MSP Out in front on their own as OBU beat Eagles, a draw and high scoring elsewhere

Tawa second five Kalim Kelemete gets a pass away in today’s Kevin Carmichael Cup Premier Swindale Shield match at Kilbirnie Park. Tawa beat Poneke 7 tries to 5. Photo: Andy McArthur.

• By Steven White, Adam Julian and Scott MacLean

Results & Scoring (as/when received): http://www.clubrugby.co.nz/wellington/games-results.php?competition=1&season=21&round=4

Marist St Pat’s are the only unbeaten side after the opening month of the 2024 Wellington club rugby Premier Swindale Shield competition.

In bright sunshine, MSP beat Wainuiomata 41-10 to retain the Rona-Morrisey Cup and stand alone at the top of the table on 19 points. The other unbeaten side heading into today’s fourth round was Hutt Old Boys Marist, who were defeated 27-35 by Old Boys University in their Wood Cup encounter at the Hutt Rec. More on this game below. OBU and HOBM are second equal on 16 points.

Some high scoring results, a draw and an apparently improving showing by the Wellington Axemen were other themes from the day’s play.

Tawa bounced back for a much needed 44-31 win over Poneke, while Petone were 35-24 winners over Johnsonville and Oriental-Rongotai kept Avalon winless with a 76-7 win at the Polo Ground.

At Porirua Park, the Wellington Axemen led 15-12, before Norths came back and edged ahead to win 28-20, the Axemen perhaps unlucky to at least gain a bonus point.

Their opponents next week, Paremata-Plimmerton, drew 22-0 with the Upper Hutt Rams at Ngati Toa Domain. More on this match below.

+++++

Watch highlights of the Tawa v Poneke match here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B20-K8XZZr4&feature=youtu.be

+++++

Missed kicks at the end decided an enthralling encounter between Paremata-Plimmerton and the Upper Hutt Rams under blue skies at Ngāti Toa Domain.

The match ended 22-22, but both sides left winning kicks out there in the dying minutes.

With under 5 minutes to play, the Upper Hutt Rams were trailing 22-17 having just spent a 10-minute period hot on attack, and with a numerical advantage owing to sinbins. They packed down a scrum off a penalty and second five Emmanual Solomona barged over just to the left of the posts to draw level.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Club Rugby (@clubrugby)

Starting first five Tynan Barrett lined up the winning conversion but pushed his kick wide.

With the last play of the game, home side Paremata-Plimmerton were awarded a penalty 40 metres out on the angle, but replacement first five Dale Sabbagh shanked his attempt and the match finished all square.

An often-fiery match was close throughout, with both forward packs ‘feeling each out’ throughout much of the game, keeping referee Harris and his assistants on their toes.

Paremata-Plimmerton made a hot start to the match, swarming on to attack early and fullback Esi Komaisavai swept up into the 22 and off-loaded to left wing Louis Northcott for the opening try in the corner. This went unconverted and starting first five Sam Clarke also missed an early penalty.

With their first decisive chance of the game, the Rams capitalised, with tighthead prop Lewis Bush scoring from the build-up play.

With 25 minutes gone, the Rams pushed ahead 10-5 with Barrett slotting a penalty to add to the conversion of the try.

Next came the try of the match. The home side struck back emphatically through Komaisavai who ran back a kick from 50 metres out and scored in front of the supporters at the scoreboard. The conversion was missed and it would be 10-10 at halftime.

After the early second half sin binning of Paremata-Plimmerton number 8 Alex Fidow, the Rams made a fast start to the second half, and after a break up towards the line, they had several thrusts and second five Solomona crossed for the first of his two tries. The conversion was good and the Rams led 17-10.

Paremata-Plimmerton hit back soon after when flanker Tane McMillan-Parata fed left wing Northcott his second try in the opposite corner to his first. After about 50 minutes, the Rams led 17-15.

The home side then took the lead with their third and final try to McMillan-Parata who finished off a strong build-up.

Sabbagh’s conversion from a handy angle was wayward.

The Rams had several opportunities to score but Paremata-Plimmerton defended well in front of their own line, before Solomona’s second try and the drama unfolding at the end.

Old Boys University celebrated Callum Harkin’s 50th appearance with a 35-27 victory over previously unblemished Hutt Old Boys Marist.

The Goats led for the best part of 70 minutes following a more clinical first half but were made to sweat by an Eagles side that were frustratingly inaccurate but potent from broken play.

The Eagles scored a try from the first penalty when they rumbled over from the subsequent lineout drive but were otherwise outplayed in the first half and turned with a 22-5 deficit.

Harkin put his signature on proceedings after the initial concession with a slashing break from halfway. Two passes later OBU No.8 Dougal Perrers scored.

Halfback Kyle Preston was lively and his try dashing 25 meters after a shallow clearance by HOBM clearance and slick interplay between Harkin and first-five Malo Manuao was delightful.

Hooker and captain Louie Calvert had a storming match for the Goats, and he dotted down for his 16^th try in 18 appearances. Harkin missed 11 points in shots at goal which kept the door ajar for the shell-shocked hosts.

