Ories only unbeaten team as three Swindale Shield matches decided late

Replacement outside back Josh Love about to score the match-winner on fulltime for the Upper Hutt Rams against Petone. Photo: Andy McArthur.

• By Steven White & Scott MacLean

Oriental-Rongotai are now the only unbeaten team in Wellington Premier club rugby, emerging as one of three winners in thrilling circumstances on the fourth afternoon of the Swindale Shield today.

Ories edged Old Boys University 33-31 in come-from-behind win at Ian Galloway Park, to also consign OBU to their fourth straight defeat. More on this match below.

The Upper Hutt Rams collected the Ted Connolly Cup in beating previously unbeaten Petone 32-29 at home on their Old Timers’ Day at Maidstone Park. The Rams won with a last-play try. More on this match below.

The third match that went down to the wire this afternoon was Wainuiomata’s 31-24 win over Johnsonville at home at William Jones Park. The home team’s first-five Andrew Wells scored a runaway intercept try with three minutes to play to break a 24-24 deadlock. More on this match below.

The other four matches this afternoon played around the region in fine, mild weather, saw four comfortable victories to the winning teams.

Perhaps the most eye-catching of these was Paremata-Plimmerton’s 42-17 win over the Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles at the Hutt Rec. Starting halfback Esi Komaisavai scored his second consecutive hat-trick of tries in the win.

The Avalon Wolves held Tawa for long periods at Fraser Park and were leading 18-17 at one point, before the dam broke and Tawa pulled clear for a comfortable 62-23 win over the winless Wolves.

The two matches played in Kilbirnie went the way of the home side.

At Evans Bay Park, Marist St Pat’s came away with the Maurice Standish Cup with a 65-22 win over Northern United. For MSP, last week’s fulltime try hero and hooker Canza Sale scored a hat-trick, while evergreen midfielder Isaia Petelo scored two tries.

At Kilbirnie Park, Pōneke took a 48-16 Spud Lindsay Memorial Cup win over the Wellington Axemen. For the home team, replacement front-rower Noah Tuifao-Galuvao crossed for a hat-trick and blindside flanker David Taoipu scored a brace. Pōneke lead the contest 22-9 at haltime.

The unofficial Swindale Shield points table after four rounds is: Ories 20; Petone, Pōneke and Tawa 15; Upper Hutt Rams 14; Paremata-Plimmerton 13; Johnsonville 12; Hutt Old Boys Marist 11; Marist St Pat’s, Wainuiomata, Northern United 10; Old Boys University 6; Wellington 2; Avalon 0.

In  a round-up of three matches today, the Upper Hutt Rams scored an 83^rd minute try to beat Petone 32-29 in a blockbuster Old Timers’ Day win at Maidstone Park.

Trailing 25-29, the Rams had seemingly blown a golden chance to score a winning try with a few minutes to play but knocked on off their lineout drive in the corner and Petone rallied and went close to closing out the match at the other end.

But the Rams won one last penalty and kicked for the corner for another lineout try attempt, and this time they attacked through multiple phases for about 60 seconds but they couldn’t break through in close, so they ripped it wide to unmarked replacement back Josh Love who flew in to score the match-winner and the full Maidstone Park stand erupted.

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The Rams had previously got close to Petone after trailing all match when they scored from a similar lineout position in the same corner, and second five Ieti Campbell nailed the conversion from out wide.

Petone had led 26-15 at half time, playing with the wind which picked up in their favour just as the game kicked off. That wind dropped away in the second half which then became a hard-fought affair between two even teams.

Penalties by Campbell and replacement Petone first five Rory Woollett advanced the score, but Petone will rue a missed try in the far right corner early in the second half that was knocked on and the Rams were able to exit from the resulting defensive scrum.

Petone had made a potentially decisive start to the game when they scored two early tries in the same northeastern corner as the Rams’ one late in the game. From a lineout steal, Petone halfback Logan Henry scored in the fifth minute, running off a short break by openside flanker Connor Tuifao, and from an identical position and this tim left wing Max Hosking scored and starting first five Ben Brooking converted to put Petone up 12-0.

