Early season top-of-the-table clash for Anzac Day round

The Norths and HOBM teams in close-quarter action in the wet last weekend. Norths return home to host the Wellington Axemen and HOBM are at the Hutt Rec for the first time this year to play Old Boys University in an early season top-of-the-table fixture. Photo: Kinetic Images.

• By Scott MacLean

UPDATED Friday afternoon: Anzac Day rugby looks set to be played under clear skies but very heavy conditions underfoot after the deluge of the past week. That has dictated some ground changes, but likely to also mean a heavily forward-orientated round.

Nevertheless, the fourth round of Swindale Shield and Harper Lock Shield competitions and third round of other competitions looks set up to be nothing less than a memorable afternoon of rugby.

Draws & Results – visit https://stats.clubrugby.nz/ for these. Click on a fixture for teamlists and match details. Teamlists as received and subject to change.

Radio commentary  – online at teupoko.co.nz or by tuning into 87.5FM or 1161AM is Poneke versus Tawa from Kilbirnie Park. Gordon Noble-Campbell and Chris Middleton on the mikes.

Tipping Competition – Visit https://www.faceyoursfears.com/games/WGTN2026/join   To make your picks. Round three is yet to be closed off fully as we await the rescheduling details of the Paremata-Plimmerton v Avalon contest. As it stands, Aidan Cains, Huddy Sports and mcurpine round out the top three.

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Premier Swindale Shield

The highlight game of the round falls at the first game of the year at the Hutt Rec, as unbeaten pair Hutt Old Boys Marist and Old Boys University clash. The Eagles are right where they want to be, with three wins on their account before they even run out at home, even with Norths giving them a run for their money last Saturday. The Goats are much better placed than a year ago, and last week’s win over Petone will have them believing they can do the double over the McBain pair.

HOBM run out their standard massive forward pack, with Rupeni Raviyawa in for Brandon Lo in their only change up front. Fritz Rayasi starts for the first time this season on the wing, Caleb Robson makes his return at centre, and Kian O’Connell is at halfback. Waylon Tuhoro-Robinson and Dom Ernst remain sidelined.

OBU get loanee Wairarapa-Bush standout Folau Vea back, and he goes straight into the side at No8 in what is their only change to the XV the eventually started against Petone. The Sam Walton-Sexton and Jake Lawson halves combination gets another outing.

Petone find themselves heading north for a “home” outing at Fraser Park with the Rec still out of action. Having suffered their first reverse of the year, they’ll be looking to resume winning form. Johnsonville ride into town on the back of their first win where they stifled Wellington; if they can repeat that effort, it could make for an interesting afternoon.

The Villagers can welcome Braith Ingram and Sam Thomson back in their pack, joined by Conley Alexander and Harry Rankin as changes from last week. Losi Filipo is back in midfield, and alongside him is Hurricanes squad member Ngane Punivai. Johnsonville run with an unchanged starting side, with plenty of strike power out in the back three with Jacob Walmsley, Jacob Kennedy, and Joji Vatuwaliwali.

Across the hills, Paremata-Plimmerton return to action after last Saturday’s postponement. The big wet put their match against Avalon on hold (we understand May 6^th is the date now for this), but the blessing might be they didn’t add to their early injury toll. The Upper Hutt Rams make the journey over the Haywards having splashed their way to success against Ories, and a win away from home against a fellow contender would be a statement at this point of the season.

Pare-Plim have the core of the side named last week in place, with Tony Coburn finally getting his blazer game and Alby Hemopo his debut. Jeremiah Avei-Collins is one change back at No8 while Zane Edwards gets the nod at #10 in the absence of both Mika Cooper-Finau and Dale Sabbagh. Paternal duties mean the Rams are without Murphy Taramai, so Josh Mallon slides back to No8 and Sio Fidow is reinstated on the blindside. Josh Love and Scott Svenson are on the wings.

It’s something of a Mallon clan reunion tomorrow with cousins Toby and Josh on opposing teams, and uncle Simon and cousin Finn in WRRA kit on the sidelines.

Next stop down SH59, Norths will be looking to keep the momentum going from their won over Johnsonville a fortnight ago that almost saw them topple HOBM last week. They welcome fellow one-win, two-loss team Wellington out to Porirua Park, with the Axemen looking to put last week’s outing in the muck at Helston behind them.

Front-rower Jerome Va’ai starts in his 150^th outing for Norths. Luke Walmsley returns to first-five after Jackson Garden-Bachop’s cameo there last week while Cordeius Faraimo-Selave returns to try and continue his impressive start. The Axemen are without a raft of names, including James and Ben Tuiatua and Ami Paongo. Tom Robertson comes in on the openside, while Matt Proctor will need all his leadership skills steering the team around the park.

All three remaining matches are on the eastern side of the Mt Victoria tunnel.

First stop is Poneke, where the Hardham holders have endured a wretched start to the season and last week’s loss to Wainuiomata would have done little to improve the mood. Tawa return having been successful across the road at Evans Bay last Saturday and seem to have put their opening howler against Petone behind them.

Lock Maea Temu-Schmidt plays his blazer game for the home side, who start Callum Smith and Reimei Diouf on the flanks. Carlos Hihi makes his 50^th start, while the player outside him is Mr TBC for now. Tawa have one of their Hurricanes contingent, Matolu Petaia, available tomorrow and he slots straight in at No8 for George Risale. There other change of note is a first sighting of young Jacob Denyer who comes in on the right wing.