Hutt emptied half their bench at the break and Freddie Sunia, Jason Hoffman, Bennet Kumeroa and Mika Alaifatu had a palpable impact. Hutt scored ten points in two minutes to make it 22-15 but OBU punished ill-discipline again to stretch ahead 32-15.

Hutt made sporadic breaks, with Hoffman scoring a try and a 65 meter solo by Fritz Rayasi, holding the ball out in front with one hand almost like a video game-like.

At 32-22, Laursen kicked a 50/22 and Hutt hooker Harry Press rumbled over to create prospects of an improbable victory.

Hutt surged again with vigorous close-quarter thrusts. The ball was spilled over the line and Harkin broke to the opposite 22. Ty Poe then sailed for the corner but was collared into touch.

Advantage applied from an earlier Hutt infraction and Harkin fittingly had the last say, a typically asured and influential performance in which he scored 15 points to pass 350 for the students.

Other standouts for the Goats were lion-hearted lock Jack Riley, precocious rookie Harry Irving and pesky openside Cody Quin.

OBU retains the Wood Cup where the overall count in matches stretching back to 1960 is 30-25 to the Eagles.

Colts

Old foes HOBM and Petone retain perfect records after a day of heavy scoring in the Paris Memorial Colts competition.

HOBM put OBU to the sword winning 43-5, while Petone ran out 52-26 winners over Johnsonville. MSP are third after rolling past Wainuiomata 50-14 and Upper Hutt are fourth after cruising past Pare-Plim 36-7.

In other matches Ories beat Avalon 46-21, Norths were 64-21 winners over Wellington, and in the lowest scoring game of the day Poneke beat Tawa 16-10.

A good game is a fast game. This was neither. In a stop-start affair that ran 100 minutes at Ngati Toa Domain, the visiting Rams beat the home team comfortably in the end.The Rams scored three tries before half time and led 19-7 at the break.

There was no further scoring for another 20 minutes before the Rams finally crossed again for their bonus point try to make it 26-7.

The visitors opened the scoring in the fifth minute from a backline move. In the 20th minute, the home side scored and briefly took the lead from a try off a lineout in the corner.

The Rams’ next two tries involved fullback Callum Wanden, who scored the first one and set up the second of these following a turnover 70 metres out and a runaway.

The first 20 minutes of the second half were messy with numerous stoppages and minimal flow.

Paremata-Plimmerton were always looking dangerous out wide and went close to scoring but never did, whilst the Rams lost their try-scorer Wanden who was sinbinned for 10 minutes as well.

Premier 2

The top-of-table clash in the Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield didn’t disappoint, and ultimately HOBM and OBU couldn’t be separated with it finishing 25-all, though the Goats four tries puts them on top of the ladder.

Tawa joined HOBM in second after they inflicted a first loss on Poneke by 36-21, while Petone are fourth after beating Johnsonville 17-3. MSP recorded their first win, beating Wainuiomata 36-7, Norths topped Wellington 44-33, Ories rolled past Avalon 49-19, and Upper Hutt edged out Pare-Plim 28-26.

In many respects, the Premier 2 clash between HOBM and OBU was the inverse of the Swindale match that followed.

OBU made the better start as the pair exchanged early penalties before the Eagles gained the ascendency and built a 20-3 lead in the shadow of halftime, but OBU hit back right on the interval and then immediately after to rapidly close the deficit to just five. HOBM then scored next, perhaps controversially, before OBU was able to cross twice in the northeastern corner of the Hutt Rec’s #2 ground – both unconverted – to level matters at 25-apiece. They were unable to control the restart and HOBM swung onto attack and OBU conceded a penalty, but the kick was pushed wide to leave matters even and both teams still unbeaten

Women’s

Wainuiomata have moved to the top of the Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy standings after beating the plucky but winless Poneke-OBU side 41-29.

Ories moved into third after keeping Avalon fixed to the bottom of the table with a 52-12 win, while Norths were similarly too strong for neighbours Pare-Plim winning 52-5. Previous leaders Petone had the bye, which Wainuiomata are yet to have.

Elsewhere

Kia Toa joined the idle College Old Boys at the head of the Manawatu Senior A after they beat Freyberg 42-10 this afternoon. Old Boys Marist could have joined them but were well beaten 43-17 by Massey, while Feilding Yellows climbed the table with their 39-27 win over Te Kawau. In the battle of the bottom on the table Linton was too strong for Feilding Old Boys-Oroua, winning 45-5.

Rahui was predictably far too good for strugglers Levin Wanderers in Horowhenua-Kapiti, winning 73-26 in what would have been an entertaining day at the Levin Domain. Levin College Old Boys kept up their chase of the runaway leaders by putting away Paraparaumu 48-19, while Shannon took home the spoils from Foxton with a 16-13 victory.

And in Wairarapa-Bush Martinborough are a win ahead in the standings after they beat Pioneer 34-5 today. Carterton are second after their 57-15 win over Red Star on Thursday, and Marist are third after they won 20-17 away at East Coast. Greytown won the fourth match of the round, winning 47-24 over Eketahuna at home

Also over the hill, the St Pat’s Town First XV enjoyed a 50-5 win over Rathkeale College (14-0 at halftime) in their warm-up match.