Campbell kicked a penalty for the home team to make it 12-3, but in the 25^th minute Petone scored their third try, to No 8 Sam Tonise under the posts following yet another lineout attack at the same end of the ground. The conversion made it 19-3 to the visitors.

The pattern of scoring from lineouts continued when the Rams earned a penalty and Campbell kicked for the southwestern corner. Prop Senio Sanele soon came up with a try to close the deficit to 19-10.

The Rams dropped the next kickoff cold and were lucky to get away with it. However, Petone soon scored what was the try of the match when they attacked from a lineout on the far side on their own side of halfway and their backs found space at the grandstand side of the field. Second five Tom Carter finished off the movement to score a popular breakaway try, putting Petone up 26-10 and it was their bonus try as well.

The Rams closed out the first half with their second try off yet another penalty and lineout, as captain and lock Mat Luamanu came up with a try to set up the tense second half which was to follow.

There was an Anzac Day observance and moving Last Post ceremony several minutes before kickoff, which resulted in the game starting five minutes early.

At Ian Galloway Park, Oriental Rongotai earned their fourth consecutive win to start the season and consigned Old Boys University to their fourth loss with a late 33-31 win.

With the wind, the desperate Billy Goats built a 28-5 lead by halftime. This was achieved through three penalties and three tries.

OBU led 13-0 following their first try after a break by halfback Mitchell McLeod. Ories came back with their first try to flanker David Leota-Johnson but OBU scored two tries late in the first half to outside back Reece Plumtree and to hooker and captain Louie Calvert.

Now with the wind, Ories launched an enthusiastic comeback. Former OBU player and No 8 Dominic Ropeti scored two tries in five minutes for Ories to cut the hosts’ lead to 28-17.

Ories then cut the deficit to 28-20 through a penalty to fullback Tom Maiava. Maiava then scored a try himself and converted it to make it 28-27. The final few minutes were on tenterhooks as both sides had chances to win with penalties which they both took, before Maiava stepped up with about a minute to play to kick the one that mattered.

At William Jones Park, Andrew Wells’ late moment of brilliance was the decider in an enthralling if ragged encounter.

Wainuiomata started strongly and it was little surprising when evergreen midfielder Tyler Tane crashed over inside five minutes. But Johnsonville were soon into their work and replied from close range before a dose of luck put them in front; a Wells clearing kick was charged down and it appeared a Johnsonville player fumbled it before ground. But referee Campbell Barry ruled it had been stripped from his grasp by a Wainuiomata defender and the try stood. When Hawks skipper Finlay Sharp dashed over in the southwest corner they led 19-5, but the hosts closed the margin when Derek Lealifano, making a rare Premier start, was first to a perfect Wells grubber.

Wainuiomata started the second in similar fashion to the first and soon profited when Ray Va’a crossed to lock matters at 19 apiece, before the hosts lost a man to the bin and Ish Perkins scored almost immediately. But Johnsonville swiftly saw yellow themselves, and within minutes home hooker Daniel Fiso found himself with the ball and an open run to the line which he made. Wells’ snag and dash put the hosts ahead, but they had to rebuff one final effort from the visitors to get the competition points.

Harper Lock Shield

Petone and OBU continue to lead the way in the Harper Lock Shield with both winning again today.

The Villagers prevailed 44-21 over Upper Hutt (more on this just below) while OBU were  winners over Ories.

Poneke and Tawa both beat the scoreboard with the former beating Wellington 83-5 and the latter thumping Avalon 83-0. MSP accounted for Norths 59-19, and HOBM were 55-12 winners over Pare-Plim.

The seventh game of the day was towards the bottom of the table with Johnsonville travelling to William Jones to face Wainuiomata, and it was the visitors who put on a strong opening and closing quarters to roll to a 45-5 win. The Hawks were up 19-0 after 20, and although Wainuiomata hit back on halftime with a try to lock Stuart Upton – allegedly his first in eight years – that was their lot. The second half was scoreless for a lengthy period, before Johnsonville kicked away with a closing quartet.

