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There was no pot of gold at the bottom of the rainbow on Saturday at the Petone Rec for the home team. Photo: Andy McArthur.
Monday mid morning edition (updates expected): Then there were eight.
All four of this coming Saturday’s four Jubilee Cup and Hardham Cup semi-finals could go either way, making for a mouthwatering set of Premier club rugby matches coming right up.
UPDATE: Sideline Conversions has received word that this coming weekend’s club rugby knockout matches are kicking off at the much earlier times of 11.ooam for the early games (would normally be 12.30pm) and 1.00pm for the main games (normally 2.45pm). this coming Saturday. Why would that be? Apparently because the All Blacks are kicking off at 2.30pm against Fiji on the television halfway around the world. Update to the update: It appears that at least some games will be re-scheduled back to their normal kick-off times of 2.45pm following questioning by the clubs involved. This all to be confirmed.
The Premier semi-finals at a glance are (home teams first):
- Jubilee Cup: Hutt Old Boys Marist v Old Boys University and Tawa v Oriental-Rongotai.
- Hardham Cup: Paremata-Plimmerton v Johnsonville and Marist St Pat’s v Wainuiomata.
It is also semi-finals time in the Premier 2 and Colts competitions and finals in the Reserve Grade Division 1 and U85kg competitions.
The finals this coming weekend are:
- John Davies Cup Reserve Grade Division 1 final: Upper Hutt Rams J8s v Johnsonville Cripples, Maidstone Park 2.45pm
- Tony O’Brien Shield U85kg Division 2 final: Paremata-Plimmerton v Wellington Axemen at Hataitai Park 12.00pm
- Paul Potiki Shield U85kg Division 1 final: Tawa Ducks v OBU Scallywags at Hataitai Park 2.00pm
As always, this is just a snapshot, check back on Friday for our full preview.
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It is school holidays for another week, but in one confirmed college rugby match coming up, Wellington College host Wairarapa College on Saturday at 1.00pm. This is a catch-up Premiership seventh round fixture as the home school was previously in Nelston at the Quadrangular Tournament.
Two match at Porirua Park on Tuesday, these being part of the NZ Maori U18 camp, girls and boys games.
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Jubilee Cup Semi-finalists 2024, number of times in top 4 Since 2013:
- OBU: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023 (6)
- HOBM: 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 (6)
- Tawa: 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022 (7)
- Ories: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023 (7)
*Ories also made finals in 2011 and 2012 winning the Jubilee Cup in 2011.
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Could such players like Caleb Delany (OBU), Pepesana Patafilo (Tawa) and Xavier Numia (Ories) return for the Jubilee Cup semis?
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Two new club Centurions on Saturday, with Pare-Plim’s Alex Hinchliffe and MSP’s Nick Harrison reaching 100 Premier outings for their respective clubs.
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The WRFU confirmed the locations for the men’s club finals last week, following discussions and endorsement by the Club Rugby Subcommittee.
The Under 85kg finals day will be held at Hataitai Park on Saturday (as noted above)
The Premier Men, Premier 2 and Under 21 finals will be held at Porirua Park the following weekend (27 July). Kick off times for the 6 finals as well as the allocation of the fields are yet to be confirmed. A notice will be circulated in due course.
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Jackson Garden-Bachop was back in Norths colours on Saturday, in his first game since the sudden passing of his younger brother Connor. We were asked how he could play, given he hasn’t met the required minimum of three games to be eligible for playing in the playoffs; our own Scott MacLean – who perhaps knows the eligibility rules better than most clubs – points out the possibilities: A ‘one-off’ allowance granted by WRFU that no one would argue with, or that he has a Lions contract for the NPC. If the latter, it would be a remarkable return.
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Most points for Wellington in first-class rugby:
- Allan Hewson 909 points in 108 games
- John Gallagher 797 points in 88 games
- Mick Williment 748 points in 108 games
- Jackson Garden-Bachop 706 points in 89 games
- Jon Preston 682 points in 73 games
- Simon Mannix 648 points in 83 games
- David Holwell 615 points in 61 games
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The last of the 21 players to reach 100 games for the Lions was Tana Umaga, against Manawatu in 2007.
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Four tries to MSP wing Viliame Saukuru on Saturday against the Wellington Axemen.
