MSP big winners in eighth round as leading sides pull clear

Midfielder-turned No. 8 Skivi Va’a bursting through to score for Oriental-Rongotai in his team’s Swindale Shield win over  Northern United today at the Polo Ground. Photo: Andy McArthur.

• By Steven White & Scott MacLean

Please note that this report below will likely be added to with extra details after publishing owing to issues with the Rugby Xplorer results app and most results and scorers not displaying accurately. 

Swindale Shield points table after eight rounds: https://stats.clubrugby.nz/table/2026-swindale-shield/ 

You can throw a blanket over the top half of the field on the Premier Swindale Shield points table with five of the six leading teams advancing their causes with bonus point wins today.

Marist St Pat’s were the big winners of the day, beating Paremata-Plimmerton 40-24 at home at Evans Bay Park to stay in touch with the leading group, but there is now a gap developing between the mid-table and the rest with five rounds to play to decide the championship Jubilee Cup/VC Hardham Cup split.

In other results at a glance in dry and breezy conditions around the region, Tawa beat Avalon 47-7, Petone defeated Wellington 50-5 for the Bill Francis/Jack Taylor Trophy, the Upper Hutt Rams pulled clear of Johnsonville 39-27, HOBM accounted for Wainuiomata 52-12, Oriental-Rongotai beat Northern United 36-22 in their To’omaga Alex Iona Memorial Cup match and OBU overcame Pōneke 55-36.

The unofficial Swindale Shield points table reads: Tawa 35, Petone 34, HOBM and OBU 32, Upper Hutt Rams 30, Paremata-Plimmerton 26, Ories 24, MSP and Wainuiomata 20, Norths 15, Wellington and Johnsonville 13, Pōneke 12 and Avalon 1.

Marist St Pat’s made certain of a good night in their Mt Victoria clubrooms for Old Timers’ Day as they outran an out-of-sorts Paremata-Plimmerton in what might be the notable result of the Swindale Shield so far.

MSP took the field not in their traditional red, but in a set of throwback jerseys of their initial post-merger look of green, white, and pale blue hoops. And it was the hosts who made the fast start, with fullback Max Reynolds crossing in the intermediate school corner and Tomasi Connor converting from the sideline after earlier missing a handy penalty attempt. Pare-Plim responded when Tony Coburn bashed his way over, with Esi Komaisavai converting that and a later penalty on 22 minutes.

The remainder of the half saw plenty of referee James Taylor going to his pocket. Firstly, Pare-Plim’s Jono Ryan saw yellow, and from the resulting action Corban King barged over under the horns for the hosts. Minutes later Ihakara Masoe joined his teammate on the dead-ball line, while the other end was soon populated by MSP captain James Zino and Viliame Rarasea. The half closed though with Pare-Plim in front when No. 8 Jeremiah Avei-Collins crossed with Komaisavai converting.

Where MSP took control of the match however was in the third quarter. Despite the numerical disadvantage they worked their way downfield and from close range replacement prop Meinrad Fitisemanu got his name on the scoresheet, before fellow front rower Cazna Logovae-Sale did likewise. Pare-Plim went to their bench, introducing veteran duo Dale Sabbagh and James Corcoran and it initially paid dividends; off an attacking scrum Komaisavai fed a rampaging Marzy Karim who carried two defenders over with him.

But that was the last time the visitors troubled the scoreboard operator. Logovae-Sale scored his second in front of the gate with 15 to go, and the match closed with some individual brilliance from replacement back Francis Mettrick who chipped, chased, and won the race to the ball.

At the Hutt Recreation Ground, the HOBM Eagles enjoyed a dominant 50-10 victory over Wainuiomata. Wainuiomata scored the game’s first try through wing Ray Va’a to go up 5-3. The remainder of the first half saw the Eagles run in three convincing tries, the first to centre Taleta Tupuola after a storming run from a lineout, the second to right wing Nathan Tanuvasa after a break and offload by tyro flanker Rupeni Raviyawa, and the third to wholehearted prop Brett Manaia to put the Eagles ahead 24-5 at halftime.

The second half remained competitive, but a second try and his twelfth of the season to Raviyawa extended their lead to 31-5. This was followed by a match-sealing chip-and-collect solo try to returning fullback Zane Ainslie.

The Eagles managed to pull clear again but Wainuiomata were rewarded with their second try towards the end.

At Lyndhurst Park, home team Tawa inflicted an eighth straight defeat on the Avalon Wolves, but as per the pattern of recent Wolves games they didn’t have it all their way early.

Tawa led just 12-0 late in the first half against a competitive Avalon side that had Hurricanes squad member Arise Poliko at No. 8 who would score their only try, but has lineout problems preventing them from capitalising. Tawa scored their third try on halftime to up 19-0 at the turnaround.