A runaway try in the opening minute and two late tries aided in Petone’s 44-21 win over the Upper Hutt Rams in the early game at Maidstone Park. Petone’s first try was the try of the match and helped propel them to a 29-7 half time lead – turning to play with the breeze in their favour and with a Rams player in the sinbin.

But instead of rolling over, the home side got stuck in and came back with two tries in the middle stages of the second half to cut the deficit to 32-21 and a close finish was on the cards.

Petone stayed in front through penalties, and pulled clear at the end to maintain their unbeaten record thus far in 2025.

Women’s

Two comfortable wins and a default in today’s fourth round of the Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy.

Northern United eased to a 90-0 win over Pōneke in the most convincing win of the day, while Oriental-Rongotai beat Paremata-Plimmerton 71-12.

Marist St Pat’s beat Wainuiomata 42-10 in the other game that was played, as Petone beat Avalon by default.

The unofficial points table after the opening month of the competition is: Ories and Petone 20; Norths and Marist St Pat’s 16; Wainuiomata 5; Avalon 4; Paremata-Plimmerton and Pōneke 0.

U85kg

The Tawa Ducks maintained their perfect record to start the new season in the JC Bowl round-robin competition by beating Paremata-Plimmerton 44-3 in today’s fourth round feature on Lyndhurst Park.

The HOBM Howlers enjoyed a 51-12 win over Marist St Pat’s in their game at the Hhutt Rec, while  the Johnsonville Terrahawaks beat Avalon 17-10 away at Fraser Park and the OBU Scallywags defeated Wellington 34-17 at Hataitai Park.

Elsewhere

The Horowhenua-Kapiti competition resumed after a week off with three Premier Ramsbotham Cup fixtures this afternoon.

In the top of the table clash at Otaki Domain, home team Rahui held off the challenge of Paraparaumu to win 36-30.

The home side at the Shannon Domain also tasted victory, with Shannon beating Levin Wanderers 32-18.

At the Levin Domain, visitors Foxton beat Levin College Old Boys 50-38.

Waikanae had the bye.

The unofficial points table is: Paraparaumu 22 (played 5); Rahui 20 (played 4); Foxton 20 (played 4); Waikanae 7 (played 4); Levin College Old Boys 5 (played 4); Shannon 5 (played 5); Levin Wanderers 4 (played 4).

Holders Martinborough and champions Carterton will contest next week’s Lane Penn Cup final in Wairarapa-Bush after conclusion of pool play today. Both Pool A matches were today, with Martinborough beating East Coast 31-14 and Marist edging out Eketahuna 27-26. Yesterday saw the two matches in Pool A with Masterton Red Star beating a depleted Pioneer 34-21, while a remarkable match at Carterton saw the home side’s blushes saved only by an 80th-minute Daryl Pickering penalty to beat Greytown 37-36.

On a typically gorgeous Wairarapa day and in front of a bumper Anzac crowd the home side leapt out to a 24-0 lead in the opening quarter as they starved the visitors of any ball and had them a man down to boot. A fifth try when Greytown spilled the ball in midfield pushed the margin to 29-0 and the rout seemed on. But despite a second yellow card the visitors regrouped and scored twice to reduce the margin to 29-14 at the interval.

The third quarter was all Greytown, running in three tries to take a 33-29 lead as Carterton’s discipline faltered and they lost a pair to the bin. The hosts regrouped to retake the lead, but another penalty concession allowed veteran Greytown first-five Nick Olson to convert that into a narrow lead. But Carterton regathered the kick-off, drove downfield, and eventually drew a penalty that set the stage for Pickering’s winner.

In the Senior Reserve matches Greytown built a 41-10 led before Carterton ran in three late tries to finish at 41-31. Tuhirangi beat Masterton Red Star 34-26, Martinborough and East Coast drew 12-all, and Marist defaulted to Gladstone.

In Manawatu Senior 1 competition matches today, defending champions Kia Toa beat Feilding Yellows 38-27 at Johnston Park. Te Kawau beat Old Boys Marist 31-25 and in two more one-sided affairs, Massey defeated College Old Boys 55-17 and Freyberg beat FOBO 54-5. Linton Army had the Anzac Day weekend bye.

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Poneke v Wellington match highlights: