Upper Hutt Rams and Tawa to meet in Colts final on Saturday in 40th year of John E Kelly Cup

The Upper Hutt Rams and Tawa Colts team shots from recent weeks. The two clubs meet in Saturday’s John E Kelly Cup Division 1 decider at Kilbirnie Park.

The Upper Hutt Rams and Tawa have both had good looks at Colts championship silverware over the past two years.

In 2023 the Rams beat Pōneke 31-7 to win the Division 2 Vic Calcinai Memorial Cup. Last year Tawa missed out to a rampant HOBM Green Colts side 49-19 in the Division 1 decider.

Both have had strong seasons, with the Rams winning the first round Paris Memorial Trophy and Tawa finishing third just one win behind them in the 10-round competition. The Rams won their previous encounter 39-24 when they met at the end of the Paris Memorial Cup section just three weeks ago.

Picking a winner on Saturday in their Colts Division 1 season decider could be a hard task, but one thing certain is a new champion will be etched upon the cup.

Both are coming off hard-fought semi-final wins this past Saturday. The Rams held off Petone 31-25 at home whilst Tawa’s semi-final was even closer, beating HOBM 38-36 away at the Hutt Rec.

Tawa trailed HOBM 28-36 with five minutes to play, but captain Hadley Vaoliko explained that they knew if they kept calm in the closing stages they were in with a shot. “We tried to focus more on our defence and had to play the last 10 minutes with our heads just as much as our bodies,” Hadley said. “Down by 10 points, going for the penalty kick to get the ball back and going on to score a try with two minutes left on the clock was a well and truly tawa play.”

“Overall it was a really really competitive and tough game. We knew we had to come out firing and win that first half in terms of points. We held our structure and got the job done in a nailbiter of a second half.

“Big ups to the boys for working hard for each other. Going into the finals we know what we are good at, know our strengths and will need to perfect the things we do well to bring the John. E Kelly Memorial cup home to Tawa.”

The Rams’ win over Petone was less dramatic but no less tense and pulsating.

Rams captain Kemara Mahuri-Tukukino said they were happy and relieved to win despite not firing on all cyclinders, something they know they will need to do on Saturday.

“Perhaps the week off last week as top qualifiers wasn’t great for maintaining momentum, but we knew Petone were going to be tough and they had been building well as the season progrressed” mulled Kemara.

“Tawa will be another tough one this week. I don’t think we saw a top performance from them three weeks ago in the first round ‘final’. Discipline, execution and staying calm under pressure will be the key as you’d expect in a final.”

Both captains were asked what they see as the strengths of their team that will hopefully get the job done on Saturday.

Tawa captain Hadley said their strengths lie in being a solid team unit.

“We know we can rely on each other to get our jobs done, and to be honest with each other when plays need some working on. It’s always reassuring knowing that we all have each other’s backs no matter how difficult the situation gets. I would say one of our key players is prop Jarred Kuresa. Strong with his runs, plays hard offence and defence and is an all-around reliable player.”

Jonty Baker has scored 10 tries and Max Tofts 68 points for Tawa as well.

Kemara noted the same about the Rams.

“We are fortunate to have had 34 players who have stuck by the team all year which is a credit to all of them given we’ve also had a lot of weeks without rugby due to the competition having no rugby on long weekends, byes, and defaults.

“But our management have tried to rotate selections and manage injuries so we have depth and can trust any of our team regardless on the 22 selected for game day. We have a group of players that have been in the Colts for three years now and mixed with players either first or second year out of school, there’s a good balance of experience and youthful enthusiasm.”

Both captains said their supporters will be there in force on Saturday.

In terms of our support as a club, the energy and love we get from our families that show up every weekend is unreal,” said Hadley about Tawa. “ It really is just an unexplainable feeling. To us, our families and friends that come and support us never will go unnoticed and we will repay everyone by doing the best we can on that field come this Saturday.

Our family and friends that have supported us throughout the year have been awesome, with some even travelling regularly from out of town to cheer us on,” said Kemera.

“With our Prems in the Hardham Cup final on Saturday, we’re hoping for a big and vocal Rams crowd, but Tawa will also be out in force with 4 teams in finals.”

”Having the backing of our sponsors [RentCare Property Management, Caleb & Chrissy Alve] has been a huge help too. They’ve been with us for three years now and are regularly at our games.

