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Jonah Ngan-Woo touches down for the Wellington Pride against Manawatu. She plays her 100th first-class game, for the Pride against Otago in Dunedin tomorrow.
- By Scott MacLean
UPDATED. Another bumper weekend of rugby coming up in and around Wellington.
A preview of Saturday’s action is below.
Representative
The season edges ever closer to its end over the weekend. The Under 19s have the chance to lift some silverware and retain the Central Region Shield when they take on the Heartlands U20s in the early game at Porirua Park, where a win will complete another clean sweep in this competition. Across town at Rugby League Park the Centurions are also in action in their final outing of the year when they take on their Tasman counterparts.
The Pride are down south tomorrow, taking on Otago under the roof at Forsyth Barr. A win for the women will lock in second after the round-robin in the Championship and with it a bye next week and a home semi-final in a fortnights time. Joanah Ngan-Woo brings up 100 first-class games as she returns to partner Jackie Patea-Fereti at lock, while other changes see returns for Angelica Schwenke, Fanua Rimoni, and Fa’asua Makisi.
The Lions start “storm week”, their period of three games in eight days. Tomorrow’s assignment is Southland at Porirua Park, followed by a midweek trip to Dunedin and then home again next Sunday for what could be a top-of-the-table clash with Tasman. With one eye perhaps on the week’s workload Alando Soakai has made a few changes; Teofilo Paulo returns at lock with Hugo Plummer to the bench and Akira Ieremia dropping out is the only alteration to the forwards mix. In the backs Jackson Garden-Bachop swaps places with Callum Harkin and Matt Proctor and Stanley Solomon come onto the wings with the latter making his first start. There’s also a potential debut from the bench for Samoan 7s Olympian Tom Maiava.
The Under 18 competitions start this weekend. In the Division 1 section the two Wellington teams are on the road; the Samoans are in Napier to take on Hawkes Bay while it’s a longer haul for the Centurions as they’re in Gisborne to face Poverty Bay. The Maori are in Division 2 and are at home on Porirua Park #2 to face Whanganui, with Wairarapa-Bush and Horowhenua-Kapiti clashing in Carterton.
The action in the Heartland Championship has Wairarapa-Bush looking to prise themselves off the bottom when they travel up to Gisborne to face Poverty Bay in what is currently the wooden spoon match, while after last weekend’s Esi Komaisavai late show in Greymouth Horowhenua-Kapiti are at home in Levin against Mid-Canterbury. After picking up a knock in Wainuiomata’s Hardham Cup win, Jordan Sului finally makes his debut for the Bush while former Upper Hutt Ram Tafa Tafa plays his Blazer game for the union. Alex Fidow and a returning William Rua are on debut for Horowhenua-Kapiti tomorrow, joining Mika Alaifatu and Komaisavai in their starting lineup
College
Update: Manukura have beaten Hamilton Girls’ High School 38-17 to book their place in Sunday’s Top 4 Girls final.
Update 2: Howick College have beaten Christchurch Girls’ High School 22-17 in the second semi-final.
Update 3: Hamilton Boys’ High School have beaten Feilding Feilding Boys’ High School 23-19 in their Boys semi-final.
Update 4: Nelson College have beaten Kelston Boys’ High School 26-18 in the second Boys semi-final.
A very busy week on the fields wraps up tomorrow with the conclusion of the Hurricanes Under 15 tournament in the Hutt Valley. The two championship semifinals played today both saw what couldbe considered minor upsets. Firstly, Sacred Heart produced what their coaches considered was one of their finest performances of the year in taking down Auckland rivals Kelston Boys 23-12 in their clash, followed by St Peter’s setting up an all-northern final when they reversed yesterdays defat to Silverstream to win 22-17. St Peter’s built a 17-0 lead capped by a try right on halftime, but then had to withstand a second-half surge from the hosts with planet-sized prop Vaitupu Vaitupu scoring a
hat-trick from a total combined distance of about 50cms. His third however came with time up, leaving no chance for a final throw of the dice.
At the National U15 Invitational it’s been a trying week for both Wellington College and St Pats Town in Tauranga with just a single win each. College took on St Bedes this morning to try and avoid the wooden spoon with Town playing Wesley College for 13 th and 14 th . The final was won by hosts Tauranga Boys over Christchurch Boys.
Teams (as received):
Wellington Pride
- Angelica Schwencke (Petone)
- Alicia Print (Petone)
- Tess Woldring (Petone)
- Jackie Patea-Fereti (Petone)©
- Joanah Ngan-Woo (Ories)
- Fanua Rimoni (Wainuiomata)
- Sinead Ryder (Ories)
- Nina Foaese (Norths)
- Milly Mackey (Petone)
- Arene Landon-Lane (Norths)
- Harmony Kautai (Petone)
- Monica Tagoai (Petone)
- Fa’asua Makisi (Ories)
- Drenna Falaniko (Petone)
- Keira Su’a-Smith (Petone)
- Valini Vaka (Poneke-OBU)
- Lavinia Lea (Petone)
- Roimata Parata (Pare-Plim)
- Eva Maora (Petone)
- Anyis Drossaerts-Lake (Norths)
- Litia Bulicakau (Petone)
- Madi Gold (Petone)*
- Ivana Samani (Ories)
Wellington U19s
Did you realise that if Tasman take the shield of Hawkes Bay tomorrow,Wellington get first Crack at a challenge on Sunday week! Thought readers may want to know, thanku!