Matchday Scoring Highlights: Upper Hutt Rams (33) v Wainuiomata (32)

As the one-point margin of victory suggests, this fixture contained several twists and turns before eventually being settled in the 76th minute with a try to replacement halfback Kaide McCashin, burrowing over from a ruck after a concerted crescendo of phase play in front of the line.

This wasn’t the end of it though. Replacement Wainuiomata first-five Tyler Tane, himself a former Upper Hutt player, missed two penalties to win the match in the dying stages. Both were from 37 metres out and tricky kicks taken from both sides of the posts.

Earlier, the Rams had built a solid 26-10 lead late in the first half, which became 26-15 at halftime when Wainuiomata scored their third unconverted try.

The visitors came back in the second half and took a 32-26 lead after 65 minutes with a try to hooker Ruland Fonoti. The Rams, protecting their unbeaten streak at home and defending the Bill Brien Challenge Trophy, dug deep and won.

Scoring highlights of the match below:

CREDITS. Footage and image: Club Rugby/ Music: Audionautix.com

In this coming Saturday’s 12th round of the Swindale Shield,  the Upper Hutt Rams take on Tawa at Lyndhurst Park and Wainuiomata play Johnsonville at Helston Park.

Upper Hutt Rams v Wainuiomata Flashback match

The history over the past decade or so between these two sides has often resulted in a clear-cut victory to one side or another. One exceptionwas in the seventh round of the 2022 Swindale Shield when Wainuiomata won 23-22, another was this drawn match below. It was a second round Hardham VC Memorial Cup game. Both teams went on to make the semi-finals, but were on opposite sides of the draw. Wainuiomata would lose to Petone 26-27 in the final that year.