Much to play for in opening weekend of second round matches in Premier and Premier 2 grades

• By Scott MacLean & Steven White

Updated 9.00pm Friday: It’s the opening weekend of the second round of the Wellington club rugby Premier and Premier 2 competitions, and there is much on the line for many teams. The winners of the respective Jubilee Cup (Premier) and Ed Chaney Cup (Premier 2) ‘top 4’ matches earn next weekend off and losers earn another life against the winners of the ‘5-8’ games. In turn those latter losers drop down to the Hardham Cup.

Elsewhere, the first round of the Colts competition concludes, with three teams still having hopes of winning. Tawa and the Upper Hutt Rams meet in a likely virtual final, but in the event of a low scoring draw defending champions HOBM can come through and win.

No college rugby tomorrow owing to school holidays, while there are playoffs in nearby Manawatu and Wairarapa-Bush competitions.

There are some alterations tomorrow too, which are reflected in this preview below.

UPDATE: The Old Boys University v Avalon Hardham Cup match is now at Nairnville Park 1 at 2.45pm.

Tipping Competition: Enter your tips by Saturday 2.30pm at: https://www.faceyoursfears.com/games/WGTN2025/join Update ‘end of Swindale Shield’ prizes for the top three at this juncture, and if you are username Jamieskin (second) and want a prize you need to contact us please! The competition continues for the next four weeks, with a major winner then  declared. It is still tight, and we have added another two ‘wildcard’ rounds where your points are doubled. A tip would be to use at least one of these now as there are more games and more points on offer.

Radio Commentary. This Saturday, the E Tū Whānau Footy Show comes from Maidstone Park in the fixture between the Upper Hutt Rams and Johnsonville. 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, and are now pivoting towards a new site for this for next year, retaining all historical information.

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:

Jubilee and Hardham Cups Round 1 – just the teamlists

Premier Jubilee Cup

Top Four

Oriental Rongotai (1) vs Hutt Old Boys Marist (4)

After their escape last week to complete the perfect Swindale campaign, Ories go back to their Polo home where they’ll be looking to lock in having next week off and being back there in fortnight’s time. But last Saturday wasn’t the only time that the Magpies left victory late; a few weeks before that HOBM pushed them to the brink of defeat before Tom Maiava got them home. Last week’s McBain triumph in exactly the sort of boost the Eagles needed after being flat in their home loss to Upper Hutt the match before, and with a few personnel playing tomorrow that missed that prior encounter they’ll fancy their chances.

After using their ‘get out of jail’ card last week against Wainuiomata – for the second week in a row – Ories bring back some of their players to their line-up. Foremost among them is Tom Maiava who comes back after a week off and into fullback. There are three changes to the tight five too, with Semurana Fepulea’I and Siatua Taituave at hooker and tighthead prop respectively and Ruperake Oloapu returns to lock. In the backs, Skivi Va’a comes back to the midfield to partner Alex Ropeti, while in-form Herman Seumanufagai returns to the left wing.

The HOBM Eagles have named an unchanged forward pack from that which took the field last week, with just one positional swap in the backs that being wings Fritz Rayasi swapping to the left wing and Phelan Rona on to the right edge.

Tawa (2) vs Paremata-Plimmerton (3)

UPDATE: This game is now back at Lyndhurst Park (previously reported that it had been moved to Redwood Park as per the WRFU results email).

For 70 minutes last week Pare-Plim looked certain to be hosting one of those top-four matches, but not for the first time this season they collapsed in the last 10. While that, and results elsewhere, didn’t push them into the elimination bracket it did mean leaving the shark tank and heading for the home of that side they lost to last Saturday, Tawa. Tawa have come home with a wet sail in recent weeks and deserve to be hosting this game and know how to navigate this time of year.

Home side Tawa will be strengthened tomorrow by the return of George Risale from injury. The hard-running Risale was chewing up the metres for several weeks before his recent stint on the sideline. Although his gain is for Metolu Petaia who was one of their best last week and is missing tomorrow. A change at starting halfback and first-five too, with Solomona Uelese partnering with James So’oialo in the halves.

Wholehearted Paremata-Plimmerton lock Junior Davey plays his 100^th Premier match in this encounter and he starts in the pack in place of Alex Fidow with Zeke Fiso in turn moving to lock for blindside. Likewise, Tane McMillan-Parata is at No. 8 with captain Christian Fa’avae at openside flanker. Toby Mallon is the starting hooker for Davis Eni in a straight swap off the bench. In two notable changes to the pine, Leni Apisai and Joe Faleafaga are in the 22 this week.

