Key matches tomorrow as Swindale Shield reaches halfway mark

Action from Fraser Park last week. The Avalon Wolves are away at Johnsonville tomorrow, while it’s Old Timers’ Day for the Wellington Axemen as they host Paremata-Plimmerton. Photo: Tane Nathan. 

• By Scott MacLean & Steven White

The 2025 Swindale Shield compeititon crosses its midpoint marker tomorrow, with all 14 teams still with much to play for as the championship rounds later in the winter starts to come into focus. There are vital competition points on the line and some movement expected in the seventh round.

It is also the deciding weekend of the first round Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy competition, with three teams in the hunt to win or share the trophy, while college rugby grading concludes.

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Round 7 teamlists: At this story link here: https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2025/05/16/wellington-club-rugby-round-7-just-the-swindale-shield-teamlists/

Tipping Competition: Enter your tips by Saturday 2.30pm at:  https://www.faceyoursfears.com/games/WGTN2025/join

Podcast: Listen to the @tackld club rugby preview podcast at Spotify here:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cTvvA0jgsTVa7dQGcCiAY?si=u2im0jRTRCuyxvZbFBC6CA – with Jake Lawson (OBU) as part of a catch-up with recent old boys from schools.

Radio Commentary. This Saturday, the E Tū Whānau Footy Show comes from Duck Stadium in the fixture between Tawa and Hutt Old Boys Marist. On air at Te Upoko Radio – 87.6FM in the central city, 1161AM across the region, or stream it on iHeart Radio, the Whare Kōrero app, and online at www.teupoko.nz.

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Draws & Results website. These pages and all historical information 2005-24 at at https://clubrugby.co.nz/wellington/games-results.php?competition=71&season=22&Submit=Go  (Access to our administration pages remains offline)

• For Draws & Results please visit this page here: https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2025-wgtn-club-live-scores/
• For this week’s line-ups please visit the article link here: https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2025/05/16/wellington-club-rugby-round-7-just-the-swindale-shield-teamlists/

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Premier Swindale Shield

A mouthwatering top-of-the-table clash highlights tomorrow’s round of Premier matches, as the Swindale Shield reaches its halfway point. Even with last week’s disruption, Oriental Rongotai were too good for neighbours MSP and now switch their attention to their Old Timers’ Day visit of Petone to the Polo Ground . The Villagers were ruthless in dispatching Wainuiomata last Saturday’s on their own Old Timers Day, and with both sides in cracking form this could be a doozy.

No. 8 Dom Ropeti captains a settled side from recent weeks, with Ethan Smyth-Rangi starting at first-five for Declan Hay at first five and Herman Suemanufagai back on the left wing and Tom Maiava back to fullback for this match.

For the Villagers, Jonno Bailey trades places off the bench with Sam Thomson to partner Logan Wakefield at lock, while Cam Ferreira starts at halfback inside Hurricane TJ Clarke for an absent Logan Henry. Clarke starts at 10 with Rory Woollett dropping to the pine.

With their own Old Timers’ Day win over Poneke, Paremata-Plimmerton have quietly moved into third on the ladder and in Esi Komaisavai (at least one try in every game this year) and Louis Northcott (five tries last week) have the top two try-scorers in the competition. This week they find themselves as the guests at Wellington’s Old Timers’ Day, and the Axemen will be on a high no just for the occasion but also coming off their first win of the season in beating Avalon.

The Wellington Axemen have a new first-five, with Ryan Tsourgas wearing the pivot’s jersey. Recent Wellington College student Tsourgas is a current New Zealand U19 cricketer.  Joji Vatuwaliwali comes off the long run on the left wing, while Zayd Adam starts on the left wing with Haere Kawiti on the bench.

