002 Argentina walloped Paraguay 152-0 while Japan thrashed Chinese Taipei 155-3, however, Hong Kong holds the record for most points following its 164-13 demolition of Singapore in 1994. Ashley Billington scored 10 tries.
+++++
Argentina fought back to beat Scotland 34-31 in a thrilling test this weekend. South Africa beat Wales 30-14 and England beat Australia 21-17 in their third and deciding tests. Uruguay beat Romania 26-20. Georgia beat Portugal 23-14.
+++++
The flights are ready for South Africa! ✈️
Congratulations to @PortugalRugby, @WelshRugbyUnion, @RugbyDeu, and @IrishRugby for securing their places at the #RWC7s! 👏 pic.twitter.com/KXYmRp8SrA
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) July 17, 2022