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Another word of teething recommendation for rugby players – wear your mouthguards. Smashed teeth are not a good time. And ACC are perhaps not as generous as they once were in paying for it.
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A 50 metre penalty to Callum Harkin on Saturday to put OBU into the lead at 9-6 over the Upper Hutt Rams. Then a Jack Riley converted try with about 10 minutes to pay to seal the win.
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A big day too for milestones within MSP Reserve Grade Internationals squad, with 50 games for Alex Baylis, 100 for Mike Bridges, 200 for Nathan Simpson, and a massive 250 up for Pena Fretton who has only missed 20 of all games the side has played since it was formed!
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When unbeaten runs are broken.
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A distinct Wellington flavour to this year’s Horowhenua-Kapiti squad for the Heartland Championship. Paremata-Plimmerton’s Esi Komaisavai and Hutt Old Boys Marist duo Mika Alaifatu and Vili Tauofaga are the three listed loan players while Jack Sturmey – who has Tawa on his list of clubs – is the Player of Origin. Current powerhouse Rahui accounts for 10 of the remaining 25 players including Regan Verney and Wirangi Parata (ex-OBU), Leon Ellison (ex-Norths), and Ted Northcott (ex-Pare-Plim), with another former Hammerhead, Zac Lemana, selected out of Paraparaumu. Lemana, Aaron Lahmert (Waikanae), and Malaki Masoe (Wanderers) are the only players selected from their clubs and the only players from sides not involved in the finals series. The notable absentee is centurion and long-serving captain Ryan Shelford who seems to have called time on his representative career.
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Congratulations to Erin Rush (Black Fern #113) who this week became the first woman to be appointed to the vice president’s office for NZR. Rush played more than 50 games for Wellington and twice for the Black Ferns in 2003. She has been heavily involved in the game since as a coach, commentator and administrator as well as her successful real estate career. Her son is New Zealand Under 20’s winger Stanley Solomon. Former Waikato midfield back Matthew Cooper was appointed President. In 270 first-class appearances, Cooper scored 2573 points. He was part of the 1992 NPC and 1993 Ranfurly Shield-winning Waikato teams and played 26 games, including eight Tests for the All Blacks between 1987 and 1996. He scored 23 points in a 59-6 slaughter of Ireland in 1992, helped the All Blacks win two Tests against the 1993 British and Irish Lions and went on the historic 1996 tour of South Africa when the All Blacks beat the Springboks in a Test series in South Africa for the first time. Cooper is in his 23rd year as Chief Executive of Sport Waikato.
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For 15 years Willie Leota played open-weight, social rugby for the Poneke ‘Ruffnuts.’ The eclectic personality of this team was also an illustration of how far Leota’s ‘connections’ stretched. Prominent rugby writer Toby Robson, Wellington Saints basketball players George Leafa and Damien Ekenasio, musicians Tym Matagi, Liam Va’ai, Tana Tupa’i, and Avina Kelekolio, comedian Tofiga Fepuela’i of the Laughing Samoans, and Essendon Tuitupou, younger brother of All Black Sam Tuitupou passed through. Occasionally Sam was seen wearing a Ruffnuts t-shirt on TV.
Town’s First XV captain Emilio Bell spoke with poise and dignity when reflecting on coach Leota thanking Willie for the pride, passion, discipline and unity he installed within the team. Town’s season resumes after the school holidays on July 24 in what is sure to be a highly charged fixture against fierce rivals and ‘brother’ school St Patrick’s College, Silverstream. Both teams are in the Top Four of the Premiership.
The Wellington College First XV are to be applauded for their immaculate appearance, song and presentation of a wreath.
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Interesting recent interview with Stephen Hoiles, former Wallaby and current Randwick Shute Shield club rugby coach:
Some good stuff, starting at about the 18 minute mark.
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What about Ories losing one of their key players, Dominic Ropeti, to injury in the 98th minute of their playoff match on Saturday against Petone. Will he be back this weekend?
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In news that’s over a week old but we completely missed, Dane Coles played a match for the Paraparaumu Reserves side last Saturday, a semi-final no less. The rake scored four tries in the match but couldn’t prevent a 39-42 loss for his side as they missed the semi-finals and ended their season.
