Matchday Scoring Highlights: Centurions U18s (30) v Wellington Samoa U18s (5)

The two teams met at Maidstone Park #2 in breezy but mostly dry overhead conditions following heavy morning rain at the venue.

This was the opening match of the 2025 HYRC U18s competition, which pitted the defending Division A champions against recent former winners Wellington Samoa. It was also a replay of the last game of this competition in 2024 in which the Centurions had reeled in a large deficit and scored a spectacular late try to win and take the title.

There were heroics needed in this fixture as the Centurions builts a three tries to nil 17-0 lead in the first half, playing with good continuity on attack. Wellington Samoa scored their only try of the match just prior to halftime to keep in touch, but the Centurions managed to pull ahead in the second half through a try off a penalty and lineout in the corner and a penalty. They then sealed their win with their fifth try late in the piece.

Match highlights below:

In the other Division A fixture for the John Hornal Trophy on Saturday, the Hawke’s Bay U18s beat the Poverty Bay U18s 109-5.

In Division 2 for the GNC Cup, the Wairarapa Bush U18s defeated the Wellington Maori 33-5 and the Whanganui U18s overcame the Horowhenua-Kapiti U18s 46-19.

This coming weekend sees the Centurions playing against Poverty Bay in Palmerston North and a double header at Maidstone Park with Wellington Samoa playing Hawke’s Bay and Wellington Māori meeting Horowhenua-Kapiti. Whanganui and Wairarapa-Bush contest the other fixture.

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Bonus Track

Also on Saturday, the Wellington U19s won their Central Region Shield competition with a 49-5 win over the Hurricanes Heartland U20s.

Scoring highlights of that fixture as seen on social media are below.