Time to shine in Round Nine for Swindale Shield hopefuls

Petone and Old Boys University will be looking to run away from their opposition tomorrow – Petone to stay in touch of leaders Ories for Swindale Shield glory and OBU to keep their Jubilee Cup chances alive. PHOTO: Wall Sport Media 

• By Scott MacLean

UPDATE: The Upper Hutt Rams have overcome the Wellington Axemen 62-10 (33-5) in their Friday night ninth round Swindale Shield match. The Rams retained the Hinaki-Mei Axe.

The weather gods continue to be kind to Wellington fans and players like, with another fine day forecast around the region for the ninth round of the Swindale Shield and Harper Lock Shield competitions, and with it a slew of crunch games.

There are two Premier players playing their 200th matches tomorrow, with Josh Hunt (Upper Hutt Rams) and Greg Lealofi (Wainuiomata) reaching that mark.

Petone are having a quasquicentennial weekend of rugby, while its the second round of College competition games tomorrow.

More in the preview below.

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Round 9 teamlists: At this story link here:

Swindale Shield Round 9 – Just the Teamlists

Tipping Competition: Just 40 points separate the top 20 and ties after 8 weeks and there are plenty of weeks remaining. There will be prizes including a trip for two to rugby paradise, we just haven’t got these organised to announce yet! Enter your tips by Saturday 2.30pm at: https://www.faceyoursfears.com/games/WGTN2025/join

Podcast: Find the @tackld club rugby preview podcast at Spotify.

Radio Commentary. This Saturday, the E Tū Whānau Footy Show comes from the Petone Rec in the fixture between Petone and Poneke. 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 still 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/2025/05/30/swindale-shield-round-9-just-the-teamlists/

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Premier Swindale Shield

Round Nine of the Swindale Shield has an early start, with the Upper Hutt Rams and Wellington meeting under the lights at Maidstone Park tonight. The Rams are well poised to keep their place inside the top eight, and would dearly like to move closer to those important top four spots, while the Axemen have blown hot and cold in recent weeks; if they can summons the former rather than the latter, they will be a threat to nab their second win on the season.

Josh Hunt’s 200^th Premier game has him start in midfield, continuing his makeshift combination with Pene To’o as injuries remain a problem for the Rams backs. There’s a element of rotation as veterans Tolu Fakamokioa and Eli Hunt both start upfront while youngster Angelo Winter-Robati returns to the #10 jersey. James Tuiatua starts at hooker for the Axemen this week with brother Ben back in midfield after his boxing bout last weekend. Cody Lokotui also returns, as does Ryan Tsourgas who impressed against Pare-Plim a fortnight ago.

Tomorrow action is headlined by the two matches either side of the Hutt River. On the north side, leaders Oriental Rongotai face down their third competitor for the title in as many weeks as they head to the Hutt Rec to face Hutt Old Boys Marist. Ories have beaten Petone and Pare-Plim the past two Saturday’s and have a perfect record so far, and another win would have them firmly in the box seat to finally win the Swindale Shield. But the Eagles have themselves snapped back into form and will fancy their chances; and remarkably they’ve won this contest the last eight years. If they do again tomorrow, the title race will close up considerably.

The hosts revert to what is their currently available first-choice lineup. Harry Press, Vili Tauofaga, and David Filipo return to their pack with Sapati Tagoai in midfield. It’s a power bench too with Brett Manaia and Ben Tuiomanufili lurking there, along with a return to Premier rugby for flier Khya Wilson. Ories have just two changes to the side that downed Pare-Plim last week; Sammy Seau comes into the loose for Sione Halalilo with Johnny Maiava in at centre for Daniel Tafili who drops to the bench

On the south side of the Ewen Bridge its celebration day at the Petone Rec, as Petone mark 140 years of rugby in the Village. They take on Poneke, two years their senior by establishment and two points back on the table and having reasserted themselves as a contender with their hard-fought win over in Wainuiomata a week ago. Petone also got back into the winner’s circle but only just as they left it late against OBU. These two have played out some cracking matches over the years, will tomorrow be another?

