Petone and College Old Boys secure big wins on a Good Friday for club rugby

Petone’s centre Villami Fine is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the game’s first try in his team’s win over Ponsonby today in Auckland. Screenshot image credit to the livestream. View a replay of the game on Facebook HERE

By Adam Julian & Steven White

It was a Good Friday for club rugby today for some teams in action.

Petone spoiled Ponsonby’s 150^th anniversary celebrations by beating them 41-33 at Western Springs Stadium in Auckland, while in the opening round of Manawatu Senior 1 club rugby College Old Boys held off Varsity in a high scoring thriller at Arena Manawatu to win 53-46. On Thursday, Feilding High School edged Wellington College 24-19. Accounts of all three matches are below.

A Fine Way To Spoil A Ponsonby Party

The celebratory Peroni’s might taste a touch tepid in Ponsonby tonight after Petone rallied from a 19-14 halftime deficit to upset Ponies 41-33 in their 150^th Anniversary fixture at Western Springs this afternoon.

Ponsonby abandoned their trademark black and blue attire to wear their original blue and black colours, engraved with the 60 senior men’s and women’s championships the prestigious club has won.

Petone has ample pedigree too and that was illustrated before kick-off when Moana Pasifika coach, 1993 Jubilee Cup winner, and former All Blacks captain Fa’alogo Tana Umaga (74 Tests, 36 tries, 59 wins) dropped by to present the Villagers with their jerseys.

Tongan international and Moana Pasifika winger Viliami Fine was inspired and motivated by the presence of Umaga.

Replacing late withdrawal Jarrod ‘Rampage’ Adams, Fine scored two outstanding tries at centre. He hasn’t played Super Rugby Pacific for a month.

Fine’s late availability was a deliverance for Petone. His physical presence was essential in shutting down several thwarts from considerably larger bodies. His first try galloping 25 meters after a scrum was a precursor for much that followed.

While Ponsonby enjoyed ample possession, creating chances with their greater bulk, Petone’s desperation in the tackle and disruption at the breakdown coupled with swift transitions onto attack was telling.

Former Māori All Black Joe Royal responded to Fine’s initial strike by rumbling over from a lineout drive, but the hosts were caught napping at the subsequent restart.

Razor bunny first-five Stanley Solomon dribbled the ball just over the 10-m mark and regathered before the unsuspecting defence noticed. Solomon rushed inside the 22 before halfback Logan Henry carried on the momentum.  Eventually, fullback TJ Clarke scored out wide.

Ponsonby enjoyed a decisive edge at the lineout with lock Ben Sau a standout. The New Zealand Police representative scored a try with a showcase of muscle from close range. The conversion from first five Wiseguy Faiane propelled the hosts in front. Wiseguy is named after the 80s sitcom and formerly represented Northland.

Ponsonby lost a player to the sin bin with seven minutes left in the first half for cynically stifling a Petone attack.

That wasn’t a deterrent for Faletoi Peni. The second five scored the winning try in the 2023 Gallaher Shield final for Manukau Rovers and he showed his class with a crosskick from the 22 to halfway that found centre Ma’ake Taulahi. Taulahi nudged a left-foot kick ahead and winger Cephus Salaivao latched onto the ball in a flash to score a cracking try. Salaivao played for the Kelston Boys’ High School First XV that was 18-0 in 2021.

Down 19-12 at halftime, Petone was the recipient of Ponsonby charity three minutes after the restart. An errant pass was intercepted by winger Max Hosking who strode gleefully clear at halfway. From Kapiti College, Hosking has scored two tries in ten games.

Ponsonby loose forwards Terrell Peita and Sione Tuipulotu have both played for Auckland. Predictably both were prominent, but the lack of precision elsewhere piled up.

In the 58^th minute, Petone had a scrum ten meters shy of halfway. The score was 19-19 and Fine burst onto a short ball, piercing through like a violent javelin. The noise from the Petone bench briefly rivaled that heard at the Speedway. Fine has scored 49 tries in 82 appearances for Petone.

Petone didn’t lose the lead from 26-19, increasing their advantage to 36-19 after a penalty and try to TJ Clarke. Gisborne Boys’ High School debutant Braith Ingram snatched the textbook steal that allowed Clarke to gallop 50 meters. TJ scored 19 points in a display that combined poise and flair.

Dave Gallaher, Bryan Williams, Joe Stanley, and Ali Williams are just some of the 48 All Blacks Ponsonby has produced. With a pedigree like that, Ponsonby wasn’t going to surrender meekly.

Substitutes Liekina Litolo and Salesi Sipa scored quick tries to close the deficit to 36-33 with two minutes to spare. With their last attack, Ponsonby busted down the left edge of the Petone defense. The ball was fumbled ten meters past halfway and Petone rushed a clearance inside the Ponsonby 22. The Ponsonby retriever stumbled on a divot and the ball spilled free to Rory Wollett who passed to Leyton Tapa.

Both clubs deserve credit for producing such a wonderful spectacle on a public holiday. Each showed supporters enough to suggest they’ll be in the top half of their respective competitions.

Rob Harman was the referee.