Elimination bracket

Upper Hutt Rams (5) vs Johnsonville (8)

Like Tawa and Pare-Plim, these two met last week and like that game it came down to the end where Ieti Campbell’s nerveless penalty got the Rams home 20-17 and with it home advantage for the rematch that has somewhat more on it than last week. Upper Hutt’s injury issues have eased somewhat and the young midfield pairing of Campbell and Emmanuel Solomona is as good as any going around, but they may only be as good as the platform they get from up front. Despite last week’s result Johnsonville will hold few fears about making the journey again, particularly if it’s wet and windy, but much could depend on their halves combination able to take control of the game.

The Rams have selected an almost unchanged run-on team to host Johnsonville, the only change is at fullback where Todd Svenson replaces Tynan Barrett.  If it gets tight again later in the second half, the Rams can call on experience off the bench, such as front rowers Connor Lemon and Tolu Fahamokioa and halfback Kaide McCashin who is returning from several weeks out injured.

Johnsonville has a double boost to their forwards for this Maidstone re-run, with Ha’amea Ahio back in the starting team at loosehead prop and Anthony Pettett back in the 22 and set to come of the bench. Aidan Eastwood returns to halfback to partner Nial Delahunt in that halves pairing alluded to above, while Olly Paotonu returns to their midfield at second five. Ish Perkins starts on the left wing with Jacob Kennedy riding the pine.

Petone (6) vs Poneke (7)

In each of the three games above, the team at home won the corresponding Swindale match. That’s not the case here, as Poneke upset Petone at the Rec on the Villagers’ Old Timers’ Day. The hosts will be beyond keen to reverse that result and rebound from last week’s McBain disappointment, but having done it once already this season the Streetkids will certainly believe that they can do it again.

Some changes to the Petone team from last week’s McBain heartache. Starting up-front, Kafa Katoa and Ryan Imrie come into the 15, as does Jono Bailey for Brad Shields at lock. A new halves pairing, with Ben Brooking at halfback, and Rory Woollett at first-five for Cam Ferreria and TJ Clarke. Tom Carter moves from the wing to second five for JG Bradbrook.

For Pōneke, Maea Tema-Schmidt returns to the starting XV at lock for this game, while Noah Tuifao-Galuvao comes into tighthead prop for Hamish Huggins to join his brother Moses between hooker Andrew Jones when the scrums get to business. Just one change in the backs, with Hunter Andrew coming on to the right wing for Dominic Ririnui-Sipa who is on the bench.

Premier Hardham Cup

Even more déjà vu here with two of the matches being repeats of last week. Old Boys-University (9) host Avalon (14) at Nairnville Park after their 26-5 win at Ian Galloway last Saturday, and they’ll be favourites again here against the winless Wolves.

The Goats have Oskar Lynch replacing Ollie Church at lock and Geordie Bean at hooker and Nico Aandewiel at tighthead prop in a front row reshuffle with Louis Calvert not playing. Hooker Bean takes over the captaincy from Calvert as well. A couple of tweaks to the starting backline, with Malo Tevita Manuao moving from fullback to second-five and Calum Koebergh from left wing to fullback.

The Avalon team for tomorrow had yet to be revealed at the time of publishing. 

Across town Marist St Pat’s (10) and Wellington (13) renew acquaintances, only this time at Evans Bay and not the Hataitai bog. While MSP will again be favourites, the Axemen showed enough to suggest that if they keep their heads and a few breaks go their way, they could spring the upset and turn around the 17-12 result to MSP from a week ago

MSP captain Jake Wetere switches sides of the srcum to loosehood prop for this return match, with Dan Leone starting at tighthead in place of last week’s centurion Tui Tuia. Other than that, an unchanged for MSP tomorrow from last week’s mud bath.

The Axemen come down to Evans Bay Park with an unchanged forward pack from that which pushed MSP close last week. A new face but an old one at halfback, with former Ories player Tuga Mativa starting for the side there. In two backline changes, Isalei Pouvalu starts at first-five and Anasa Yabaki is on the left wing. Lookout for big shifts later in the match off the bench by Cameron Rosinegrave and Tom Robertson.

