Spotlight on club rugby in penultimate rounds of the Premier and Premier 2 competitions

Trytime in last Saturday’s match between the Wellington Axemen and Paremata-Plimmerton. Photo: Stewart Baird. The Axemen are back home hosting Oriental-Rongotai in Round 12, while Paremata-Plimmerton are at Petone.

• By Scott MacLean 

Late Friday afternoon updates:  The Premier and Premier 2 club rugby competitions delve into round 12 tomorrow and Petone supporters can end the day as Swindale Shield champions and in the box seat to win the Harper Lock Shield next week if the cards fall their way.

Professional rugby gets its day in the sun tomorrow with the Hurricanes hosting their final, but there is no getting away from the intrigue and interest at every turn in club and college rugby.

The Swindale Shield points table is here: https://stats.clubrugby.nz/table/2026-swindale-shield/ 

The weather forecast for Saturday is fairly angry – but it might hold. View it here: https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/hourly-table/2-2179537/New%20Zealand/Wellington%20Region/Wellington%20City/Wellington?i=1

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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 the Tawa v Upper Hutt Rams affair from Lyndhurst Park. Gordon Noble-Campbell and WRFU Vice President Mark Fairmaid on the microphones.

Tipping Competition – Visit https://www.faceyoursfears.com/games/WGTN2026/join   To make your picks for round 12. The Tipping Competition has Nate W well out in front with a 28-point lead over his rivals. There is then 20 points separating the next 10 tippers and more lurking behind them. With 6 weeks of tips to come, it is still all on and Nate W might not be sleeping too well thinking about it.

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Premier Swindale Shield

For leaders Petone (49), the way forward is clear. Win with a bonus point tomorrow against Paremata-Plimmerton (39), and the Swindale Shield will be theirs irrespective of anything anyone else does. A loss would still leave them in the box seat with only Poneke left to play, but taking care of business on their home patch would be at the forefront of their minds. For the visitors, there’s no doubting that last week’s home loss to the Axemen stings. Turning that around will safely see them in the eight, but a loss will make for a tense afternoon at Wainuiomata next Saturday.

The Villagers stick with the bulk of last week’s starting pack, with only Conley Alexander coming in for Kaleb Saxon. Stanley Solomon is handed the keys at first-five, swapping with Jacob Waikari-Jones who goes to fullback. Jordan-Glen Bradbrook joins Losi Filipo in midfield, and after his heroics for the Prem 2 side last week Rory Woollett returns to the Premiers bench. James Coburn, Toby Mallon, and Alex Fidow all return to Pare-Plim’s forwards, while Zane Edwards reassumes the #10 jersey so Dale Sabbagh moves out on. Louis Northcott lines up at fullback, while 40-something club centurion Danny Herewini is named on their bench.

The Match of the Day however is over at Lyndhurst Park, where the two teams tied for second on 43 points – Tawa and Upper Hutt – clash. The implications are stark on each side of the ledger; win and there’s a good chance of hosting one of those top-four matches in a fortnight and an outside one of catching Petone, but lose and you could drop out of that top quartet altogether. The hosts arrested their slide with a pummelling of Norths, while the Rams had to work overtime to narrowly subdue Wainuiomata. If it lives up to what it could be, this could be a cracker.

Tawa are without Matolu Petaia with Lafaele Lupo taking his place and John Samuelu and Filipo Siaki also additions to their pack; they roll with an unchanged backline. Tavis Polglase and Pene To’o return to the Rams forwards, Josh Mallon is again deployed on the wing, and Ieti Campbell makes his return from injury via the bench.

Lurking in fourth are still, somehow, Old Boys-University (40), who despite their injury list remain in the running for a top four place. Tomorrow though they face a tricky assignment across town at Evans Bay, where they’ll take on a Marist St Pats (30) outfit that needs to win to keep their hopes of playing in at least the first week of the Jubilee Cup playoffs afloat.

Dr Luke Donaldson starts at halfback in his 50^th outing, paired in the halves with Dallas Natoli so Tomasi Connor reverts to midfield. Grecia McNamara-Taele, Viliami Rarasea, and Lakisipone Lamositele return to the forwards. Little change to the Goats either; Mitch Shields comes onto the openside and Josh Morgan-Ranui lines up in midfield.

