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Above: Fulltime in the McBain Shield with Hutt Old Boys Marist having held on to be at Petone. Photo: Andy McArthur.
- By Steven White, Adam Julian & Scott MacLean
Petone are the 2025 Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield champions, while already crowned first round champions Oriental-Rongotai made history by becoming the first team in the 13-round Swindale Shield era and perhaps the first ever including previous 11-round iterations to finish with a maximum bag of bonus point wins.
Needing a win, draw, or two bonus points to claim it outright, Petone made sure of their Harper Lock Shield title by beating Hutt Old Boys Marist 35-17 in today’s Hutt Rec McBain Shield curtain-raiser.
In the Premier competition, Ories left their run late at William Jones Park, coming back to win 36-32 when it appeared that the home team Wainuiomata might be heading for a famous win.
In today’s other big match of interest, the Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles defeated Petone at home at the Hutt Rec 30-25 to win the famous McBain Shield.
The winners confirmed, all eyes were also on the finishing order of both competitions and the seedings for the championship rounds in the Premier, Premier 2 grades.
In next week’s first round of the Jubilee Cup, top seed Oriental-Rongotai (1) hosts Hutt Old Boys Marist (4) and Tawa (2) entertains Paremata-Plimmerton again (3).
In the 5-8 Jubilee Cup matches next week, where the losers head to the Hardham Cup the following week, Upper Hutt Rams (5) host Johnsonville again (8) and Petone (6) play Pōneke (7).
The final 2025 Swindale Shield top 8 points table was: Ories 65; Tawa 50; Paremata-Plimmerton 48; HOBM 48; Upper Hutt Rams 47; Petone 46; Pōneke 45; Johnsonville 41.
There were two tiebreakers required – both on the ‘who beat who’ countback – with Paremata-Plimmerton (48) finishing ahead of Hutt Old Boys Marist (48) by virtue of their earlier win over them and Marist St Pat’s (25) edging Wainuiomata (25) courtesy of their previous win over them.
The finishing order and points of the teams between 9th-14th was Old Boys University 36; MSP 25; Wainuiomata 25; Norths 14; Axemen 10; Avalon 4.
Next weekend’s opening Premier tier 2 Hardham Cup games are between Old Boys Universtiy (9) and Avalon (14), Marist St Pat’s (10) and Wellington (13) again and Wainuiomata (11) and Northern United (12).
In other Swindale Shield 13th round results today, MSP edged the Wellington Axemen 17-12 at Hataitai Park, Tawa pipped Paremata-Plimmerton 26-23 at Ngati Toa Domain, Pōneke beat Norths 53-10 at Kilbirnie Park and the Upper Hutt Rams beat Johnsonville 20-17.
A milestone try for Norths No. 8 Luca Rees – scoring a try which was his 100th Premier try.
In the McBain Shield, HOBM won the trophy for the 21st time, starting strongly and finishing bravely to topple 30-25.
HOBM burst out to a 14-0 lead with two converted tries. Influential midfield back Kapu Broughton-Winterburn made the initial break and flanker Jordan Gillies did the rest. Then rookie wing Phelan Rona snaffled an intercept and darted 20 metres himself.
TJ Clarke made a horror start with three bad mistakes, but he kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit to 11 and then a searing kick he made resulted in a Petone lineout, taken quickly by wing Lachie Forbes and a try to halfback Cam Ferreira to make it 1408.
HOBM reassumed control and bullocking wing Fritz Rayasi crashed over and it was 19-8 to the Eagles.
The haltime score was cut to 19-15, with a converted try to Petone, scored by silky fullback Jermaine Pepe.
There were penalties exchanged at the beginning of the second half, which extended HOBM’S lead to 25-18.
The most important try of the game was set up by HOBM first five Kyha Wilson, retrieving a kick inside his 22, he hoisted one high deep inside Petone territory, snatched the ball off Ferrira and sailed inside the 22. A ruck formed, the ball went left and lock Teofilo Paulo, possibly the Player of the Match touched down unopposed on the short side.