Visitors Paremata-Plimmerton will present a new front row this week, with Peni Taupau, Davis Eni and Nuu Taulalo wearing the low numbers. First starts of the season for Junior Davey at lock and Joe Faleafaga on the right wing, while Zane Edwards is at first-five. Former Beard Trophy hero Sione Baker slots in on the left wing for last week’s 5-try man Louis Northcott who is a way on a scheduled holiday. Of note, Davis Eni, Lock Ihakara Masoe and backs Matt Goosen and Dale Sabbagh are former Axemen so their flashbacks could be strong when they take the field at the Graveyard.

Another of those highlight matches people look for when the draw comes out is happening at Lyndhurst Park, where Tawa meets Hutt Old Boys Marist in the leafy confines. Both sides come in as winners from last week, though Tawa will certainly want to address the slow start they had at Maidstone while HOBM will know their opponents are a step up from Wellington and Norths the past two Saturdays. The ground could shake as both sides bring big forwards and bruising runners to the contest.

Home team Tawa will be packing punch in the forwards, aided by the inclusion of Hugo Plummer at lock, in for Tito Ioane in the only change to last week. In one notable change to the backs, Jacob Denyer returns to the side at fullback with evergreen Randall Bishop coming off the bench as outside backs support.

Four changes to the Eagles starting pack tomorrow, with Hurricanes U20s prop Israel Time returning to prop, Harry Press to hooker, Hurricanes U20s flanker Drew Berg-McLean to the openisde and Mika Alaifatu to No. 8 to match the hard-running Risale. Try scoring machine Phelan Rona is missing this week, with his recent HOBM Colts teammate Dom Ernst lining up at fullback. Look out for the return of James O’Reilly off the HOBM bench. Centre Sapati Tagoai plays his 40^th match for the Eagles.

Kilbirnie Park is where you will find the two sides that were on the receiving end of difficult second-halves a week ago as Poneke hosts the Upper Hutt Rams for their Old Timers’ Day. Both would prefer to remember their much-better opening halves and if they can repeat those and sustain it, this should be an excellent contest.

For Poneke, there are two change in the forwards from last week, with Jacob Graham coming into lock for Adam McRandle who starts off the bench. Pasia Asiata returns from New Zealand U85kg duty to take his place at blindside flanker. Former Hastings BHS halfback Mike Brown comes off the bench to swap places with Jimmy Lee-Hongara, while Isaiah Opai is back in the starting XV on the left wing with Ifeanyichukwu Nnebechukwu wearing the #14 jersey for this one.

A few tweaks to a mostly settled Rams line-up for this match from that which took the field last Saturday. Gelu Lafaele comes into the starting XV at lock for Tavis Polglase, Josh Mallon at No. 8 for Pene To’o and Josh Hunt to centre and Dan Shrijvers to the left wing for Rory Brattle. Tynan Barrett appears on the Rams bench for the first time this year.

Two sides going in rather different directions met at Helston Park. Johnsonville showed little mercy in sweeping aside OBU and if they can maintain that they’ll be thereabouts at the business end. For visitors Avalon, it’s getting late early once more and even though they produced their best showing of the year it wasn’t enough to get them home against the Axemen.

Home team the Hawks enter this battle without two regular forwards, prop Lucas Aukuso and lock Anthony Pettett – replaced in the starting XV by Hayden Kurusa and Taani Mafileo respectively, with Haamea Ahio moving to tighthead prop.  Jacob Walmsley takes a breather too, with Ish Perkins starting on the left wing.

Luke Uliburotu starts at tighthead prop for Ale Peni for this match and Paul Awatere-Mose at blindside for Pita Taumaloto, in two changes to the Wolves forwards. A new halfback on debut in Tukaha Wihongi. In the outside backs, Ben Wright on to the left wing and Tobi Oliver to centre.

For both Wainuiomata and Marist St Pat’s there would have been plenty of head scratching the past week. It wasn’t that both lost, but rather the hugely ineffective way that they did that would have caused concerns in both camps. However, they get an immediate chance to right their own ships when they clash at William Jones Park, but defeat could make their prospects of a top 8 berth look bleak.

