Pōneke Ruffnuts win Reserve Grade final, College Finals Day winners crowned and rep rugby ramps up

• By Steven White & Scott MacLean

The Pōneke Ruffnuts put the icing on the cake of their 30th anniversary celebrations with a hard-fought and gritty 30-20 win over the Johnsonville Cripples in their home Reserve Grade Division 1 final this afternoon.

In College Finals Day, there were wins for St Pat’s Silverstream (three), St Pat’s Town, St Bernard’s and Wellington College.

The U85kg National Knockout Cup continued, the Heartland Championship kicked off and there were three representative matches played in Wellington involving home teams.

More below from games that we covered and followed.

In drizzly conditions, the Pōneke Ruffnuts hoisted aloft the JC Bowl (U85 kg Division 1 trophy), in lieu of the John Davies Cup that was unavailable at the presentation, to go alongside their first round Mike Copeland Cup win from several weeks ago.

The Ruffnuts hung on gallantly against the Johnsonville Cripples over the final 19 minutes with 14 players, after No. 8 and leading ball-carrier Rockitt Mose had been red-carded for his second yellow card of the match.

In the aftermath of this action, Johnsonville first five Tem Southon sliced through to score under the posts to make it 27-20.

However, Poneke dug deep and, with the moderate southerly and rain that had recently arrived at Kilbirnie Park in their favour, were mostly able to close out the remainder of the match in Johnsonville’s half. They kicked a penalty with about 10 minutes to play which sealed victory.

Poneke had previously led 17-8 at halftime and then jumped ahead to 27-8 at the 50 minute mark through tries to flanker Tuhoro Kingi (his second of the game) and centre Saimoa Siali who chipped ahead and regathered for a solo try.

In the 56th minute Johnsonville struck back with a clutch  try in the clubrooms corner to right wing Austin Nansen which made it 27-13, setting up a pulsating remainder of the final.

Earlier, Johnsonville had kicked a penalty for the first points following Rockitt’s first sinbinning, but in his absence Poneke rallied and scored two tries over the next 10 minutes. Both tries were scored after set piece attacks, the first through the backs after a penalty and lineout, and the second through the forwards after a scrum inside the 22.

Poneke led 12-3 inside 15 minutes. Johnsonville regrouped and their forwards and ball runners started getting into the game more, leading to left wing Tawera Rameka- Styles outpacing the defence in the far corner to make it 12-8.

The Cripples were almost in again in the same corner but they failed to capitalise on field position and a lineout in the corner. The Ruffnuts then broke out and almost scored a 90 metre try.

With the momentum, the Ruffnuts soon scored for the third time with flanker Kingi scoring his first try following a tap penalty and numbers out wide. Once more, the Cripples were left to rue another golden chance on the stroke of halftime through another penalty and lineout in the far corner that went awry, and the two teams went into halftime with plenty to ponder.

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U85kgs

Pōneke are the last Wellington team standing in the National Under 85s Club Cup. They defeated Paremata-Plimmerton 55-0 in todays last-16 encounter at Kilbirnie Park, running in nine tries after leading 22-0 at halftime, while up in New Plymouth Tawa’s only outing in the competition ended in defeat to Tukapa by 36-19.

Pōneke move through to a quarter-final encounter against Canterbury’s Darfield after they defeated city side New Brighton 31-0. In other matches former winners Pakuranga beat Grammar TEC 27-10, Karaka beat College Rifles 39-15, and Silverdale shut out Ponsonby 37-0. Defending champions Christchurch HSOB face Oxford tomorrow.

Representative

 The Wellington U20s survived a late scare in beating the Tasman U20s 45-29.

 Wellington pulled away to win comfortably in the end by scoring two late tries, the first to second five and hometown Pōneke player Jeremiah Tuhenga-Vaitapu, and fullback William Davis-Lenz with the last play of the game.

Previously, Wellington held a moderately comfortable 33-15 lead during a largely scrappy second half in which both sides emptied their benches, and Wellington also had conceded the second of two yellow cards.

Tasman’s backs had been threatening all match but were kept in check by Wellington’s committed defence, but they burst through to score two tries in quick succession, the first from a scrum near halfway and the second soon after the next re-start. This made it 33-29 and they had their tails up and looked a chance.

Wellington had led 28-10 at halftime, scoring four converted tries to Tasman’s two. Wellington opened the scoring in the third minute after a penalty and lineout, and added to it with tries in the 15^th, 23^rd and 39^th minutes.

Openside flanker Elijah Solomona, fullback Davis-Lenz and halfback Bentley Faulkner were all prominent in their early tries, while flanker Brandon Lo finished off a sweeping try towards the end of the half, converted from the sideline by left wing Max Reynolds.

Despite trailing 28-5, Tasman were in the game for long periods and were highly competitive, but a hallmark of Wellington’s play was their strong, aggressive defence and play around the rucks. Wellington held Tasman out close to their line on at least three occasions. Tasman’s first try was an intercept to right wing Anaru Erasmus and their second try well into injury time in the first half to replacement forward Sasa Fifita.

Wellington went ahead with their fifth try early in the second half after a break and a subsequent try after a scrum close to the line.

There was no further scoring in the next 20 minutes until the late flurry of scoring saw Wellington home.

Wellington goes on to open their Hurricanes U20 tournament next week against Hawke’s Bay, while Tasman headed home by ferry this afternoon for a full programme of matches in the South Island to come.