Last week’s loss to their neighbours and rivals was somewhat devastating to Hutt Old Boys Marist (38). Not only did they have to hand over the McBain Shield, but any chance of claiming the Swindale went with it. Having fallen to sixth, they need to refocus on trying to claim one of those top-four places that bring a life or a bye week. It is somewhat fortunate that they host Poneke (15), with the Kilbirnie side already consigned to the Hardham Cup. They’ll look to cause the upset, but will need a vast improvement from last week’s defeat at Johnsonville.

The Eagles return Freddie Sunia, Noah Krijnen, and David Filipo to their starting pack, with Jeremiah Peleseuma making his starting debut on the left wing. Poneke welcome back Carlos Hihi and Andrew Jones, while Ifeanyi Nnebechukwu shifts out to the wing to accommodate Psalms Latu in midfield.

Oriental Rongotai (36) lie in seventh, and control their qualification for the next stage. A bonus-point win over at Hataitai against Wellington (21) will see them through, but with HOBM to play in the final round a loss could leave them at the mercy of other results. Despite their heroics and upset win over Pare-Plim, the two points Wainuiomata got at Maidstone eliminated them from the top-eight running. They’ll look to sign off the home portion of this part of the season by taking down one of their eastern suburbs’ neighbours.

Unsurprisingly the Axemen are almost unchanged from last Saturday’s winning combination. The only changes sees former Magpie Matt Proctor move into first-five, allowing former MSP pair Willie Schutz and Isaia Petelo to combine in midfield. Ami Paongo and Ben Tuiatua play their Blazer game. Conversely Ories make a swag of changes. Sione Halalilo and Sammy Se’au return to their loose trio, though somewhat surprisingly Dom Ropeti take a seat on the pine with Etonia Waqa preferred at No8. Isaac Bracewell also sits to stand against his former club and the one his father is Chairman of, so Declan Hay is at halfback and Ethan Smyth-Rangi at 10.

Currently occupying the eighth and last Jubilee place are Wainuiomata (32). Those two points against Upper Hutt last week could prove invaluable, but not as much as five would tomorrow combined with an MSP loss. They are at Helston, where home team Johnsonville (20) have not had the season they hoped for, but getting themselves involved in the Jubilee scrap would be an ideal tune-up for the Hardham matches to come.

The Hawks have stick with the bulk of last weeks winning combination. Sean Rankin and Regan Herbert replace Asafo Fa’amafu and Serge Hollis in the loose forwards, while Manihera Gardiner tags in for Aukuso Tuitama in midfield. Terra Masae, Kapani Maake, and Fa’amanu Anae are the new faces in Wainuiomata’s pack this week, while Liam Aitken at halfback is their only backline change.

And finally, there’s one match with no implications on any of the races whatsoever as Avalon (5) and Norths (17) clash at Fraser Park. Both sides are set for the Hardham Cup, but this represents an ideal opportunity for each side to get another tick in the win column for the year. The Wolves side is currently MIA, but for Norths veterans Liki Siliga and Daniel Filemoni both make nowadays rare starts at Premier-level. Callum Watts-Pointer is another seldom sighted starting a Premier match these days with Jayde Burns showing his utility value by lining up in midfield.

It’s a bumper weekend for interclub trophies:

• Petone and Pare-Plim play for their Ken Gray Memorial Cup. While Gray’s contribution to Petone, Wellington, and New Zealand rugby is well-known, it’s somewhat less so that he first made the Wellington B side while playing for the pre-merger Paremata club and working on his parent’s farm. Pare-Plim hold it from their narrow win twelve months ago
• Tawa and Upper Hutt contest their Mexted Motors Cup, donated by the family under their business name which has dealerships in both centres. Tawa are the holders
• The Jack Lamason Memorial Cup is the prize for MSP and OBU. Lamason was a legendary figure of Wellington sport either side of World War II; as a cricketer he played 20 seasons for WCOB, and represented Wellington and New Zealand. In rugby he played for, captained, and later coached WCOB and was a Wellington representative for 11 seasons. Initially presented for matches between WCOB and St Pats OB, it’s been contested by the successor clubs since. OBU are the present custodians.
• HOBM and Poneke contest their Roy Johns Memorial Shield. Johns was the leading Wellington halfback of the World War II years, a conflict he was exempted from owing to his employment as an iron moulder. He was also an accomplished cricketer. HOBM are the holders.
• Wellington and Ories play for their Alby Jack Memorial Cup. Jack played for Oriental before World War II, and after seeing service in the Middle East and North Africa played for the combined Ories/Poneke side (alongside Roy Johns). He captained Ories to the Hardham Cup in 1949 before switching to the Axemen where he saw out his playing and coaching career, as well as being a noted administrator. Ories hold it from their unbeaten Swindale campaign last year.
• And finally, Avalon and Norths contest their Yarrell Brothers Trophy. Any information about it will be gratefully accepted.