College Old Boys and Varsity pack on the points in Manawatu club rugby season opener

In the replay of last July’s Senior 1 [Premier] final in Palmerston North, College Old boys beat defending champions Varsity in a 99-pointer to open their season.

Both teams had secured bonus points by halftime as College Old Boys went into the turnaround ahead 31-25.

This was after Varsity had opened up a 3 tries to 1 lead towards the back end of the first half. But with the sun bursting out from a dark cloud that had hung over Palmerston North for much of the day, they let themselves down with several mistakes and COB took their invitation to get back into the game and ultimately get on top.

College Old Boys struck with a try to left wing Leo Tanginoa and then two late tries in the half to take their lead. Hurricanes halfback Jordi Viljoen scored 0ne of these.

As well as Viljoen, COB had the services in the second half of the Bason brothers, Vernon and recent Super Rugby U20 Player of the Tournament Mosese. Lock Jared Goodson was playing his 100^th match and centre James Tofa was ever-dangerous.

Varsity opened the scoring in the second half with a try to openside Reuben Nelley, but COB replied with a penalty to lead 34-32.

Varsity re-took the lead to 39-34 through a try to first-five Scott Davidson, but COB centre Tofa ran in an outstanding individual try to lock scores up at 39-39. Tofa then made another break up the same far touchline towards the stadium and passed inside to halfback Viljoen for another try and suddenly it was 46-39 to COB.

More to-and-fro rugby followed, before COB left wing Tanginoa scored his second try and what proved to be the match-winner with about 10 minutes to play.

Varsity weren’t lying down and they hit back with a second try to flyhalf Davidson.

The match ended with the sky blues hot on attack and searching for a converted try that would have locked it up. But COB’s bruising defence and big men in the middle of the ruck proved too much and they won a free-wheeling victory.

Across on the other field at Arena Manawatu, Old Boys Marist opened up a 22-12 halftime lead over Te Kawau, who scored again early in the second half.

But OBM pulled away to win 49-33 in another high-scoring opener.

At Feilding, home team and recent three-time champions Feilding Yellows beat Feilding Old Boys Oroua 50-10.

On Thursday night at Linton, Kia Toa beat the home side 45-10.

Freyberg had the opening round bye in the Manawatu.

Feilding High School edge Wellington College in First XV pre-season match on Thursday 

Feilding High School visited Lyndhurst Park on Thursday and toppled Wellington College 24-19 in a pre-season fixture.

Feilding are twice reigning Central North Island champions and never trailed in a contest where Wellington finished strongly.

Initially, it seemed the hosts were shell-shocked. First-up tackles appeared voluntary as Feilding cast an anchor in Wellington territory and surged ahead by a dozen. Tighthead prop Dane Johnstone burrowed over from close range for the opening try and then first-five Tyrese Tane glided through a yawning hole.

Feilding butchered at least another couple of scoring chances with mediocre pass selections. With 13 debutants, it’s hardly time to panic.

Midway through the first half an up-and-under in Wellington territory bounced uncollected at the ten-metre mark. The loose ball was seized upon by Feilding lock Zach Filer. While others were caught gazing skyward, Filer, like an archer, had his eyes set on the try line. Cheeks bulging red, socks slipping down, Filer in snoopy coloured headgear authenticated his nickname the “Galloping Giraffe ” by sprinting all the way.

While catching his breath, Filer momentarily staggered about like somebody on a Courtenay Place romp, but the Lionheart soon rejoined the fray.

Sprinting is a more natural course of action for Wellington winger Rauri Meo. The chipper, strapping lad punished Feilding for their lack of bounce attendance, collecting the ball and setting sail with his fluid 60-meter dash. The halftime score was 17-7.

The addition of first five Archie Sims made a noticeable difference for Wellington. Their attack was more organised, lively, and precise. Following repeat phases, Wellington scored a try within five minutes of the second half starting. Suddenly the score was 17-14.

It’s only March. Chemistry takes time to construct. It was a mostly bumbling climax to proceedings. With about ten minutes remaining winger Peni Havea scored Feilding’s fourth try to provide a slight buffer.

Wellington’s defence was more secure, and their continuity improved. Light-footed fullback Teiner Hingston- Mill exposed Feilding fatigue by hopping through for the last try on the whistle.

Feilding hooker Alani Fakava (36 caps) and No.8 Rupenni Raviyawa were a combative presence for a side that’s won 27 of their last 35 matches and returns to the capital on April 11 to tussle with St Patrick’s College, Silverstream.

Feilding is coached by Justin Lock, a three-times Whanganui Meads Cup winning lock, Rob Foreman who played 110 games for Manawatū, and former Upper Hutt mentor Nathan Williams who guided Feilding to the Condor Sevens final last year and had won three Hankins Shields with Feilding Yellows.

Wellington is coached by a trio of former All Blacks, Neemia Tialata (43 Tests, 38 wins), Piri Weepu (71 Tests, 62 wins), and John Schwalger (2 Tests, 2 Wins). Wellington’s next assignment is against Palmerston North Boys’ High School on April 6 at Kilbirnie Park.