Petone refused to yield and centre Losi Filipo, who otherwise had a quiet game, wriggled over close to the post to make it 30-25.
HOBM conceded several penalties and a yellow cad and handed Petone late chances to win. Petone could have done so but for a laboured pass from Pepe to No. 8 Tuifao who flew towards the corner but was was taken out by centre Sapati Tagoai.
A late momentum shift and two tries in the last five minutes gave Tawa their 26-23 win over Paremata-Plimmerton.
Trailing 23-14, Tawa scored their penultimate try of the match to replacement second five Kalim Kelemete following a 60 second build-up and phase play inside the 22. The conversion was missed but they now trailed 23-19, requiring a try to win.
Tawa got themselves back on to attack and dealt the killer blow with what became the last play of the game, when from an attacking scrum veteran replacement first five James So’oialo kicked through to the line for the midfield to chase up. Replacement second five Kalim Kelemete was the first to the ball but missed the chance. However, centre Nigel Hunt was next on the scene and pounced to score the match-winner to break Hammerheads’ hearts.
Earlier in the second half, it seemed like the home side were heading to victory after halfback Esi Komaisavai finished off a counterattack from near halfway and ran through to score his second try of the afternoon, and his record-breaking 19th try of the Swindale Shield. The previous record was 18 (in 11 games) in 2010 by Buxton Popoalii for Norths.
Previously, Paremata-Plimmerton first five Dale Sabbagh had been successful with his second penalty chance of the second half as they overtook a 13-14 deficit early in the second half.
Sabbagh had opened the scoring early with a penalty but Tawa had scored the first try of the match to captain and flanker Hemi Fermanis to put them up 7-3.
Paremata-Plimmerton were also down to 14 players with halfback Komaisavai sent to the bin in the build-up to Fermanis’ try.
Tawa missed a trick from another penalty and lineout in the corner but messed it up and the home side held on.
Paremata-Plimmerton rallied, and after another long sequence in possession, second five Ethan Webster-Nonu crashed over the line to make it 8-7.
Right on half time, Paremata-Plimmerton won a big scrum penalty which they tapped, and that man Komaisavai came up with his first try in front of the scoreboard. Sabbagh’s conversion hit the uprights and missed, and Paremata-Plimmerton led 13-7 at halftime.
Early in the second half, Tawa made the perfect start. From a penalty and lineout in the corner, their forwards drove to the line and hooker Lotu Nuku came up with a try to put Tawa ahead for the second time in the game.
The game played on a heavy field was a compelling arm wrestle throughout, with both sets of lineouts wobbly at times, but the scrum battle was a feature. Given the conditions, handling was often sound and fullbacks Jacob Denyer for Tawa and Sione Baker for Paremata-Plimmerton both played well.
Premier 2
Updated: Top qualifier and first round champions Petone (1) will play Old Boys University (4) in next week’s second round Premier 2 opener. Pōneke (2) will play Marist St Pat’s (3), Tawa (5) will meet Upper Hutt Rams (8) and HOBM (6) will play Ories (7),
In the second tier matches, Paremata-Plimmerton (9) and the Axemen (14) meet, Wainuiomata (10) and Avalon (13) play and Norths (10) and Johnsonville (11) clash.
There was an upset today, with Avalon beating Old Boys University 17-12, while Paremata-Plimmerton almost beat Tawa, losing 10-12.
The Upper Hutt Rams defeated Johnsonville 45-17, Ories beat Wainuiomata 60-19, Pōneke beat Norths 57-14 and MSP beat the Axemen 55-0.
The Ngāti Toa Domain curtain raiser was shifted to the number 2 field which was extremely muddy to start with, having hosted junior games on it in the morning, and became a quagmire by full time. Much of the game in the entire first half was played in steady light rain with the conditions quickly turning the players into mudlarks.
Tawa won the game 12-10, with all the scoring done in the first half. Tawa scored first to go 5-0 up, followed by Paremata-Plimmerton scoring to level 5-5. Tawa’s second try in the 30th minute was the decisive score of the game, running it in from broken play from some way out and kicking the conversion to go ahead 12-5.