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Most affable All Black? All Blacks are big, hard men not prone to smiles, winks and a lot of conversation. Colin ‘Pinetree’ Meads enshrined gruff into the national consciousness with his laconic, grumpy expression. There are a few, however, who can and do relax.
George Nepia had a number one hit crooning Beneath the Māori Moon. On the legendary 1963/64 tour of the UK, France, and North America, Waka ‘Black Panther’ Nathan and Pat Walsh were the life of the party and later became successful publicans. First five-eighth Earle Kirton was a genuine maverick and Sir Wilson Whineray almost became governor general.
Murray Mexted entertained and antagonised with his unhinged commentary. Prop Angus Ta’avao returned a profit by auctioning off a jersey he was sent off in. The cause, helping an embattled child.
Sir Wayne Smith told the Black Ferns before their unlikely 2022 Rugby World Cup victory against England, “I love you.”
With his pointed views on the Breakdown, prolific try-scoring winger John Kirwan (199 tries in 268 first-class games) dominates national conversation, but you’d be nervous to disagree with him.
Jonah Lomu (126 tries in 203 first-class games) was one of the humblest superstars while fellow wingers Mark Ellis, Stu Wilson and Bernie Fraser (100 tries for Wellington) were renowned for their comic exploits.
Alan Whetton (All Black, 853) is a bartender at the Barbarians Club at Eden Park. The starting blindside flanker in the 1987 Rugby World Cup final win against France is quick with a joke and humble to the point of self-parody.
Alan’s brother Gary Whetton was a long-standing, somewhat earnest, All Blacks captain who played a colossal 311 first-class matches, 101 (90 wins) of those in an All Blacks jersey.
Alan made a staggering 150 appearances for Auckland from 1981 to 1992, scoring 55 tries on featuring on the winning side on 134 occasions. Alan debuted for the All Blacks in a 37-0 whitewash of Queensland B at Ballymore in 1984. He played 65 games, 35 Tests and scored 26 tries. Alan won 59 times in black jersey.
In addition to bartending at the Barbarians, AJ is general manager of his own company, Oamm New Zealand which essentially sells advertising to leading rugby competitions.
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António Prim played for Portugal in their 37-22 over Namibia. Prim was one of the most impressive props in the Swindale Shield for the Wellington Axemen.
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In another title win that we missed in Saturday evening’s round-up – Border wins Whanganui:
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TJ Clarke kicked five penalties for Petone on Saturday. In last year’s Hardham Cup final he banged over six for Petone. In Saturday’s Hawke’s Bay Maddison Trophy decider Trinity Spooner-Neera slotted no fewer than seven penalties. He also kicked the conversion to his side’s sole try as Taradale beat Napier Old Boys Marist 28-15.
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Beauden Barrett has won 40 of his 42 Tests off the bench as an All Black. Kevin Mealamu started 55 of his 132 Test matches off the bench. He had 47 wins as a reserve and was unbeaten in 27 Tests from 2009 to 2015.
Strange substitutions at Eden Park. Codie Taylor couldn’t hit the side of a barn door with the All Blacks lineout, yet it took 64 minutes for him to be replacement. Marcus Smith was dragged for England after setting up two tries, kicking all three goals and troubling the All Blacks with his varied attack.
Handre Pollard kicked eight penalties for the Springboks in 24-25 loss to Ireland. Jannie de Beer kicked seven penalties in a 21-27 loss to Australia in the 1999 Rugby World Cup semi-final. The record for most penalties in a defeat is nine by Portugal halfback Thierry Teixeira in a 32-30 loss to Georgia 32-30.
Nine Penalties in a Test
- Keiji Hirose – Japan: 44 v Tonga: 17, May 17, 1999
- Neil Jenkins – Wales: 34 v France: 23, August 28, 1999
- Andrew Mehrtens – All Blacks: 34 v Australia: 15, July 24, 1999
- Andrew Mehrtens – All Blacks: 39 v France: 26, November 11, 2000
The Black Ferns have retained the Laurie O’Reilly Trophy trouncing Australia 62-0 in postcard conditions at Ballymore yesterday.
The Black Ferns’ victory is their 27th on the trot against the Wallaroos and their biggest in Australia. Winger Katelyn Vaha’akolo was in record-breaking form. She scored four tries, two in each half, to match the efforts of Vanessa Coutts in 1995 and Selica Winiata in 2016 against Australia. Vaha’akolo has scored tries in eight consecutive internationals. Coutts accomplished that feat in her first nine Tests between 1995 and 1998.
