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Tawa fullback Jacob Denyer beats Mitchell McLeod to the tryline in this afternoon’s opening Swindale Shield fixture between Tawa and Old Boys University at Rugby League Park. Photo: Andy McArthur.
By Steven White & Scott MacLean
Swindale Shield Round One Results at a glance:
- Johnsonville 46 Paremata-Plimmerton 28
- Poneke 25 – Marist St Pat’s 10
- Northern United 38-17
- Tawa 38 – Old Boys University 36
- Oriental-Rongotai 36-17 Upper Hutt Rams
- Hutt Old Boys Marist 28 – Wainuiomata 15
- Petone 46 – Wellington 5
UPDATED – Round One scores and scorers at this link here (opens a Word document):
SWINDALE SHIELD TEAMLISTS AND SCORING 2025 RD1 results
Pre-season form-talk and first round predictions counted for little this afternoon in the opening round of the Wellington Premier Swindale Shield competition.
There were a series solid and often spectacular first-up bonus points to Tawa, Hutt Old Boys Marist, Johnsonville, Petone, Oriental-Rongotai, and Northern United, while Pōneke won well against Marist St Pat’s.
The replay of last year’s Jubilee Cup final lived up to its top billing, with Tawa reversing that result last July to pip Old Boys University 38-36.
A late try to No. 8 George Risale, converted by returning first-five James So’oialo, won the game for Tawa, after Old Boys University’s first-five Tom Henderson had kicked his fifth penalty of the afternoon to put OBU ahead.
In a ding-dong second half, OBU stunned Tawa early with a try to halfback Mitchell McLeod which put the home team up 27-24. Momentum seemed to be swinging OBUs way as both kickers advanced the scoreboard with penalties and then Tawa’s Forward of the Day and captain Matolu Petaia crossed to hand Tawa ascendancy.
Earlier, Tawa had gone up 12-0 after a rolling maul try and another Hurricanes U20s fullback Jacob Denyer. The Kickers got their games going – including a monster 52-metre So’oialo penalty, but a try to Hurricanes U20s flanker Harry Irving helped the home side get right back into it.
Down on Kilbirnie Park, Pōneke climbed to a 17-0 lead over Marist St Pat’s in their Horan-Millar Trophy interclub trophy match. MSP came back but Pōneke had done enough to hold off any fight back and won 25-10.
Over at the Polo Ground, Oriental-Rongotai retained the Bob Lendrum Cup with a five tries to two 36-17 win over the Upper Hutt Rams.
Petone had posted five consecutive 50+ scores in Premier matches over the Wellington Axemen, so their 46-5 win over them to retain the Jack Taylor-Bill Francis Cup represented an improvement for the visiting club.
Petone won seven tries to one, Wellington’s sole scoring play being a 15th minute try to loose forward James Tuiatua.
At William Jones Park, where Wainuiomata had won this corresponding fixture two years ago, the HOBM Eagles did the damage in the second half to account for the home team 38-15.
The Eagles scored tries to in the first spell including an early one to left wing Kapumanawawhiti Broughton-Winterburn and one second five Kienan Higgins later in the half, versus one to Greg Leolofi to see HOBM go up 12-8 at halftime. It remained close, but HOBM pulled clear late with a penalty try and then a try to debutant opensid for a well-earned first-up win.
At Jerry Collins Stadium, Northern United got their season off to a positive start with a 38-17 win over the Avalon Wolves.
At Helston Park, an effervescent Johnsonville Hawks celebrated the start of their 125th anniversary year with a sweeping 46-28 win over Paremata-Plimmerton.
In a combined team effort, Johnsonville’s hearty forwards and swashbuckling backs complemented each other well for a six tries to four win.
Led by returning lock Anthony Pettett, evergreen prop Haamea Ahio and supported by others such as lock Taani Mafile’o and rookie openside flanker Louis Magelogo, Johnsonville’s pack was all over their opposites all afternoon, while Johnsonville’s backs enjoyed the freedom of open space.
After leading 26-14 at halftime, Johnsonville effectively won the game in the opening minutes of the second half by capitalising on two consecutive horror Paremata-Plimmerton handling and passing mistakes on the embankment side of the ground to run in two quick tries and extend their lead to 38-14.
The first of these was scored by second five Olly Paotonu in the clubrooms corner, following a pass that went to ground by Paremata-Plimmerton first five Dale Sabbagh. The second saw Johnsonville centre Aukuso Tuitama collect a similar dropped pass by another Paremata-Plimmerton player, leading to a popular try to lock Pettett.
Johnsonville were to seal the game with plenty of time still to play when flanker Magalogo scored after a penalty and scrum close to the line to make it 43-14.
Paremata-Plimmerton gave themselves a flicker of hope when right wing Sione Baker flew in to score his second try of the day, but Johnsonville’s subs bench was every bit as committed as their starters, and the Hawks put paid to any comeback.
Johnsonville closed out their scoring with a penalty whilst the visitors scored a bonus point consolation try on fulltime.
Earlier, Johnsonville made the best possible start when their scrum went beast mode which soon led to a lovely try to Hurricanes U20s left wing Jacob Kennedy.