Swapping places with Tawa are Wainuiomata, who are on the other side of Evans Bay Parade this week to face Marist St Pats. The home team got brought somewhat back to earth and they’ll be keen to make sure that’s only a blip in an otherwise bright start. The visitors will have taken a lot of confidence out of their win over Poneke, but know they’ll have to step it up again to emerge with the win here.

Promising young prop Ioane Aukustino gets his first Premier start, one of two changes together with Ben Higgs to the MSP pack. Luke Donaldson returns to halfback, and Noah Guise comes in on the right wing. Veteran Teru Time returns to the Wainuiomata engine room, joined by Sio Taiao with Fa’amanu Anae on the flank. Emmanuel Solomona continues in the #10 jersey.

And finally, out through the Cutting the other two winless sides meet at the Polo Ground. Despite their clear improvement this season, it’s not a surprise to see Avalon here, but it is rather shocking to see defending Swindale holders Oriental Rongotai in this position. The home team will back themselves to break their duck, but after a week off the Wolves might just prove they’re more than just a threat.

David Leota-Johnson makes his return to the starting side, forming a potent loose trio with Sione Halalilo and Sammy Se’au. Isaac Bracewell is also back at halfback with Declan Hay moving out to first-five with another returnee – Skivi Va’a – outside of him.

Avalon have a few changes from the side they named last weekend with Quinn O’Kane and Lefoi Utulolo-Tupu in the front row, Jerry Setefano into midfield, and Ezra Sione onto the left wing.

Just three interclub trophies in play tomorrow:

• HOBM and OBU contest their Wood Cup. Ron Wood (not be confused with the longtime Norths personality) was a founding member of the Woburn club (later High School OB), having previously played for Wellington College OB. It’s now contested by the successor clubs, and held by HOBM after their 32-30 win last season.
• Poneke and Tawa play for their Kevin Carmichael Trophy. Carmichael began his senior career with Tawa, but with the side then outside of the top flight he transferred to Poneke where he played over 100 matches, and then did the same after returning to Lyndhurst. Tawa are the current holders.
• The Rona-Morrisey Cup is the annual prize for Marist St Pats and Wainuiomata, acknowledging two men with ties to both clubs. Cliff Rona was a Jubilee Cup winner with MSP, before moving back to the valley and turning out for Wainuiomata’s Premiers, while John Morrisey played his rugby for Marist Brothers before a lengthy stint as a coach and administrator at Wainuiomata. MSP hold it from their two-point win last season.

Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield

As with the Premiers, the table is a little skewed by the match that wasn’t played last week. Four teams are unbeaten with Petone and HOBM firm favourites to stay that way when they host Johnsonville (at Fraser Park) and OBU respectively. MSP would consider themselves to be similar with Wainuiomata in a match relocated to the Ian Galloway cage, with the match of the round likely to be the contest at Ngati Toa Domain between Pare-Plim and one-loss Upper Hutt. Elsewhere three sides will be looking to get off the mark; winless Ories host Avalon at Prince of Wales, Norths look to open their account against Wellington, while rather surprisingly Tawa are still yet to taste success and would want to do so away against Poneke.

Premier Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy

Only four matches going ahead tomorrow with Paremata-Plimmerton having defaulted to Norths this afternoon. Of the others in the Big Three, Petone are at home for the first time this year and take on Old Boys-University, and Oriental Rongotai finish their opening homestand against Wainuiomata. The other two matches are both in the eastern suburbs as well, with Poneke hosting Stokes Valley and Wellington likewise for Avalon.

Note that all Women’s matches tomorrow at 1pm kick-offs owing to Anzac Day restrictions.

Paris Memorial Colts

Just the three age-grade matches being played tomorrow. The feature one here is the clash of unbeatens at Fraser Park where Petone “hosts” Tawa, while down the valley HOBM welcome winless OBU. The third match is at Ngati Toa with Pare-Plim finally getting a home match as they welcome Upper Hutt. The MSP vs Poneke match has been deferred until King’s Birthday weekend to allow MSP to play their annual match against the Town 1^st XV for the Xavier Reidy Cup but this too has been postponed at least. Norths have the scheduled bye.

Under 85kg JC Bowl

Only two matches going ahead tomorrow, but one match stands out; the clash between contenders Johnsonville and the OBU Scallywags at Helston Park. The other has midtable intrigue with HOBM and Pare-Plim meeting at Maidstone while elsewhere Tawa and Eastbourne have deferred to King’s Birthday weekend and Wellington have defaulted to Poneke.

Around the region

All go across the lower North Island as well. In Horowhenua-Kapiti leaders and defending champions Foxton can put their feet up with Rahui unable to front. In the remaining matches Levin Wanderers have the Domain for their clash with Paraparaumu, and Waikanae host Levin College Old Boys.

The weekend’s draw in Wairarapa-Bush sees leaders Greytown come off the bye and head out to Whareama to face East Coast. There’s a grudge match with Carterton hosting Martinborough, and Masterton Red Star make the short hop across the Waipoua River to take on Pioneer. Marist get the weekend off.

The fifth round of Manawatu’s Hankins Shield is highlighted by the clash between leading side Kia Toa and Feilding Yellows, while unbeaten Varsity should have little trouble against College Old Boys. The third match in the city sees Old Boys Marist take on Freyberg on the Arena’s back fields, while minnows Feilding Old Boys-Oroua and Te Kawau clash in Kimbolton. Linton have the bye, which makes sense given their players duties tomorrow start well before dawn.

And finally, the feature clash in Hawke’s Bay sees leaders Napier Old Boys Marist host defending champions Taradale, while across town Pirates are at home against Hastings. Down in Hastings MAC are visited by Napier Tech, and minnows Bridge Pa take on Havelock North.