“The Rams also have 12 players that will finish their time in the colts grade on Saturday. Most of them have been involved with the team for three years when the club re-established a colts team following the challenges of the Covid years

About the John E Kelly Cup

The John E Kelly Memorial Cup was donated to the WRFU by the Wellington Football Club for play in the Under 21 Division 1 Competition in 1985. The trophy is in memory of Wellington’s late Club Captain, John E Kelly, who died of cancer. John played and administrated rugby with the Wellington Club for many years and had the privilege of playing alongside his young son.

The University club won the first John E Kelly Cup in 1986 and Porirua won the second in 1987. In total, OBU (including University and WCOB) have won this 11 times and Norths (including Porirua) have won four titles.

The past 10 winners:

2015 Hutt Old Boys Marist
2016: OBU Green
2017: Petone
2018: OBU Green
2019: OBU Green
2020: OBU Green
2021: OBU Green
2022: Petone
2023: Oriental-Rongotai
2024: Hutt Old Boys Marist

Upper Hutt have won the John E Kelly Cup three times, in 2005, 2008 and 2009. Tawa have won once, in 1993.

Match details

What: John E Kelly Cup Colts Division 1 Final
Where: Kilbirnie Park 2
Who: Upper Hutt Rams and Tawa (referee Craig McWilliams, with assistance from Luke Cunningham and Quintin Renner)
When: Saturday 26 July, 1.50pm

Squad Lists

The two teams that will contest the final will be selected and finalised from the following players (with their former schools in brackets):

Upper Hutt Rams

Jordy Beaumont (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Jakson Bentley (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Graeyson Chadwick (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Savant Erurera (Heretaunga College)
Abraham Fletcher (Wellington College)
JJ Gillies (Rathkeale College / Kuranui College)
Jake Hewson-Smith (Upper Hutt College)
Shohn Hunt (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Brontyn Jane (Upper Hutt College)
Blaine Knapman (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Seth Koneferenisi (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Jade Langi (Upper Hutt College)
Aaron Leifi (Heretaunga College)
Kemara Mahuri-Tukukino (Upper Hutt College)
Tawhi Mahuri-Tukukino (Upper Hutt College / St Pat’s Silverstream)
Moses Mailau (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Preston Maraku (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Tyrone Maraku (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Payton Matthews (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Jackson Mendoza (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Dustin Miller (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Hemi Moreli (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Flyn Morgan (Upper Hutt College)
Nikau Nicholls (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Deacon Orr (Hutt International Boys’ School)
Tamati Payne (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Isiah Reiri (Te Aute College)
Sam Robinson (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Will Robinson (Upper Hutt College)
Liam Slight (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Jack Stowers (St Pat’s Silverstream)
Max Towers (Reeds School, Surrey, England)
Latu Tupou (Wesley College)
Angelo Winter-Robati (St Pat’s Silverstream)

Management
Henry Grey (Coach)
Terry Mallia-Puru (Coach)
Dion Waller (Coach)
Craig MacFarlane (Manager)

Tawa

Joseph Samuelu (Rongatai College)
Evan Paenga (Mana Collage)
Jarred Kuresa (St Pats Town)
Aloali’i Fa’aita (St Pats Town)
Jake Blakelock (Queen Victoria School. Fiji)
Vati Valu (Tawa Collage / Wellington College)
Hadley Vaoliko (St Pat’s Town)
Omari Perera (Tawa Collage)
Jeremiah Frost (Bishop Viard Collage)
Randall Paenga (Mana Collage)
Max Tofts (Paraparaumu Collage)
Cliff Hunt (St Pat’s Town / Tawa College)
Anthony Hunt (St Pat’s Town / Tawa College)
Seth Nuuausala (Howick College)
Justyn Whiripo (Tawa College)
Jonty Baker (Mana College)
Malachi Suniula (Tawa College)
Johnpaul Ualese Taulal (Bishop Viard College)
Herbert Lemate (Bishop Viard College)
Ben To’o (Tawa College)
Alofa Tovio (Bishop Viard College)
Mataira Wallace (Wellington Collage)
Faamavaega Lokeni (Bishop Viard College)
Jeovahani leremia (Bishop Viard College /Hastings Boys’ High School)
Draeton Tiraa (Tawa College)
Sailo Tuimalo (Tawa College)
Mikaele-Jacob Tili (Bishop Viard Collage)

Coaches:
Cliff Hunt Snr (Head Coach)
Faio Suniula (Assistant Coach)
Steve Boyle (Assistant Coach)