Paremata-Plimmerton hit back themselves with a try off a scrum to bring the scores back to level.
Right wing Jacob Walmsley was involved in Johnsonville’s next two tries as they extended the score to 19-7 by throwing an inside pass to the scorer of the second try, whilst catching a cross-kick on the full to set up the third try.
Paremata-Plimmerton, who were disjointed throughout much of the match, did provide glimpses of what everyone knows they are capable of, through their next try which saw right wing Baker inject himself into the midfield from an attacking scrum and cross on the lefthand side to close the gap to 19-14.
Johnsonville closed out the first half with another popular try with right wing Walmsley again in the thick of the action making a midfield burst which led to flanker Magalogo’s first try in front of the scoreboard supporters. The only downside at that point was Johnsonville fullback Finlay Sharp leaving the field with an apparent hamstring issue.
On this performance, Johnsonville will take a lot of beating at home this year, while the Hammerheads will want to put this one behind them and quickly regroup.
Premier 2
Holders OBU made a winning start in their defence of the Harper Lock Shield, repeating last year’s Ed Chaney Cup win over Tawa 34-21 in the early game at Rugby League Park.
HOBM are expected to contend again this year and saw off Wainuiomata 36-14, while Poneke beat MSP 43-32 in a high scoring affair. Ories beat the Upper Hutt Rams 38-10, Petone beat Wellington (score TBA), and Avalon beat Norths 57-35. In the last match Pare-Plim raced out to lead 46-0 at the break against Johnsonville before winning 53-17.
At Helston Park, Paremata-Plimmerton led Johnsonville 46-0 at halftime. Johnsonville came back to win the second half 17-7 making the final score 53-17 to the visitors.
Colts
Some heavy scoring in the Colts Paris Memorial. Petone threw a shutout in thumping Wellington 88-0, with Norths also holding Avalon scoreless winning 57-0.
Pare-Plim also topped 50, beating Johnsonville 64-15, and the Upper Hutt Rams opened with a 36-14 win over Ories.
MSP won their Battle of Kilbirnie 31-17 over Poneke, while Tawa were surprisingly big winners 46-29 over OBU. Defending champions HOBM didn’t have to leave the house, defaulted to yesterday by Wainuiomata
At Ian Galloway Park, the Tawa Colts enjoyed a 46-34 win over perennial contenders OBU Green, taking charge in the second half.
After a long feeling out period by both teams, OBU finally put the first points on the board with a 20th minute penalty. OBU then scored a converted try to go 10-0 up, before Tawa, who had threatened several times playing a positive expansive style, nabbed a defensive OBU lineout and their prop crossed over to make it 10-7.
Right on halftime, after previously being held up over the line, Tawa scored another seven pointer to move ahead 14-10.
Now with a gentle breeze in their favour, Tawa scored two more tries to go ahead 26-10. OBU scored in reply, but Tawa scored their fifth try to make it 33-17.
Once more, OBU scored, but Tawa broke out to extend their lead. Both sides scored further tries but Tawa’s advantage was sufficient.
Women’s
Results in the Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy went as anticipated and with all four home sides winning. Petone got their defence off to an ideal start beating Pare-Plim 38-12, while Ories held off returnees Marist St Pat’s 31-24. Wainuiomata accounted for Poneke 29-10, while Norths made no rush of matters in crushing Avalon 80-0.
U85kg
The Tawa Ducks opened their U85kg JC Bowl competition with a 26-14 win over Hutt Old Boys Marist in over four matches that were played this afternoon to usher in the new season of U85kg rugby.
The Johnsonville Terrahawks defeated the Wellington Light Axemen 29-19, the OBU Scallywags beat Avalon 52-0 and Eastbourne beat the Paremata-Plimmerton Piranhas 25-10. MSP had the bye.
Elsewhere
Rahui and Foxton remain unbeaten through three rounds in Horowhenua-Kapiti. Otaki-based Rahui rumbled over Levin College Old Boys 31-10 at the Domain, while Foxton eked out a close one 34-33 away at Waikanae. The third match also saw the away side win with Paraparaumu beating Shannon 41-19. Levin Wanderers had the bye.
It was opening day over in the Wairarapa-Bush competitions and the first round of the Lane Penn Cup. In Group B defending champions Carterton opened with a high-scoring 43-38 win over Pioneer and Greytown finished strong to blow out the margin over Masterton Red Star to win 53-12, while in Group A Martinborough made a statement of intent in beating Marist 35-12.
The fourth match was out in the province’s north, with Eketahuna hosting East Coast and the Wairarapa-based arm of Clubrugby in the middle. The hosts started strongly and had the Coasties pinned inside their own half for most of the opening 20 minutes, but only had a penalty and a try off a 5m scrum to show for their efforts. That seemed to spur the visitors into action, and an unconverted try in each corner and a penalty had them 13-10 up at the break. Coast extended their margin after the resumption but started to struggle with their discipline, and as the match started to lose shape the home sides Fijian contingent found their element. A converted try closed the gap to three, but they were unable to find the tying or winning score; Coast prevailing 20-17.
College
On Friday afternoon, Rongotai College defeated Scots College 31-7 in an encouraging result for the eastern suburbs public school contenders.
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