Paremata-Plimmerton hammered away before half time and came up with their second try which went unconverted, and the half time whistle was blown.
The second half saw Paremata-Plimmerton dominating possession and territory for a good 20 minutes between the 50th and 70th minute marks, but they missed out on some four try-scoring opportunities, either one of which would have won them the game.
Tawa regrouped over the final 10 minutes and Paremata-Plimmerton also lost a player to a red card near the end, and Tawa held on to win a hard-fought victory.
Colts
The scene is set of a final situation of the first round of the Colts Parist Memorial Trophy next weekend in Tawa as the home team shoots it out with the Upper Hutt Rams for the first round title.
Tawa beat Petone 19-17 at the Petone Rec this afternoon and the Rams had their bye to place Tawa and HOBM in the joint lead with one round to play on 44 points.
Last year’s winners HOBM are third on 42 after beating Pōneke 34-14, ahead of Petone on 34 in fourth and Ories on 31 in fifth after edging MSP 13-12 today. Down the table, OBU Green defeated Norths 26-5.
Under 85kg Paul Potiki Memorial and Tony O’Brien Shields
Week three of the second round of U85kg matches saw leaders Tawa beat Avalon 43-0 at Fraser Park. The Wellington Axemen beat the OBU Scallywags 9-5 and Johnsonville had the bye.
In Division 2, Paremata-Plimmerton and Eastbourne met on Ngati Toa 3 and HOBM beat MSP 22-0.
College
Wellington College backed up from their two midweek Quadrangular Tournament matches in Christchurch with a trip to Masterton this afternoon, winning 29-14 and maintaining third place on the ladder behind leaders St Pat’s Silverstream who had beaten fourth placed HIBS 78-12 during the week.
St Pat’s Town maintained second place with a 43-14 win over St Bernard’s, while Rathkeale beat Tawa College 66-12 at home and Scots College edged Rongotai College 13-11 in the battle of the eastern suburbs schools.
Just two matches played today in Premier 2, with the Wellington College 2nd XV beating Bishop Viard College 47-19 and Hutt Valley High School defeating Porirua College 41-7.
The remaining three matches of the sixth round in Premier 2 – Silverstream 2nds at home to Paraparaumu, Silverstream 3rds at Mana, and the Town 2nds hosting Kapiti – have been deferred to a later date.
Elsewhere
Kia Toa booked their place in the Hankins Shield final in a fortnight in today’s Manawatu major semi-final, prevailing 15-10 over Massey at the university.
Massey will have another chance next week when they take on College Old Boys, who ended Freyberg’s run with a 40-10 win. In the subsidiary Val Holland Cup matches Te Kawau beat Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 37-7, while Linton edged out Old Boys Marist 18-16.
Just three matches went ahead in the final round of the round-robin phase of the Wairarapa-Bush Moose Kapene Cup, with illness and unavailability seeing Eketahuna default to Marist. Carterton takes top spot into the playoffs, winning a 10-8 slugfest against Greytown, while there was more scoring in Masterton with Masterton Red Star holding out Pioneer by 36-34.
The final match was at Whareama on the road to Riversdale Beach where Martinborough were too big and too fast for an undermanned East Coast side, romping to a 71-7 win. The Coasties enjoyed some early parity but the visitors were quickly into their stride as imposing lock Tiawharangi Aranui was able to make metres through the middle and outside backs Bryce Cummings, Abe Wheeler, and Conall Doyle shredded the home side out wide. Martinborough notched five tries from the 15th minute onwards through Kody Thompson, two to Doyle, Ryan Knell, and finally Aranui himself. Coast got one back on the stroke of halftime, but that was as good as it got for them with the visitors running in six more after the interval with Wheeler scoring twice alongside centre Harry Eschenbach, Cody Cunningham, and replacements Jauan Bailey and Siutaka Toamotu.
The competition moves into the quarter-finals next week.
Horowhenua-Kapiti Ramsbotham Cup matches deferred to a date to be confirmed.
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