Petone lose Tjay Clarke to the Hurricanes this week for his well-earned debut in Super Rugby, but the trade-off is they get Stanley Solomon who’ll line up at fullback in a cameo from NZ U20s duty. Jermaine Pepe switches to thew wing and captain the side with Conner Tuifao away, and Luke Pearson steps up from the Bs to start at No8. Poneke make just a pair of personnel changes to last week’s winning side. Adam McRandle comes in to join Maea Temu-Schmidt at lock, with Sui Taulogo on the wing so Ifeanyi Nnbechukwu and Caleb Robson move up one jersey number to partner in midfield. Andrew Jones continues at flanker for the suspended Luca Bellucci, and will be charged with stopping his opposite Braith Ingram who is in stellar form.

Further north, Paremata-Plimmerton slipped to sixth with their loss at home to Ories, which probably took them out of contention for the silverware. But one of those coveted top-four places remain well within reach and they’ll be favoured to move in that direction when they visit winless Avalon at Fraser Park. Aside from their narrow loss to Wellington, it’s been a string of heavy defeats for the Wolves this year and it’s difficult to see that changing tomorrow.

Avalon captain Ale Peni will lead his side out for his 100^th Premier match. As usual there’s plenty of changes with Site Timu given the keys at first-five this week though both Jordan Aquila and Thomas Kiwara are on the bench. Callum Broughton has been a rare bright spark for the Wolves and he’ll line up at fullback. The Hammerheads hand a debut to 2023 Mana College captain Otis Baker and a first start to Tamahoukura Gunson in their pack, with Louis Northcott returning to the left wing after a midseason break. If needed, it’s a potent bench that includes centurion Peni Taupau and a second sighting on the season of Leni Apisai.

Back in the city, there’s just one match east of the Mt Vic tunnel tomorrow as fifth-placed Johnsonville head to Evans Bay to face their former coach Jason Adamson and his Marist St Pat’s side. The Hawks showed no mercy in dispatching Avalon last Saturday and will be the bookies choice here, but down in tenth and 11 points behind eighth MSP will be a desperate side looking to keep their season afloat.

It’s a settled line-up for the home side. Dan Leone tags in for Tui Tuiatua in their only change up front, while Luke Donaldson is at halfback and Luke Kapene switches to the wing to accommodate Francis Mettrick at fullback. Jake Wetere leads the team against the side he played for last year. Johnsonville go win a completely unchanged 22; a rarity these days. They’ll be looking to get a platform up front for their backs to operate, particularly the dangerous back three of Jacob Kennedy, Finlay Sharp, and Jacob Walmsley.

Across town, the nomadic Goats of Old Boys-University are back on their Ian Galloway grazing block, and where they’ll be at least as frustrated as the visiting Wainuiomata side are. It’s fair to say that sitting 11^th at this juncture with just one win was not what OBU expected in their title defences and if not for the eleven bonus points they’ve accumulated their chances would be completely sunk. Wainuiomata’s frustrations will be borne out of dropping two matches at home that they felt they should have won, but they’ve won at this venue in the recent past. You would have to think though that the Jubilee chances are gone for whoever loses this.

OBU get their NZ Universities contingent back, and captain Louis Calvert, Gareth Ward-Allen, Jack Riley, and Mitch McLeod all go straight into their starting side along with Malo Tevita-Manuao who will add plenty of nous in midfield. Greg Leolofi captains the visitors in his milestone 200^th match for the club, with fellow 200-gamer Teru Time starting at lock. Jordan Sului gets the nod at tighthead while the only backline change sees former Goat Campbell Cowie shift to fullback and Tamihana Ranginui on the wing. Coach Mike Lealeva’a has named himself on the bench.

And finally, at Lyndhurst Park it’s another of those games that people circle on the calendar when the schedule comes out. Tawa against Norths might have lost a little bit of its lustre in these last couple of years, but victory still represents a source of pride for the two sets of supporters. While Tawa has a break on those behind them, they’ll want to be further up the table than they are and will want to atone for their home loss to HOBM last weekend, and although Norths have had their struggles since those opening wins, they’ll like nothing more than taking their neighbours down.

Luke Bidois is given the openside job this week for the hosts, with Saimoni Roqaqui moving to lock. Their only other change puts 200-gamer Randall Bishop on the wing for Hunter Sao in what shapes as a powerful and experienced side. In a blow to Norths, they’re without Jeremiah Avei-Collins so their pack will have to cover his usual robust efforts. Toby Kennett takes over as skipper this week and moves into first-five with veteran Liki Siliga alongside him.