Wainuiomata see lock Zane Humphrey play his 50th match, while they will have two Hurricanes in Peter Umaga-Jesnsen at second-five and Daniel Sinkinson at fullback.

Visitors MSP have one more named a largely settled team from recent weeks, with the addition of season captain Jake Wetere back from injury at loosehead prop in their only change to the pack. In one change to the backs, Alex Morrissey comes in to centre in place of Francis Mettrick.

Lastly, Old Boys-University return to the site of their last Premier victory; that being Jerry Collins Stadium and that win being the Jubilee Cup final. But much has changed since then and if they’re to be a factor they need wins and points in a hurry. Norths fell to another heavy defeat but they will have to fancy their chances against a wounded Goats side that will also be without their NZ Universities quartet.

A few changes for Norths this week, with Jalen Lambert coming in to lock and Tavita Logovae switching from lock to blindside flanker. In the backs, William Wood starts at first-five in place of Luke Walmsley and Janadi Matangi is in at centre for Alila Afutoto.

Likewise, a few tweaks for OBU’s line-up this week, including Nathanial Barry coming into openside flanker and Josh Morgan Ranui coming back from injury on the bench. Pedro Valentine Robertson and Floyd Rose start in the midfield in the team captained by hooker Geordie Bean.

Four interclub trophies are in play tomorrow:

• Ories and Petone contest their Jim Brown Memorial Trophy. A Wellington representative for a decade, Brown’s exploits on and off the field are written in Petone lore. Donated by his employer Dominion Breweries after his passing in 2004 it’s been keenly contested since. Ories are the holders after inflicting one of the two defeats Petone suffered in last years Swindale.
• Poneke and Upper Hutt play for their Alby Makeham Shield. Makeham was Poneke’s halfback through the 1950’s before a stint with Upper Hutt. Earning the nickname “Kick It Again” for the frequency he put boot to ball, in retirement the Wellington representative mentored several Poneke halfbacks including a young Ofisa Tonu’u. Upper Hutt were narrow winners on Opening Day last term.
• Wainuiomata and MSP have their Rona-Morrisey Cup in play. Cliff Rona was a Jubilee Cup winner in a decade with MSP before finishing his career with Wainuiomata, while John Morrisey played for Marist Brothers before a long stint as a player, coach, and administrator at Wainuiomata. MSP won this last season, but Wainuiomata one their more recent meeting in the Hardham Cup semi-finals.
• Norths and OBU play for their Ken Douglas Trophy. Best known for his work as a union leader and as one of the no more than 20 living holders of the Order of New Zealand, Douglas played his rugby for Wellington College Old Boys before moving to Titahi Bay were he was amongst those involved in the amalgamation with Porirua to form Norths. OBU are the holders.

Premier Women Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy

The first piece of silverware for the season will be handed out early tomorrow afternoon, but whether it’s won outright or is shared is one question to be answered. Having beaten MSP last weekend Norths are on 26 points and a bonus-point win at home against Wainuiomata will ensure a share of the trophy at worst. Oriental Rongotai hosts Petone at the Polo Ground in the traditional final round clash between the finalists from the season before with both also on 26 points, and they’ll have to expect they’ll need a bonus-point win themselves to match the rejuvenated Porirua side.

Marist St Pat’s will be the fourth side to contest the championship division starting next week, and their assignment tomorrow takes them across the road to face Poneke, while Paremata-Plimmerton welcomes Avalon over to Ngati Toa Domain.

In one significant milestone, Sanita Levave plays her 200^th Premier match for Norths.

All four matches are at 11:30am

Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield

While their top team struggles, OBU’s second-stringers are showing no sign of letting go of their crowns and continue to lead the grade, and their assignment tomorrow is the early game at Porirua Park against ninth-placed Norths. HOBM and Poneke share second, and they’re away at Tawa and at home against Upper Hutt respectively while MSP in fourth are at William Jones to face Wainuiomata.

