Sideline Conversions 24 July (some rugby news and information to start the week)

A big weekend on the community rugby calendar has come to a close – but there’s still much more to come in the coming several weeks.

This coming Saturday sees the Wellington club rugby Colts Finals Day. Details of these three games being played at one single venue, or separately with home field advantage to come.

In the Division 1 John E Kelly Cup, Tawa (ranked fourth at the end of the first round) play Old Boys University Green (seventh). In the Division 2 Vic Calcinai Cup the Upper Hutt Rams (fifth) and Poneke (eighth) meet. Norths and Wainuiomata are scheduled to play in the Division 3 decider.

It needs clarifying, but it appears that the finals of the Reserve Grade competition might also be this weekend, where the Upper Hutt Rams J8s would play the Poneke Ruffnuts in the John Davies Cup final. The J8s beat the MSP Internationals 14-3 in this past weekend’s 1 v 4 match and the Ruffnuts defeated the Johnsonville Cripples 27-19 in the 2 v 3 game.

What is certain is that it’s the last round of the Premiership First XV competition this coming weekend. As expected, Scots College (1) and St Pat’s Silverstream (2) will host the semi-finals next weekend. But their opponents are still to be confirmed. There are four teams still mathematically in with chances to secure these final two spots, these being HIBS (currently on 24 points), Wairarapa College (22), Wellington College (21) and St Pat’s Town (20). This coming Saturday’s fixtures see HIBS and St Pat’s Town meet in Upper Hutt, Wairarapa travelling to play Rongotai and Wellington College travelling to play Tawa College.

In Premier 2, St Pat’s Silverstream have already wrapped up the top qualifier’s berth with eight straight bonus point wins, but a group of schools headed by Wellington College are chasing the other three spots.

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Wellington Lions NPC squad and represeantive teams squads such as U19s, Centurions etc named later this week.

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Two tries just prior to halftime that won the #Jubilee Cup final. Both by @oriesrugby No. 8 Siaosi Lavea. Ories beat @ParePlimRugby 34-21.
📽️Full highlights: https://t.co/whpwKm20Mp pic.twitter.com/zZN0hUkCsI

— ClubRugby (@ClubRugby) July 23, 2023

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The Wellington Lions also travel to rural Taranaki to play their opening NPC pre-season hit-out this coming Saturday. Kick-off at the Manaia Domain is 2.00pm on Saturday.

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Auckland have won 29 of their last 30 matches against the Wellington Pride who missed a royal chance to win yesterday’s FPC meeting. Auckland was down to 13 players in the final 10 minutes and the hosts turned down a penalty scoring attempt right in front 10m out. The last time Wellington beat Auckland in the FPC was the 2006 final.

The Pride are 0/2 to start to the new season as they turn to host Counties Manukau at the Hutt Recreation Ground this coming Saturday in round three. Counties Manukau have played one game, accounting for Bay of Plenty 51-5 on Saturday.

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There is a big Schoolgirls First XV match in Wellington on Wednesday between St Mary’s College and Manukura. Details to come.

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The lowest ranked qualifier has won six of the last eight Jubilee Cup finals. Norths were ranked ahead of Wainuiomata in 2019 and OBU won over HOBM in 2017 with a higher ranking coming in.

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The Hurricanes Youth Council’s represeantive and school finals season is right around the corner – more details for now on their website’s fixtures page HERE 

This coming Saturday sees the start of the Hurricanes Heartland U20s series, with Poverty Bay and Whanganui meeting in Napier and Wairarapa-Bush and Horowhenua-Kapiti playing in Masterton.

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Forwards have won each of the last three Jubilee Cup Player of the Final gongs, with Hemi Fermanis (Tawa) in 2021, Boston Hunt (Norths) in 2022 and Dominic Ropeti (Ories) in 2023 these recipients. The last back to win this was Dale Sabbagh (OBU) in 2020, with Sabbagh playing second five for Paremata-Plimmerton on Saturday.

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Dominic Ropeti won the Jim Brown Plate as the MVP of the final playing blindside flanker. When Ories won their previous Jubilee Cup in 2011, the winner was Iani Pahulu, who was playing No. 8 that day.

Ropeti becomes the only winner playing in the blindside flanker to win this, since it was first awarded in 2004.

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Congratulations to the 2023 Wellington club rugby Best & Fairest Billy Wallace Trophy winner – well played throughout the season that player.

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Paremata-Plimmerton lost their first and last games of the season and won everything else.

Their supporters, of which they are numerous, are hoping their team can stay together and ride their success in 2024.

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What about the Tawa Second XV! They appeared to be about to lose the Ed Chaney Cup Premier 2 final and their unbeaten streak right up to the final two minutes of their final against Poneke. But they won the match 18-17 with a very late penalty, which also brought up their half century of matches since they tasted defeat.

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In Auckland the Manukau Rovers Premiers defended their title by beating University 20-14 in the Gallaher Shield final. This was the 100th edition of the Gallaher Shield.

No other information available beyond the score, as Auckland Rugby along with several other unions completely lost the plot in regards to communications some time ago, as did the mainstream media in regards to community sports coverage.

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The Tasman Mako beat the Manawatu Turbos 33-19 (halftime 12-12) in their NPC pre-season fixture in Blenheim on Friday night. Their second and final warm-up match is against Bay of Plenty in Taupo this coming Friday.

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It’s a Rahui v Shannon Horowhenua-Kapiti Premier Ramsbotham Cup final this coming Saturday. In this past weekend’s semi-finals, Rahui beat Paraparaumu 56-23 and Shannon defeated Foxton 26-23.

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A post shared by Wellington College 1st XV (@wellingtoncollege_1stxv)

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