The wait is over as Wellington club rugby starts tomorrow

• By Scott MacLean

Friday evening edition. And so it begins once more. After a month or so of preseason warmups, the regions 14 Premier sides hit the field for real tomorrow with the opening round of the Swindale Shield. They aren’t the only ones, with every other WRFU grade right down to the Presidents grade in action to get the season underway.

This week’s opening E Tu Whānau Footy Show on the radio comes from the Polo Ground for the final rematch between Oriental-Rongotai and Paremata Plimmerton. They are live n air after 2.00pm ahead of the 2.45pm kick-off.

View Draws and teamlists (as received) at: https://www.clubrugby.co.nz/wellington/games-results.php?competition=1&season=21&round=1 

Premier Swindale Shield

As is the current tradition, the highlight clash of the first round is the meeting of the two Jubilee Cup finalists as champions Oriental Rongotai open against Swindale holders Paremata-Plimmerton at the Polo Ground.

The Magpies start six of the eight forwards that started the Jubilee final including two-try heroes Dominic Ropeti and Siaosi Lavea, but hooker and captain Penieli Poasa is the notable absentee. Out back Alex Ropeti moves into flyhalf, and Chicago Doyle’s Ories debut will come on the left wing.

The Hammerheads hand club debuts to ex-Poneke pair Ezekiel Fiso and Sam Meo, with much of the core remaining from the side that played in last year’s decider. Sam Clarke is the noticeable absentee as he’s playing in the Hong Kong 10s this week so Dale Sabbagh is in the #10 jersey, and Tane McMillan-Parata will once again lead the side.

Pare-Plim won the Swindale meeting last season between the pair by 21-17, with Ories turning the tables in the season finale by 34-21.

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Another Opening Day crunch clash is at Rugby League Park when the sides that finished behind Pare-Plim in the Swindale standings and were the two beaten semi-finalists – Old Boys-University and Johnsonville – meet.

The Goats are without Kyle Preston who is another in Hong Kong so Mitch McLeod deputises at halfback. New recruit Fuka Paongo lines up at centre partnering a returning Malo Manuao with fellow newcomer Boston Hunt starting at No8. Recce Plumtree aside, their bench is full of potential debutants including current college player of the year Harry Irving. The Hawks start a familiar looking backline that includes former Wellington College star Jacob Kennedy and the intriguing selection of veteran Andy Ellis at #10. Up front there a swag of new names and the familiar faces of Serge Hollis and captain Ha’amea Ahio.

Johnsonville won this clash last year by 27-14, with a new incentive being added this year in the form of the Bill Cavubati Cup which the much-loved big man donated for this fixture in recent weeks.

The third match to open the season in the city is between Wellington and Hutt Old Boys Marist, two sides that missed the top eight last year but in very different ways.

The Eagles look different up front with neither of the Manaia brothers nor Ben Power with Jona Bartley, former HIBS star Harry Press, and Vili Tauofaga filling the front row. Waylon Tuhoro-Robinson will lead the side from scrumhalf paired with veteran Brandyn Laursen, with Kienan Higgins to make his HOBM debut in the midfield.

Tui, James, and Ben Tuiatua all make their first start for the Axemen, three of seven starting debutants for Fa’atonu Fili and Lua Lokotui as they look to be more competitive than the 78-0 and 62-24 defeats that Wellington suffered in the two meetings between the sides last year.

Just one match in the northern suburbs with Norths finally getting back onto Jerry Collins Stadium after spending last year on the #2 ground owing to the Women’s Football World Cup and looking for a return to their old fortunes.

Marist St Pat’s are the visitors and have a number of new faces, particularly in the halves with Sam Connor and Rique Miln. Grayson Whitman and Eamonn Carr both start after offseason moves with Milan Kriletich to lead the team from the openside. The hosts will look slightly different tomorrow, wearing mismatched socks to highlight and support autism. Hurricanes U20 star Jeremiah Avei-Collins starts off the back of the scrum with the usual occupant of the No8 jersey, Luca Rees, leading the side from lock. Veteran duo Liki Siliga and Johnny Teleaga anchor the backline with new recruit Toby Kennett at the back.