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This week’s preview continues after these kind words from our sponsors and supporters:

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Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield

It’s not quite as clear-cut here for Petone (54) as it is for their Premier side, as despite their win over HOBM (51) last week, the Eagles could still overhaul them should they lose one of their remaining fixtures. The first hurdle they face is Pare-Plim (43) tomorrow, who have their own ambitions of cracking the top-four, while across the river HOBM have already banked the full five points after Poneke (24) defaulted for the second time this season.

MSP (44) can’t win the Shield, but should all-but lock away a top-four place when they host bottom side OBU (9) while fifth and sixth clash at Lyndhurst when Upper Hutt (39) visits Tawa (38). Avalon (32) will seek to lock in a top-eight spot when they host Norths (16), Wellington and Ories (both 24) battle to stay alive in the top-eight picture at Hataitai, and HD Morgan Cup-bound pair Johnsonville (14) and Wainuiomata (10) clash at Helston.

Women’s Tia Paasi Memorial and Izzy Ford Cups

Defending champions Petone return to action after their bye, and they head to Kilbirnie to face Poneke in the first game of the day there. In the other Division 1 clash Oriental Rongotai head around the harbour to take on Wainuiomata at William Jones. Norths have the bye.

In Division 2, Avalon host Wellington in their first game of the round while a short distance away Stokes Valley are on their home turf to host Paremata-Plimmerton. OBU have the bye here.

Colts John Kelly and Vic Calcinai Memorials

With the round-robin completed, the grade splits in two for the balance of the season. Four teams make up the Division One John Kelly Memorial field, with the opening matches seeing Paris Memorial winners HOBM away against MSP, and Tawa taking on Petone.

The two matches in the Division Two Vic Calcinai Memorial have Upper Hutt hosting Pare-Plim at Maidstone and Poneke facing Norths at Kilbirnie. OBU has the bye.

College

Can a team be in two places at once? It seems that it can. Wellington College’s 1^st XV is away at their Quadrangular Tournament where they’ll face Nelson College in a repeat of last years decider. College beat hosts Whanganui Collegiate yesterday, as did Nelson over Christ’s College.

Back here, another Wellington College “1^st XV” will play their Premiership match at home against St Bernard’s; the anomaly coming as a result of the Quad dates being shifted to finish on Saturday rather than the usual midweek. The other match in the capital has winless Mana hosting Hutt International out in Elsdon. The other two matches taking place are both north of the Remutaka’s as Scots visit Wairarapa College and St Pat’s Town head a bit further north to take on Rathkeale, both at noon. Silverstream accounted for Rongotai by 109-0 on Wednesday.

In Premier 2 the highlight fixture is the first one of the day with the Silverstream 2nds facing their fellow unbeaten Town counterparts. That’s followed by the Stream 3rds taking on Tawa and there’s a local derby as Aotea visit Porirua. The final match of the day sees Hutt Valley HS host Paraparaumu. With presumably several players stepping up for the Premiership fixture, the Wellington College 2nds match with Kapiti has been deferred.

Around the region

Just two weeks left in the Manawatu before their finals series, with a pair of potential preview matches on tomorrow’s slate. Joint-leaders Varsity and Kia Toa are both at home, taking on Old Boys Marist and Feilding Yellows respectively. Feilding OB-Oroua make the trip out to the Army Camp to face Linton, while there’s a city derby between Freyberg and College Old Boys.

Also, only two rounds remaining in Hawke’s Bay with six of the eight Premier sides still in contention for the Maddison Trophy semifinals. Napier OB Marist (20) should punch their ticket against lowly Bridge Pa, and Havelock North (14) figures to make to the last week as they visit MAC. Pirates (16) host Taradale (20) in the crunch clash of the day, while Napier Tech (17) entertains Hastings (19).

It’s top versus bottom in Horowhenua-Kapiti as Foxton head to the Levin Domain to take on College Old Boys. Waikanae are also on the road, at Otaki to face Rahui, while Wanderers go south to take on Paraparaumu.

Once again just the two Premier matches in Wairarapa-Bush after Pioneer’s withdrawal. Martinborough might need to win both remaining matches and they head to the Memorial Park backfields to face Marist, while Masterton Red Star go down the road to face Carterton. East Coast and leaders Greytown have tomorrow off.

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