And finally, Wainuiomata (11) welcome Norths (12) to William Jones. Last weekend’s late loss to Ories was another near-miss in a season seemingly full of them for the home side. They seem in better shape than Norths are, but if they can get things to click they could be a handful.

No changes to Wainuiomata’s engine room for this match, but Renata Kotuhi and Mikade Fono return as the midfield pairing. Raymond and Ray Va’a are the two wings, whilst Derek Lealiifano starts at fullback. A potential debut off the bench for outside back Wayne Nanai Misa.

Jackson Garden-Bachop comes back into the Norths side for this fixture to start first-five, with Luke Walmsley shifting into halfback. Jeremiah Avei-Collins also returns to the side and starts at blindside flanker. A new player at second-five in Luke McGill.

Premier 2 Ed Chaney and HD Morgan Memorial Cups

The Premier 2 competition follows the same format as the Premiers do, so in the Ed Chaney Cup newly-crowned Harper Lock Shield winners Petone (1) open up against OBU (4) in one top four clash on Petone #2 with the Goats dented by their shock loss to Avalon last week. In the other match its another Kilbirnie derby as Poneke (2) take on MSP (3) on Kilbirnie Park #2 on the red and black side of the road.

The two elimination games which see the losers drop into the HD Morgan pit Tawa (5) at neutral Newlands Park against Upper Hutt (8), while HOBM (6) and Ories (7) clash at the Hutt Rec

In this week’s three HD Morgan matches Pare-Plim (9) host Wellington (14) at Ngati Toa, Wainuiomata (10) welcome Avalon (13) to William Jones, and Norths (11) and Johnsonville (12) meet at Porirua Park #2.

It’s an earlier 12.30pm start for this grade this week, with the match at Ngati Toa having an even earlier 11.30 kick-off.

As a winner must be found in each game in these two grades, then extra-time of 10 minutes each way will be played if scores are tied at the end of normal time. If still tied after that, then the winner will be:

• The team scoring the most tries in the match including extra time, but if equal then,
• The team that won their head-to-head match in the Swindale or Harper Lock Shield

Colts Paris Memorial

The Colts first-round reaches its conclusion tomorrow, and in a dream situation for the union three teams are in with a shout with the top two going head-to-head. That pair are joint-leaders Tawa and the Upper Hutt Rams, who meet at RedwoodPark at 12.30pm (updated) and tied on 44 points and where the winner will take the trophy for the summer. But current holders HOBM are not out of it on 42 points, as a bonus point win against MSP at Kilbirnie Park #3 will see them claim a share or even retain it outright if the match at Redwood is drawn.

There are two other matches being played, with Ories and Petone clashing at the Polo Ground #2, while Pare-Plim hosts OBU at Ngati Toa #3 at 12.00pm. Poneke have the scheduled bye, while Norths also have the weekend off with Johnsonville appearing to have finally pulled the plug on their involvement.

Under 85kg Paul Potiki Memorial and Tony O’Brien Shields

A couple of intriguing clashes in the lightweights top-flight tomorrow. Champions Tawa and their predecessors OBU clash up the highway at Ngāti Toa Domain # 4, while Johnsonville and Wellington meet at Ian Galloway Park # and winless Avalon has the bye.

In Division 2 the teams start their second of the two round-robins with HOBM facing Eastbourne at the Hutt Rec #3, and Pare-Plim and MSP will be found on Porirua Park #4.

A reminder that college rugby is off this weekend and resumes next Saturday.

Elsewhere

After last week’s hiatus, rugby returns to the Horowhenua-Kapiti with the previously-scheduled matches. Leaders Rahui head north to Levin to take on Wanderers at the Domain while Foxton are at home to face Paraparaumu. The third match has Waikanae hosting Levin College Old Boys with Shannon having the bye.

Playoff rugby continues in the Manawatu. The sole Hankins Shield match is the Preliminary final between Massey and College Old Boys with the winner to face Kia Toa in the championship decider next week. In the Val Holland Cup Te Kawau faces Linton.

And to finish up, it’s quarter-final weekend in the Wairarapa-Bush Moose Kapene Cup. However just one match of the two is going ahead which sees Marist hosts local rivals Masterton Red Star with the winner to take on top seed Carterton next week in the semifinals. The other semifinal will be between Greytown and Martinborough, as the latter’s quarterfinal has been forfeited by Eketahuna as their sizeable Fijian contingent are currently working outside the district and are unavailable.

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