They will also play for interclub silverware. Maurice Standish was a Jubilee Cup-winning player and coach at MSP who also played for the pre-merger Titahi Bay club and later coached at Norths. Hugely respected by those at both clubs, the Cup in his name was first contested in 2018 and is held by MSP after their 67-25 win last season.

Over the Haywards it’s Poneke who make the journey out to Upper Hutt and become the first competition visitors to the shiny new Maidstone Hub.

The Rams hand Leon Tuiloma the hookers jersey to start the season with Pene To’o filling the Toby Crosby-shaped hole at No8. David Tokalautawa goes straight from school to the left wing while over on the right is the versatile Daniel Schrijvers.

The visitors have five players on starting debut with one, scrumhalf Devon Sopoaga, facing the side he played for last year and much will be expected of his partnership with Carlos Hihi. Captain DJ Taoipu leads a solid looking loose trio with Nathan Strang and Pasia Tuva’a, while Nick Robertson will look for opportunities from fullback.

First played for in 1989, their interclub trophy commemorates former representative halfback and later accomplished coach Alby Makeham. Earning the name “Kick it again” for how often he put boot to ball, he started his career at Poneke and finished it in Upper Hutt. The trophy is held by the Rams after their 42-16 win at Kilbirnie Park last year.

Further south there’s the first valley derby of the year with Wainuiomata hosting Avalon at William Jones Park.

It’s a familiar looking home side who will be glad to get talismanic leader Greg Leolofi back after missing most of last season and he joins Aviata Sa’u and the seemingly indestructible Teru Time in their loose trio. Andrew Wells starts at flyhalf after his offseason shift from MSP outside of Keanu Kotuhi and alongside fellow veteran Tyler Tane.

The Wolves return a host of familiar faces, but there will be interest in the midfield pairing of debutant Pe’a Tauauega and returning Fau Fotu and how Koli Bower goes up front.

They’ll also contest an interclub trophy, in their case it’s for the Anthony Waldrom Trophy. Waldrom Sr was a five-eighth for Wainuiomata, but when Thomas’ and Scott’s time in senior rugby came around Wainuiomata was a second-tier club, and both opted for Avalon. Wainuiomata hold this, after retaining in last years 26-all draw on the Wolves’ Old Timers’ Day.

And finally at the Petone Rec is the matchup between Petone and Tawa which should serve as an early season marker for both.

To no one’s surprise Carne Green’s move into coaching sees reigning Best and Fairest holder Stanley Solomon handed the keys at flyhalf where he’ll be surrounded by solid nous in Logan Henry, Jarrod Adams, and TJ Clarke. Up front props Taualai Tofilau and Isikeli Fukofuka and lock Seth Clayton are on debut while there’s experience on the bench in Ryan Imrie, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, and Cam Ferreira.

Tawa will bring a typically bruising forward pack, headed by prop Siale Lauaki, hooker Joyner Gaualofa and locks and co-captains Hemi Fermanis and Akira Ieremia. Weston Sao returns to openside flanker after a year off in 2023. Randall Bishop is the most experienced back, while Wellington U20s player Samanoa Euta and former St Pat’s Silverstream Jacob Denyer are two players to watch.

Petone will mount their first defence of the Bill Brien Challenge Trophy in their match with Tawa, after having claimed it from HOBM along with the McBain Shield at the back end of last season. The pair met twice last year with Petone 41-17 winners in the Swindale, but Tawa were 33-29 victors when they met in the first round of the Jubilee playoffs.

All seven matches are at the regular kick-off time of 2.45pm.

Colts Paris Memorial

A couple of changes for the Colts grade in 2024; firstly it returns to a full 14-team competition this year with the resurrection of that being a requirement for Premier status after being in limbo since the onset of the Covid pandemic in 2020, and secondly the draw now gives them main billing as the curtainraiser for the corresponding Premier match each week.