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All but the Avalon vs Pare-Plim match also have interclub Trophy prizes in play:

• Upper Hutt and Wellington play for their Hinaki-Mei Axe. A recent addition to the interclub slate as well as one of the more distinctive, it honours George Hinaki – who presently acts as the Rams kaumatua – and Jim Mei who played for both clubs and is the father of Premier 2 warhorse Ainsley. Upper Hutt are the holders.
• HOBM and Ories contest their Bondy Memorial Cup. Don Bond was an Ories lifer as a player and then several management roles, but passed away just weeks before his beloved Magpies ended their championship drought by winning the Jubilee Cup in 2011. It’s held by HOBM from their 39-33 in last year’s final round.
• The FJ Tilyard Memorial Shield is the prize between Petone and Poneke. First played for in 1958, it commemorates Fred Tilyard, one of four brothers of a famous Poneke family. Fred and Jimmy were both All Blacks, and Harry and Brun Wellington representatives. Petone are the holders, and they’ll also be defending the Bill Brien Challenge Cup.
• A new trophy will be inaugurated tomorrow, with the first playing of the Trent Eagle Cup between MSP and Johnsonville. Eagle was a centurion with the Hawks before moving to MSP where he played 95 Premier matches and won three Jubilee Cups, including as captain in 2002.
• OBU and Wainuiomata play for their Peter Dunford Cup. Dunford began his senior playing career with Wellington College OB in the 1950s before making the move to the valley and the fledging local club. OBU hold this one.
• And finally, Tawa and Norths contest their Sammy Saili Memorial Trophy. A prominent figure in the Samoan community, Saili played over 200 Premier matches across the two clubs from 1992 to 2008 before his sudden passing the following year. Tawa are the holders.

Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield

The round here is highlighted by the early match at the Petone Rec where the second-placed Villagers take on leaders Poneke for the competition lead. OBU will look to get back on track when they host Wainuiomata at Ian Galloway while fourth-placed HOBM welcome Ories to the Hutt Rec.

Down the ladder MSP and Johnsonville meet at Evans Bay, Tawa and Norths provide the early entertainment at Lyndhurst, Avalon hosts Pare-Plim at Fraser Park, and Upper Hutt and Wellington have Maidstone Park all to themselves.

Premier Women Tia Paasi Memorial and Izzy Ford Cups

Round two of this part of the season sees a slightly earlier 11.15am start for Petone taking on Oriental Rongotai in the second rematch of last year’s championship decider, while it’s the routine 11.30am start for Marist St Pats and Norths at Evans Bay in the two Tia Paasi Memorial matches.

The Izzy Ford Cup clashes have Paremata-Plimmerton at home against Wainuiomata, with Avalon heading to the city to face Poneke at Kilbirnie.

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Outside of the top grades, there are just three other club matches scheduled. Two are Colts matches with the lone competition one being the clash between HOBM and Norths that has been rescheduled from a fortnight ago when Norths were then-unable to field a team, while there’s a non-competition match between the Petone and Poneke teams as part of the Villagers 140^th celebrations. The third is a Reserve Grade match between the Johnsonville Cripples and Wellington. Otherwise, the Colts, Under 85s, Reserves, and Presidents grades have the weekend off.

College

No break for the sharp end of the college game however. In the Premiership the two St Patrick’s colleges both venture to Masterton tomorrow; coming off their midweek win in New Plymouth Silverstream head for Rathkeale in what could be an early playoff preview, while Town are at Wairarapa College, with both matches 12 noon kick-offs. Back over the Remutaka’s in the two matches that are going ahead Hutt International head deep into the city to face Rongotai, while in the Hutt St Bernard’s host Tawa with both at 2.30pm. In what we hope isn’t a portent of things to come, Scots College have already defaulted their match to Wellington College.

In Premier 2 it’s an 11.30 start for the Silverstream and Town 2nds, while at 1pm Paraparaumu host the Stream 3rds, Porirua are at home against Kapiti, and the Wellington College 2nds host Mana. The fifth game was to see HVHS at home against Bishop Viard, but the Porirua side have been unable to back up from Wednesday’s Beard Trophy match.

Elsewhere

No club rugby on this weekend in Manawatu, Horowhenua-Kapiti, or Wairarapa Bush, although Waikanae and Shannon got a catch-up match in on Wednesday night under lights in Levin with Waikanae winning 37-34.

Hurricanes

The Hurricanes are playing Moana Pasifika on Saturday night at Wellington Stadium, more in the link below.

Aisle be Back: Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika