U18s final round tomorrow, Lions at home, Pōneke U85kgs away and Heartland Championship to heat up

By Scott MacLean

The silverware will be decided in the two divisions of the Hurricanes Youth Council’s U18 competition tomorrow in their third and final round of this competition.

The two matches likely to decide the winners are in Napier between the Hawke’s Bay U18s and the Wellington Centurions U18s (Division A) in a virtual ‘final’ and in Levin between unbeaten visitors Wairarapa-Bush and Horowhenua-Kapiti (Levin).

There are several other teams in action tomorrow as well, but the only game in Wellington is the NPC one between the Wellington Lions and the Southland Stags so a bumper crowd is hoped for with three returning All Blacks to their line-up.

Enquiries have been made, and it looks like there will be no livestreams at either the U18s decider in Napier or the U85kg semi-final in Auckland. We will do our best to bring a round-up later on Saturday of these matches and more.

Under 85kg National Club Cup

It’s back on the road again for Pōneke, as they head to Auckland to face the University Slugs in their last four matchup, with the winner progressing to next weekend’s final and curtain-raiser to the Bledisloe Test at Eden Park. Pōneke didn’t have it all their own way last Saturday against New Plymouth Old Boys but were comfortable enough winners, but the Slugs will present a strong challenge at home and on the back of trouncing Waihora 53-7 last Saturday. In good news for the Kilbirnie side, national representative Pasia Asiata is free to play after being sent off in the quarter-final.

The other semi-final is a rematch of last year’s final at the Cake Tin, with 2023 winners High School Old Boys hosting defending champions Pakuranga in Christchurch.

Representative

A quiet weekend at home with all the senior teams bar one having wrapped up their season. The one team still going are the Lions, and after successive defeats on the road are back home at Porirua Park looking to keep their playoff hopes intact. Southland are the opposition, and while they’ve taken a pair of beatings since lifting the Ranfurly Shield from Waikato the fact they managed to do that is proof they can pull off the unexpected. Ruben Love, Kyle Preston, Peter Lakai return from All Blacks duty and go straight into the starting side. Callum Harkin switches to the left wing to accommodate Love at fullback with Tom Maiava dropping out of the 23, while Esi Komaisavai and Sione Halalilo drop to the bench. Akira Ieremia’s return to the starting pack for Filo Paulo is the only other change to the run-on side.

The trio of Wellington’s U18 Boys sides are all on the road tomorrow. Two of them are in Napier with the Centurions to face Hawke’s Bay and the Samoans taking on Poverty Bay. The Māori are on the opposite side of the island for a clash with Whanganui at Cooks Gardens.

The Centurions U18 Girls are also in Napier for the U18 Girls camp, with the U16s following from Tuesday.

The U16s and Māori U16s are in Whanganui from Monday for their tournament through until Wednesday

In the Heartland Championship, both Wairarapa Bush and Horowhenua-Kapiti will be looking to stay in the mix for the top-four Meads Cup. The Bush, who moved into third with their late late win over King Country last Saturday have a 1pm assignment at home at Memorial Park against winless Buller, while the ‘Nua face one of the tougher road trips in the competition as they head north to take on Whanganui.

Teams:

Poneke Under 85s

1. Pa Taikato, 2. Tauvaga Siolo, 3. Seamus Rowberry, 4. Jack MacGill, 5. Markus Stowers, 6. Pasia Asiata, 7. Nathan March (captain), 8. Troy Howe, 9. Jimmy-Lee Hongara, 10. Declan Hay, 11. Dominic Ririnui-Sipa, 12. Adam Preston, 13. Nick Robertson, 14. Taine Regeling, 15. Max Rodgers | 16. Jeremy Hargreaves, 17. Geoff Botherway, 18. Harrison Faulkner, 19. Kieran Mee, 20. Mike Brown, 21. Ethan Rangi, 22. Maiterangi Arahanga

Wellington Centurion U18s

1. Heath Tuifao (Silverstream), 2. Riley Browne (Silverstream), 3. Noah Krijnen (HOBM), 4. Laifone Kaimoto (WC), 5. Ryder Thompson (Silverstream), 6. Brandon Lo (Scots), 7. Archie Schrader (Petone – captain), 8. Zk’deus Schwalger (WC), 9. Kian O’Connell (HOBM), 10. Archie Sims (WC), 11. William Davis Lenz (Silverstream), 12. Cliff Hunt Jr (Tawa RFC), 13. Hunter Andrew (Poneke), 14. Fraser Lindsay (WC), 15. Charisma Faitala (WC) | 16. Faimale Tagoai (Town), 17. Julius Toimata (WC), 18. Kitiona Kenese-Talaepa (Silverstream), 19. Jack Robinson (WC), 20. Bentley Faulkner (WC), 21. Liam Phelps (HIBS), 22. Thomas Pritchard (HIBS) or Shea Boshier (WC)

Hawkes Bay U18s

1. Monty Waihape, 2. Riley Mullany, 3. Tobiuz Lowe, 4. Brad Pearce, 5. Ollie Maclachlan, 6. Lachlan Varcoe, 7. Vincent Kite, 8. Carter Pirie, 9. France Tevita, 10. Tana Faumuina, 11. Carlo Mienie, 12. Will Lovatt, 13. Harvey O’Rourke, 14. Angus Lovatt, 15. Joe Jury-Senitu, 16. PJ Peivi, 17. Harry Jones, 18. Flynn Hamilton, 19. Dayton Birch, 20. Eli Southwick, 21. Zack Paodi, 22. Joshua Talau

Wellington Māori U18s

1. Connor Maxwell (Town), 2. Jahvaan Hunt (Silverstream), 3. Hyrum Betham (WC), 4. Elijah Faio (Wainuiomata), 5. Rylee Poki (HIBS), 6. James Fullelove (OBU – captain), 7. Connar Gregor (WC), 8. Kingston Wright (St Bernard’s), 9. Graeyson Chadwick (Upper Hutt Rams), 10. Eden Govind (Tawa RFC), 11. Rico Poutama (WC), 12. Izayer Ikenasio-Brown (Tawa Coll), 13. Navrin Campbell (WC), 14. Lachie Amner (HIBS), 15. Levi Walmsley (Silverstream) | 16. Noah Aliva (WC), 17. Kristian Leaupepe-Sua (Silverstream), 18. Jahziah Ikenasio Brown (Tawa), 19. Noah Wright (HIBS), 20. Jai Ngataki-Karehana (OBU), 21. Nikau Rangiwhetu (St Bernards), 22. Matiu Lowrie-Ronson (HVHS)

Wellington Lions

1. Xavier Numia (Ories), 2. James O’Reilly (HOBM), 3. Siale Lauaki (Norths), 4. Hugo Plummer (Tawa), 5. Akira Ieremia (Tawa), 6. Caleb Delany (OBU), 7. Peter Lakai (Petone), 8. Dominic Ropeti (Ories), 9. Kyle Preston (OBU), 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop (Norths), 11. Callum Harkin (OBU), 12. Julian Savea (Ories – Captain), 13. Losi Filipo (Petone), 14. Stanley Solomon (Petone), 15. Ruben Love (Wainuiomata) | 16. Penieli Poasa (Ories), 17. Kenshi Yamamato (Japan), 18. PJ Sheck (Tawa), 19. Sione Halalilo (Ories), 20. Cody Lokotui (Wellington), 21. Esi Komaisavai (Pare-Plim), 22. Kapu Broughton-Winterburn (HOBM), 23. Hibiki Yamada (Japan)

Wairarapa Bush U18s

1. Anthony Saumamao (WaiCol), 2. Harvey Thompson (WaiCol), 3. Rupeni Koroi (Rathkeale), 4. Eddie Weatherstone (Rathkeale), 5. Harry Oliver (Rathkeale), 6. Ricky Aeto (Makoura), 7. Ethan Davidson (WaiCol), 8. Jone Ralulu (Rathkeale), 9. Guy Handyside (Rathkeale), 10. Luca O’Gorman (Rathkeale), 11. Dane Hemedez (WaiCol), 12. Xhan Jones (Greytown RFC), 13. Abe Wheeler (Martinborough RFC), 14. Te Aorangi Kingi (Greytown RFC), 15. Tanner White (WaiCol) | 16. Zane Apiata (Rathkeale), 17. TBC, 18. Freddie Heighway (WaiCol), 19. Austin Grant (WaiCol), 20. Brandon Smit (WaiCol), 21. Kaieyn Hawkins (Rathkeale), 22. Raniera Mason (Makoura)

Wairarapa Bush

1. Stan Wright Jr (Marist), 2. Terongo Tekii (Carterton), 3. Gareth Ward-Allen (Loan – OBU), 4. Cody Cunningham (Martinborough), 5. Sam Gammie (Eketahuna), 6. Isireli Biumaiwai (Greytown), 7. Inia Katia (Carterton), 8. Folau Finau Vea (Loan – OBU), 9. Daryl Pickering (Carterton), 10. Fiula Tameilau (Carterton), 11. Soli Malatai (Greytown), 12. Jack Delaney (Loan – Feilding), 13. Levi Harmon (Loan – COB), 14. Charles Mataitai (Marist), 15. Gracyn Evans (Greytown) | 16. Lewis Bush (Greytown), 17. Tupou Lea’aemanu (Carterton), 18. Memphis Mura (Masterton Red Star – Debut), 19. Charlie Gain (East Coast – Debut), 20. Thomas Williams (East Coast), 21. Sam Walton-Sexton (Greytown), 22. Willie Mataitai (Marist), 23. Bryce Cummings (Martinborough)

Horowhenua Kapiti

1. George Jacobs (Foxton), 2. Brad Reilly (Paraparaumu), 3. Ted Northcott (Rahui), 4. Dallas Wiki (Shannon), 5. Michael Laursen (Foxton), 6. Albert Hemopo (Foxton), 7. Pene To’o (Loan – Upper Hutt), 8. Mika Alaifatu (Loan – HOBM), 9. Kahn Fotual’i (Foxton), 10. Rory Woollett (Loan – Petone), 11. Willie Paia’aua (Levin COB), 12. Emmanuel Solomona (Loan – Upper Hutt), 13. Connor Paki (Foxton), 14. Max Hosking (Paraparaumu), 15. Sean Pape (Shannon) | 16. Jeremy David (Foxton), 17. David McErlean (Foxton), 18. Mikaere Harvey (Foxton), 19. Stephen Burnell (Shannon), 20. TJ Barnsley (Paraparaumu), 21. Jayson Aquila (Paraparaumu), 22. Joeli Rauca (Foxton), 23. Aaron Lahmert (Waikanae)

Wellington Samoa U18s

1. Donncha McNamara-Taele (St Pat’s Town) 2. Ioane Aukusitino (St Pat’s Town) 3. Levi Aukuso (Rongotai College) 4. Ryder Sao (Tawa College) 5. Remy Fitisemanu (St Pat’s Town) 6. Herman Tuiatua (St Pat’s Town) 7. Ethan Lepou (St Pat’s Town) 8. Lazarus Webster (Wellington College) 9. Torrin Duncan (Tawa College) 10. Advent Va’a (Scots College) 11. Cordeius Faraimo-Selave (Porirua College) 12. Perenise Patu (St Pat’s Town) 13. Dominic Mettrick (St Pat’s Town) 14. Lochlan Jackson (Silverstream) 15. Nate Baker (Mana College) 16. Jacob Epeli (Scots College) 17. Journey Thomas (Wellington College) 18. Noah Leavasa-Tavoi (St Pat’s Town) 19. Carter Stefanidis (Tawa College) 20. Taysian Davey-Tiotio (Wellington College) 21. Avarn Pepe (Tawa College)