Lighter schedule of rugby in Wellington this weekend

• By Scott MacLean

After a busy past couple of weekends for rugby in Wellington, this weekend is quieter with just a handful of games on around the region.

Most Wellington representative teams are either away or have had their games cancelled because of closed grounds. There is still some rugby on in the region, as well as further afield.

A preview of what’s coming up is below.

Representative

A short weekend has been made shorter with the news this morning that both the Wellington Samoans and the Pride Development matches scheduled for tomorrow in the Manawatu are both off owing to widespread ground closures after this week’s heavy rain.

It is unknown if their matches are being rescheduled or moved, or if that’s it for these teams.

With the Māori having concluded their campaign with last week’s tournament, there’s only five matches across the weekend, and only two of those are at home.

Tomorrow has the Centurions and U19s both away for a doubleheader against their Hawke’s Bay counterparts at Tremain Field in Napier, with the Fijians having managed to arrange a game at short-notice against a Horowhenua-Kapiti selection at Helston Park at 1.00pm.

The U19s are playing in round two of the Central Region Shield. If they beat Hawke’s Bay they will likely win the title, if they lose this competition will be decided next weekend when Hawke’s Bay play Manawatu and Wellington play the Hurricanes Heartland side.

Three of the Centurions best players from last week are with the Lions this weekend, in Sione Halalilo, Akira Ieremia (both in the match0day squad) and Sam Clarke (on standby owing to Jackson Garden-Bachop’s imminent paternity matters) so this should be a good tough game.

There’s also a warm-up game for two of the province’s age-grade sides with the U16A (Black) side playing the Maori U18s at Porirua Park.

Sunday sees the Pride at home against North Harbour at 12.35pm while the Lions are in the wilds of North Canterbury to face Canterbury in Rangiora later on Sunday afternoon.

After last week’s humiliation at the hands of their rivals Manawatu, the Pride need a confidence restoring performance against one of the traditional lightweights. Perhaps unsurprisingly changes have been rung; Veteran Alicia Print and newcomer Tess Woldring start up front, Sophie Irving moves back into lock to partner captain Jackie Patea-Fereti, and Anyis Drossaerts-Lake makes her first start on the openside. Drenna Falaniko and Ivana Samani come into the backs with Keira Su’a-Smith starting at fullback.

The Lions have switched things up. DuPlessis Kirifi’s campaign-ending broken jaw means an opportunity for Sione Halalilo on the openside, with Brad Shields tagging back in for Dom Ropeti on the blind. Leni Apisai starts at hooker with Penieli Poasa taking a seat. OBU fans will get what they’ve wanted as Callum Harkin is given the reins at first-five alongside clubmate Kyle Preston, and Riley Higgins moves into inside-centre this week to accommodate new skipper Peter Umaga-Jensen. Julian Savea goes back to the wing and Tjay Clarke is at fullback.

In the Heartland Championship Wairarapa-Bush will look to get off the bottom of the ladder when they host North Otago on the Memorial Park turf, while Horowhenua-Kapiti will want to rebound from last Saturday’s controversial loss to East Coast when they head to Greymouth to face West Coast.

College

St Mary’s loss to Manukura during the week spelt the end of any national hopes for the province for this year, but the Top Four picture will be made clear tomorrow. Going down the country in the Boys, Westlake hosts Kelston to find the Blues representative with the winner to face South Island champions Nelson College on Friday. The other matchup will be set from the Chiefs final with Hamilton Boys hosting Rotorua Boys, and the Manawatu derby at Massey at 1.15pm between Palmerston North Boys and Feilding High.

Wednesday’s Hurricanes final set the Girls matches for next Friday. Manukura will face Hamilton Girls while Howick College takes on Christchurch Girls.

Closer to home, Upper Hutt and Heretaunga College’s – which have operated as a joint-entity in the CSW competitions in recent years – are bringing back their annual inter-school match, at Maidstone Park at 12.00pm, while up the coast the annual Rosebowl match being Paraparaumu and Kapiti College’s is taking place at Paraparaumu Domain at 1.00pm.

School rugby rolls into Tournament week next week. There’s plenty on around Wellington and we’ll have more details in Monday’s column.

Teams (as received):

Wellington Lions

Unavailable for selection:
Harry Press, James O’Reilly, Matt Proctor, Losi Filipo, Mitch McLeod, Du’Plessis Kirifi.

Wellington Pride

1. Lavinia Lea (Petone)
2. Alicia Print (Petone)
3. Tess Woldring (Petone)
4. Sophie Irving (Poneke-OBU)
5. Jackie Patea-Fereti (Petone) ©
6. Nina Foaese (Norths)
7. Anyis Drossaerts-Lake (Norths)
8. Sinead Ryder (Ories)
9. Milly Mackey (Petone)
10. Arene Landon-Lane (Norths)
11. Harmony Kautai (Petone)
12. Monica Tagoai (Petone)
13. Drenna Falaniko (Petone)
14. Ivana Samani (Ories)
15. Keira Su’a-Smith (Petone)
16. Paige Misky (Norths)
17. Angelica Schwencke (Petone)
18. Roimata Parata (Pare-Plim)
19. Eva Maora (Petone)*
20. Te Raukura Leafe (Petone)
21. Litia Bulicakau (Petone)
22. Fa’asua Makisi (Ories)
23. Billie Va’a (Wainuiomata)

North Harbour Hibiscus

1. Sharon Toailoa
2. Oceane De Reuck-Donnelly
3. Ciara O’Connor
4. Izzy East
5. Margaret Uluiqalau-Wye
6. Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa
7. Madison Johnson
8. Demielle Onesemo-Tuilaepa
9. Christie Moncrieff
10. Hailey Beale ©
11. Ursola Eteru Fuailefau
12. Dayna Moon
13. Moana Malupo-Courtenay
14. Tsubasa Sasagawa
15. Mikayla Suluape
16. Tenaija Fletcher
17. Trinity Rika
18. Rialani Onesemo-Tuilaepa
19. Armani Lam
20. Barbara Auva’a
21. Danielle Mellow
22. Ella Henderson
23. Holly Williams

Wellington Centurions

Wellington Under 19s

1. Alexander Hewitt (Upper Hutt Rams)
2. Semurana Fepulea’I (Ories)
3. Marley Fretton (Pare-Plim)
4. Harry Irving (OBU)
5. Finn O’Sullivan (OBU)
6. Marcus Alexopoulos (Petone)
7. Braith Ingram (Petone)
8. Taufaeteau Kaufononga (MSP)
9. Jayde Burns (Norths)
10. Josh Leafa-Paki (Wainuiomata)
11. Jacob Kennedy (Johnsonville)
12. Ietitaia Campbell (Upper Hutt Rams)
13. Josh Semu (Ories)
14. Emery McGill (Petone)
15. Jacob Denyer (Tawa)
16. Solomona Vaka (OBU)
17. Israel Time (HOBM)
18. Faenza Snowdon (Petone)
19. Lennox Easthope (Petone)
20. Tane Landon-Lane (Norths)
21. Thoma Takeuchi (OBU)
22. Elysium Tolova’a-Stanley (MSP)
23. Brodee Tetevano (HOBM)

+++++

Aisle be Back: All Blacks v Springboks 1.0