Further down the table Petone are at Polo to face Ories, Johnsonville and Avalon take to Newlands Park (12:30pm kickoff), and Pare-Plim are at Hataitai to face bottom-placed Wellington.

Unless noted, all matches are at 1.00pm.

Colts Paris Memorial

Tomorrow’s fifth round of the Colts is highlighted by the clash between second and third as the unbeaten Upper Hutt Rams host Petone at Maidstone Park. Leaders HOBM are at home on the Hutt Rec and face Norths, while OBU welcome MSP into the Ian Galloway cage. Poneke and Tawa have Kilbirnie #1 for themselves, with minnows Johnsonville over at the Polo Ground to face Ories. Pare-Plim has the bye this week.

All five matches are at 1.00pm.

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Under 85kg JC Bowl

A mix of kick-off times this week in the weight-grade. Leaders Tawa return to action after the bye, and the Ducks head down the road to face neighbours Johnsonville in a top-of-the-table clash that gets curtain-raiser billing at 1.00pm at Helston Park. It’s an early start again for MSP as they again lead off another clubs Old Timers’ Day, this time Wellington’s, at 11.30am at Hataitai. It’s a routine 2.45pm start in the remaining matches with Pare-Plim hosting HOBM at Ngati Toa, and Eastbourne make the long trip into the southern suburbs to face the OBU Scallywags at MacAlister Park. Avalon are on the bye this week.

College

A big day at the sharp end of the college game, as the fields for this year’s Premier grades will be set. Four matches will fill out the Premiership field with two of them pitting sides who played in last year’s top flight against each just to return this season. Up first Wairarapa College are at home against Paraparaumu at 12 noon, while at 2.30pm Rongotai takes on Tawa. Also at 2.30pm either Hutt Valley High or Porirua will have the opportunity to step into the main game when they meet in Lower Hutt, with the fourth match pitting incumbents St Bernard’s against Mana who hope to return are playing last season down in Premier 3.

The losers of those matches will head to Premier 2, where they’ll join the Silverstream and Wellington College 2^nd XV’s and the winners of four more matches. Those are all 1pm kickoffs with Kapiti hosting Aotea, Taita are up the road in Upper Hutt to face the combined side, Bishop Viard host the Town 2nds, and Newlands-Onslow are at home against the Silverstream 3rds.

Before all that however, Silverstream wrap their preparations as they host Palmerston North Boys’ at midday in one of their Traditional clashes.

Wednesday next week sees two matches. Scots are hosting Napier Boys in their final tune-up with an early 10am start, while the Premiership season kicks into gear with the Traditional opener between St Pat’s Town and Wellington College, which is at Evans Bay this year.

Elsewhere

With their massive win over Feilding Old Boys-Oroua last week together with Massey’s loss to Te Kawau, Kia Toa have opened up a nine-point lead in the Manawatu’s Hankins Shield; albeit they are yet to have the bye. They head out to Rongotea to face Te Kawau in a top-of-the-table clash. Freyberg return from the bye to visit Feilding Yellows, Linton and Massey meet in the city at Ongley Park, and the two city “Old Boys” clubs – College Old Boys and Old Boys Marist – clash on the back fields at the Arena. FOBO get a much-needed week off with the bye.

Rahui and Foxton continue to lead the way in Horowhenua-Kapiti’s Ramsbotham Cup. The Otaki side has the chance to put some space between themselves and their rivals as they host Waikanae while the defending champions have the bye. Paraparaumu will look to rebound from their first loss of the year when they host Levin Wanderers, while Levin College Old Boys are at home against Shannon.

Two of the form teams of this year’s Wairarapa Bush season clash tomorrow, when unbeaten Martinborough welcomes Greytown into the valley. Carterton head out towards the coast to take on East Coast in Whareama, Masterton Red Star will look to continue their resurgence this year when they visit Eketahuna, and there’s a Masterton derby when Marist hosts Pioneer on the back fields at Memorial Park.