Vaha’akolo was understated about her quartet of tries.
“Three of those tries all I had to do was put the ball down on the edge.
“I like beating Aussie, but they’re our sisters. I hope they get full-time contracts soon.
“I’m living the dream. There is no excuse for me not to succeed.”
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A lot of acclaim for Nigel Hotham recently following his departure ad Hamilton BHS First XV coach after 21 years. Another success was in 2015 and 2016 when he led Melville to Waikato and National club Sevens honours. The 2016 Middlesex County Wavell Wakefield Cup was held at William Jones Park, Wainuiomata and Melville beat Upper Hutt 34-24 in the final on a hot and dusty afternoon. Initially both sides exchanged three tries each, but Melville pulled away in the second-half. Superior fitness and greater impact from the bench proved to be telling. Reserve Charlie Lawrence sprinted 50-metres and linked with Legin Hotham to expand the score to 34-17, at which point the contest was over. Hotham had a memorable day. The son of the coach earlier scored two tries. Present All Blacks winger Sevu Reece played for Melville. Later that season Melville won their first Breweries Shield Premiership title since 1981 defeating Hamilton Old Boys’ 11-6 in the final. Hotham assisted Craig Walters. This season Walters led Hamilton Marist to their first Spillane title in 23 years. Marist will contest the Breweries Shield final against Hautapu this coming Saturday. Marist is 14-0 in 2024.
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A record 55-31 defeat for the New Zealand Under 20’s to France in the World Junior Championships in Cape Town this morning. Ten days ago, the three-time reigning champions were beaten 27-26 by New Zealand in pool play, but when expectational blindside Joe Quere Karaba strode through the middle of an unguarded ruck and sprinted 25 metres for a try after three minutes, warning signs were ominous.
New Zealand enjoyed 62% of possession and 55% of territory throughout but missed 27 of their 57 tackles as they slumped to a 34-14 halftime deficit.
The French offloading was mesmerising at times and first-five Hugo Reus played a Christophe Lamaison type blinder tormenting the Kiwis with his pin-point kicking; 20 points from the tee and two crosses that directly led to tries. No.8 Mathis Castro scored three tries and lock Charly Gambini topped the tackle count with 18 and also scored a try.
Halfback Dyan Pledger was outstanding again for New Zealand and scored a 30m runaway try. Unfortunately, Petone winger Stanley Solomon was sent off for a head on head clash.
Remarkably France lost all three of their home Six Nations matches this year and finished third in the championship, their worst display since 2008. However, France is seeking to equal New Zealand’s record of four consecutive World titles set between 2008 and 2011.
France will play England in the final. The English defeated Ireland 31-20 in the other semi. With draws (32-32 & 34-34) in their previous two games, a close contest was expected.
At halftime England only led 22-20, but in the second-half the English pack squeezed Ireland in submission. Sean Kerr scored 21 points while openside Henry Pollock (16 tackles) and three man-of-the-match awards in the Six Nations is one to mark for the future.
New Zealand plays Ireland for third on Saturday at 2:30 am. The final is at 5:00 pm.
More Wellington Lions 2024 squad announcements over on Instagram, such as Senio Sanele (below) and HOBM hooker Harry Press.
What an absolute farce with Wellington Rugby moving start times forward to allow people to watch an All Black game against Fiji in San Diego????
What about “Community Rugby”?????
This is the sharp end of the club rugby season and these games are being moved to accommodate a “friendly” “promotional” game in San Diego????
Community rugby is about valuing our grass roots – our clubs – why are we sacrificing the loyalty of club fans who have spent a whole season supporting their clubs, supporting “Community Rugby” for a game in San Diego which has very little significance aside from promoting rugby in USA. I am all for promoting rugby in USA but why do we have screw up the sharp end of our Club Rugby season??
It is definitely in the “bizarre” files isn’t it. Perhaps one reason is because it’s a directive, sorry request, from NZR to get more people watching the All Blacks to get the viewership numbers up for the broadcasters and sponsors. Can’t think of another reason. A glance at other club rugby competitions still going, such as Auckland, shows no change to their kick-off times this weekend.