Over on Kilbirnie Park 3, the Manawatu U20s warmed up for the start of their Central Region Shield campaign with a 85-10 win over the Wellington Pasifika U20s.

Manawatu roared through to score several tries to have the match in the bag by halftime and continued where they left off in the second half as the southerly breeze arrived in their favour.

At Rugby League Park, the Wellington Centurions beat Wellington Māori 67-7, after leading 26-0 at halftime.

Above: The Centurions run in two tries at Rugby League Park. Photos: Tane Nathan/Kinetic Images.

As well as Luke Kapene and Jack Riley (above), Connor Tuifao (2), Tom Maiava (2), David Leota-Johnson, Jacob Waikari-Jones, Conley Alexander, Esi Komaisavai and Finlay Hagan all scored tries.

Heartland Championship

A winning start for Wairarapa-Bush in this year’s Heartland Championship, but Horowhenua-Kapiti missed out at home.

The Bush travelled up to Gisborne and came from behind to beat Poverty Bay in difficult conditions at Rugby Park 20-17 after trailing 10-17 at the break. Soli Malatai scored early and Marcus Ale crossed midway through the second half, with the remainder coming from the boot of loanee first-five Hoera Stephenson. In contrast, Horo-Kapiti lost to King Country 41-45 at the Levin Domain in a free-scoring clash.

Elsewhere defending champions Mid-Canterbury lost to southern rivals North Otago 37-26, South Canterbury beat East Coast 44-20, Whanganui were too good for West Coast 62-21, and Thames Valley crushed Buller 89-26.

College

Midfielder Salaki Keni will be the toast of his Silverstream 2nd XV side tonight, as his desperate 70th minute intervention was all that stood between his side winning yet another Premier 2 title and defeat in today’s final on their own #1 ground. The unfortunate opposite was St Pat’s Town 2nd XV winger Arona Savali who looked set to score one of the all-time match winners as we weaved past several defenders, but in cover defence Keni punched the ball from Savali’s grasp, and Silverstream were able to smuggle the ball into touch to preserve a 24-21 win.

Town belied the fact they’d lost to the same opposition 3-43 only weeks ago as they struck first through midfielder Logan Hight, though Stream quickly responded. The underdogs went ahead again when outstanding halfback Vini Ellison – Huddy Sports’ choice for Man of the Match – went over, and although Stream narrowed the margin, Town took a deserved lead into the break. They extended that through replacement Xavier Kooiman-vili with all three tries converted by Aden Hedges, the son of Pare-Plim legend Shane. Stream came back with a converted try of their own followed by an unconverted one in the north-west corner to finally take the lead after they turned own several kickable penalties. That set the stage for the grandstand finish, and Keni’s miracle moment.

Wellington College’s U16 Gold squad ran away from Wainuiomata High’s 1st XV to win the Premier 3 title and with it the Willie Leota Taonga by 31-5. The opening quarter was a stalemate before WC broke the deadlock through lock Liam Moller. First-five Jensen Faulkner – the games outstanding figure – added a penalty before they scored twice in the shadow of half-time through winger Liam Hardy and hooker Max Colley. Despite being at a significant size disadvantage, the WC side simply ran their opponents out of gas and any hope Wainuiomata had of a comeback were snuffed out by Hardy’s second. Centre Carter Lewis, Wainuiomata’s best along with halfback Logan Chanhsamo, scored a long-range effort but that proved only a consolation. Isaac Thompson kicked a second penalty for WC before replacement Aoi Minoura had the final say with their final try of the day. Special mention for WC blindside Vanepale Kamoto who had a massive game and one his older brother will do well to replicate tomorrow.

Silverstream claimed the Under 15 Division 1 title and the Father Gus Hill Cup, running away from Wellington College 53-21. Silverstream jumped out to a 24-0 lead before College pegged it back to 21-24. But Silverstream kicked away with two more tries before the break to lead 31-21, and then simply extended it in the second half.

Trytime for the St Pat’s Silverstream U15s and their celebration on fulltime in today’s Father Gus Hill decider. Photo: Andy McArthur. 

Silverstream also took the Under 65kg final and the Ina Hansen Cup, but only after an epic contest against Hutt Valley High School to prevail 10-5 and highlight the level of competition at the sharp end of the weight-restricted grade. HVHS dominated both possession and territory but found the Silverstream defence too tough to crack especially close to the goal line. The only scoring in the first half was a try to Silverstream’s Brooklyn Wratt who profitted from a HVHS handling error deep in their own half. The second half carried on from where the first left off, and it took 15 minutes before HVHS levelled matter through prop Gil Hoskin. Ultimately though the final say went to the oldest player on the field when Silverstream No8 and captain Louis Botha – the only Year 12 play involved – barged over and although HVHS threw everything at it in the last eight minutes Stream held on. A mention here for diminutive HVHS fullback Blake Harris who ran every opportunity back with the confidence of someone twice his size.

In the other finals the St Bernard’s 2nd XV won the Premier 4 Onslow Cup 17-15 over the Rongotai College 2nds. Silverstream Blue won the Under 15 Division 2 title 39-29 over Hutt International, and the Town U14s were too good in Under 15 Division 3, beating a short-handed HVHS side 52-17.

Elsewhere, the Aotea College First XV beat the Naenae College First XV 45-24 in their Wellington region Coed Cup final at home.

The Premiership final between Wellington College and St Pat’s Silverstream is at Porirua Park at 11.40am on Sunday.