Defending grade champions and John E Kelly holders Oriental Rongotai start their campaign against one of the three returning sides in Paremata-Plimmerton at Polo, while fellow returnees Johnsonville are at RLP against runners-up OBU. Last year’s Paris Memorial winners HOBM are at Hataitai to face Wellington while Norths and MSP are at Jerry Collins Stadium. Over in the Hutt Valley the third returning side, Avalon, are at William Jones to face Wainuiomata, the Upper Hutt Rams host Poneke at Maidstone, and Petone and Tawa clash at the Rec.

All seven matches are 1pm kickoffs

Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield

The consequence of the Colts being elevated to the curtainraiser means that the Premier 2 sides are shunted off elsewhere, so some of the grades’ long-standing servants might find themselves in some unfamiliar places this year. The competition is once again at 14 teams, and with the sad demise of Stokes Valley and the return of Wellington these matches will also mirror the corresponding Premier fixture.

Playing through triple-double grade champions Tawa put their 50-game unbeaten streak on the line at the Petone Rec against the home side while last year’s runners-up Poneke face a tough opener against the Upper Hutt Rams at Maidstone. HD Morgan winners Ories are at home to Pare-Plim at Polo with the Axemen’s return coming at Evans Bay against HOBM. OBU and Jville clash at MacAlister Park, Norths and MSP are up on Porirua #2, and Wainuiomata and Avalon are at Mary Crowther Park.

All matches are 1pm kick-offs

Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy

The big news is with who’s not there, as defending champions Marist St Pats have been unable to make the start line and leaving the grade at just seven teams. The revised draw now sees runners-up Petone head to Porirua to take on Norths, Avalon are at home against valley neighbours Wainuiomata on Fraser Park, and the combined Poneke/OBU side takes on Paremata-Plimmerton at Kilbirnie. Oriental-Rongotai has the bye first up.

Note that all three matches kickoff at the slightly early time of 11am this week.

Under 85kg JC Bowl

Eleven sides line up for the weight-restricted competition, the same number that finished last year after the demise of Wests with the other change being the return of Avalon in place of Stokes Valley. Champions OBU start their defence against Johnsonville at MacAlister Park, with runners-up Tawa making a trip to the Village to face Petone (at 1pm). The Wolves’ return comes at home at Fraser Park against Pare-Plim, Wellington welcome HOBM to Kilbirnie, and MSP make the trip out to Eastbourne and a meeting with the locals at HW Shortt. Poneke have the bye to begin the season.

All matches are 2.45pm starts unless stated.

The Reserve and Presidents Grades also start tomorrow. The 14 teams in the Reserve Grade have been split into two divisions, with the six-team Division 1 in a round of non-competition matches and six of the eight teams in Division 2 starting their competition proper. The Presidents commence with a Festival Day on the top fields at Porirua Park.

In addition, there’s several College preseason fixtures tomorrow. The headline one would be the annual early season encounter between Wellington College and Palmerston North Boys high happening at Kilbirnie Park and preceded by their second XVs, while Silverstream host St Pats Town across several grades. Other sides in action have Bishop Viard hosting St Bernard’s, Tawa and Paraparaumu meet at Lyndhurst, and neighbours Porirua and Aotea meet.

Elsewhere

As mentioned in Thursday’s A-Z piece, we’ll be covering the competitions in our surrounding provinces in a bit more detail this year. The second round in Manawatu’s Senior A competition has Te Kawau hosting Freyberg at Rongotea and Massey are at home against Feilding Old Boys-Oroua, with the two games at the Arena pitting College Old Boys against Linton and Old Boys-Marist against Feilding Yellows; Kia Toa has the bye.

Horowhenua-Kapiti have already completed their second round, Shannon beat Wanderers 50-11 and Levin COB got over Waikanae by 33-15 under lights last night, while Paraparaumu have defaulted tonight’s clash with Rahui. Foxton have the weekend’s bye.

And finally, Wairarapa-Bush start their competition tomorrow. Defending champions Carterton head east and a meeting with Martinborough, Marist welcomes Pioneer in a Masterton derby, Red Star mark their return by hosting Greytown, and East Coast hit the road to face Eketahuna.