The second half saw more scoring by Tawa, with blindside flanker Hadley Vaoliko scoring a brace and Hurricane Matolu Petaia also finishing with two tries. Tawa’s other three tries were scored by  starting first-five Kemara Hauiti, Solomona Uelese and left wing Tesimeta Afamasaga

It is a rollercoaster of emotions being an Upper Hutt Rams supporter. This bonus point 39-27 win over Johnsonville was what they were after at Helston Park, but during the game they conceded three yellow cards and had to withstand and overcome a burst of scoring by the home team that had the Hawks up 22-10 at one point.

The Rams forwards collectively stepped up in the second half to score three consecutive tries to move ahead 24-22 with about 20 minutes still to play.

There was a hint of another Johnsonville comeback when first five Kayd Parata collected  a loose pass near the northwestern embankment and offloaded to his team mate and the try-scorer to cut the deficit back to 29-27.

However, the Rams regrouped and scored a lovely long range try to seal the win. Fullback Liam Slight kicked a penalty on fulltime.

The Rams had started the game at breakneck speed, running in a succulent team try that started from a lineout on the pathway side of the ground 65 metres out.

Both teams kicked penalties and the Rams led 10-3 after about 25 minutes.

Johnsonville then sprang into life, scoring three tries. The first of these was straight off the kickoff from the Rams’ previous penalty, with flanker Sean Rankin bursting up the middle off the ruck and then going wide to right wing Jacob Kennedy to score.

Kennedy was in again two minutes later, finishing off a weaving run in broken play that put Johnsonville ahead 17-10.

The Rams were on the back foot even more so when No. 8 and captain Murphy Taramai was sent to the sinbin soon after, and Johnsonville ran in their third try, scored by centre Jacob Walmsley. Johnsonville were buoyant at half time.

Early in the second half, Johnsonville’s other wing Ngahau Tepaa was handed a yellow card by referee Campbell Barry, and the Rams scored through right wing Scott Svenson to close it up to 22-17.

Taramai returned but replacement prop Jade Langi was then sinbinned, but the Rams were able to run in two more tries in quick succession, the second being their bonus point try scored by blindside flanker Sio Fidow.

The Rams left Helston Park with the interclub Kerry Williams Cup silverware.

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While 15 tries and a 55-36 score sounds like an exciting game, OBU was always in control against Pōneke at Rugby League Park in their annual fixture for the Beet Algar Rosebowl

Pōneke showed flashes of brilliance in the second half but were hampered by too many mistakes, which was also a headache for the students.

Lock Jack Riley had a bumper game, scoring a try and was named player of the match by the Huddy Sports commentary team.

New Zealand Under-20s lock Johnny Fallon was strong, and centre Ben Gordon scored twice and could have had a third, always threatening. Pōneke’s best were hooker Moses Tuifao-Galuvao, lock Bede Brown, and centre Isaac Moe-Jenkins. OBU has now won more games (6) than in 2025, with five rounds still to play in the Swindale Shield.

Premier 2

Plenty of high-scoring in today’s eighth round Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield matches, none more so that at the Hutt Rec where HOBM outran the scoreboard in trouncing Wainuiomata 108-7. Petone ensured the lead remains locked between the two as they beat Wellington 48-7, while MSP remain third after defeating Pare-Plim 45-33.

It was a close-run contest at Lyndhurst Park as Tawa edged out Avalon 25-24 with Eden Govind kicking a penalty to win on fulltime, Poneke closed out OBU 31-17, Ories accounted for Norths 53-17, and Upper Hutt Rams pipped Johnsonville.

In the Helston Park curtain raiser, the Upper Hutt Rams Seconds beat Johnsonville 17-12.

In the end, it was their dominant scrum that saw the Rams home for victory over the plucky Johnsonville side who had had just the one win so far in the Harper Lock Shield.

The Rams scrum led to their two second half tries. No 8 Peni Taupau took a tap from a free kick off a scrum and ran through to score the match-winner with two minutes to play.

Despite being out-gunned in the set-pieces, Johnsonville could consider themselves unlucky not to have at least escaped with a draw, and immediately after halftime it appeared they might win following their second try that put them up 12-5.

As they did in the first half, the Rams made a steady procession of errors but finally scored again after pushing Johnsonville off their scrum to lock it up and set up Taupau’s subsequent winning try.

Earlier, the Rams had opened the scoring in the 15^th minute with a second phase try from a scrum. They then dominated the next 20 minutes but blew several chances, and the 5-0 remained until just before half time when Johnsonville scored a breakout try completely against the run of play and No 8 Rodney Roebeck handed the last pass to halfback and scorer Thoma Takeuchi and Johnsonville led 7-5.

Johnsonville went close to scoring again just before half time plus Takeuchi missed a penalty.

Women’s

Petone and Norths remain on course for a first-round decider after today’s round in the Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy.

Petone were too good for Poneke winning 68-0 while Norths were made to work for their 39-3 win by Avalon.

Ories were defaulted to by Wellington yesterday, Wainuiomata beat OBU 43-0, and Stokes Valley beat Paremata-Plimmerton 24-22.

Colts

HOBM assumed the lead of the Colts Paris Memorial Trophy competition with their 38-0 win over Upper Hutt, their sixth bonus point win of the campaign taking them two points clear of idle Petone at the top. In the clash between fourth and third, Poneke tipped over Tawa 31-24, while in the bottom half of the table MSP beat Norths 41-5 and OBU accounted for Pare-Plim by 28-19.

U85kgs

Barring an incredible upset in the one remaining fixture in the Under 85kg JC Bowl, the trophy is heading to Lyndhurst Park after the Tawa Ducks turned over national runners-up Poneke 44-31 on their home field.

That leaves Tawa (by our count) needing just a point from a catch-up fixture against winless Eastbourne next week to claim it outright.

The Gulls were beaten by Johnsonville, OBU outlasted HOBM 27-17 at Nairnville, and Pare-Plim made certain that the Daniel Baldwin Memorial Trophy would reside at Ngati Toa Domain with an emphatic 65-0 win over Wellington.

 College

The opening round of the College Premiership is in the books, following Wellington College’s 31-26 win over Town in Wednesday’s opener. Silverstream were 59-0 over Wairarapa College in Masterton though that scoreline doesn’t do justice to the hosts (more on this game below).

Rathkeale had a fruitful trip south as they overpowered Rongotai 35-5, and Scots were convincing 61-12 over returnees Mana. The fourth match of the day was a cliffhanger, as Hutt International Boys’ School roared back from 24-7 down to pip St Bernard’s 32-29.

In Premier 2 only four matches went ahead after Tawa College defaulted to Porirua yesterday. In the two contests with morning kick-offs, perennial favourites the Silverstream 2nds opened with a convincing 36-7 win over their Wellington College counterparts, while Kapiti College beat neighbours Paraparaumu 29-14. The Town 2nds got off to a winning start 46-21 over Aotea, and Hutt Valley HS and the Silverstream 3rds played out a 14-all draw.

Silverstream opened their quest to retain the Premiership crown with a nine tries to nil 59-0 win over Wairarapa College in Masterton, but that didnt do justice to the home side’s efforts.

With a steady drizzle setting in just before kick-off, Silverstream made the fast start with two tries in the opening eight minutes to midfielders Jesper Pederson and Shae Taitua, with those coming either side of a painful-looking shoulder injury to Wairarapa No8 MacKay Scott which deprived the hosts of their main ballcarrier. Silverstream would add two more to their tally before 20 minutes were gone. The first saw a clearing kick charged down by No. 8 Val Tufui which bounced kindly for Bezalel Fereti, and the second saw captain Ryder Thompson stroll over after a period of pressure on the Wairarapa line.

But to the hosts credit, they held out for the remainder of the half and had periods where they were able to create pressure, albeit without threatening to score.

The visitors added five more after the break, the pick of which was a sweet inside move off an attacking scrum with some sleight of hand from first-five Jaxon Ropitini to fellow Year 12 and fullback Troy Waldrom.

Ropitini was the standout figure and showed that the ‘streamers have an alternative to Fletcher Cooper in the position, though the talented pivot is expected back next week. Planet-sized prop Mea’ole Ma’i had a whale of a game and played the full 70 as well as grabbing himself a try from short range. Wairarapa were outsized and somewhat outclassed but were plucky and had their moments. Halfback Reshard Lambert looks like someone with real promise and could do damage when his pack has parity.

Elsewhere

This section is thin this evening owing to problems noted at the top of this article with Rugby Xplorer being down earlier and we would rather report no results than wrong results.

Nevertheless, in the opening round of the Moose Kapene Cup in the Wairarpa, Greytown warmed up for their upcoming 150^th anniversary celebrations with a 40-0 win over neighbours Martinborough, Carterton beat East Coast 52-28 and Marist beat Pioneer 69-22.

In Horowhenua-Kapiti’s Ramsbotham Cup, Foxton maintained their perfect record at the top of the table, but were extended in their 33-23 win over Levin College Old Boys, Rahui beat Waikanae in the battle of the expressway and Paraparaumu had a fruitful trip to Levin in beating Levin Wanderers 50-43 in a match that will make for a longer than usual highlights reel.