Wellington Pride, U85kg, Lions teams in action, last round of the Heartland and U16s early next week

Hugo Plummer and the Lions will be reaching high for that first win over the season in their final match against Taranaki this weekend. Photo: Mike Lewis Pictures. 

• By Scott MacLean & Steven White

The calendar has ticked over to October but there is still a bit on this weekend for community rugby supporters to follow.

Representative

One big match happening in Wellington this weekend, with the Wellington Pride facing Hawke’s Bay in their Farah Palmer Cup Championship semi-final. Win that, and the Pride will host next week’s final against either Northland or Otago, but the Tui were the only team to beat Wellington in the round-robin stage so are unlikely to be daunted by the occasion. Matt Poutoa has reverted to what feels like his first-choice lineup, bolstered by the return of Arene Landon-Lane from a quick trip to Europe as cover for the Black Ferns.

At the other end of the spectrum are the Wellington Lions, who head to New Plymouth to face Taranaki in the final match of their woeful NPC campaign. Already assured of the wooden spoon – just two years after winning it all – Sunday’s match is the last chance to avoid a winless season and collect some silverware of sorts with the John F. Henning Trophy on the line between the two provinces. The Bulls however have plenty of motivation; not just locking in a playoff berth but it’s also long-serving prop Jarred Proffit’s 100^th match for the province. There’s also Beauden and Scott Barrett playing together for Taranaki for the very first time.

While other representative teams are either done or winding down, one is just getting started. The Under 85kg side start their short campaign tomorrow in Napier against Hawke’s Bay, before facing Waikato in Taihape next weekend. The side is largely drawn from those who played in the local competition with a smattering of Premier players.

A late addition is one further match for the Wellington Māori U18 and Wellington Co-ed Schools sides, who meet at Evans Bay tomorrow at 11.30am.

The Hurricanes U18s Girls tournament is currently being played in Napier, involving the Wellington U18 Girls, the Wellington Centurions U18 Girls, the Whanganui U18 Girls and the Manawatu U18 Girls.

The Wellington team beat the Centurions 27-7 and Whanganui 22-0 and drew 19-19 with Manawatu on day one on Thursday. The Centurions also lost to Manawatu 7-21 but beat Whanganui 22-19. The final is this afternoon between Wellington and Manawatu.

U16s Tournament in Whanganui next week

The annual Hurrricanes Youth Council’s U16 tournament is being played in Whanganui on Monday and Tuesday (rounds two and three) and Wednesday (Finals Day).

The four Division A teams competing for the Don Broughton Shield are: Wellington, Manawatu, Hawke’s Bay (going by the stage name Hawke’s Bay Black), Hawke’s Bay Development (Hawke’s Bay White).

The four Division B teams playing for the Saracens Cup are: Wairarapa-Bush, Whanganui, Poverty Bay and Horowhenua-Kapiti.

Wellington are the defending champions, having beaten Manawatu 39-12 in last year’s final, while Wairarapa-Bush are Division B champions after defeating Poverty Bay 49-5. A Player of the Tournament and Tournament Team is named annually. Fletcher Cooper was last year’s Player of the Tournament.

Draw (matches played on fields 1, 2 and 3 at WCS, all in close proximity to each other)

Monday:

• Division A: Manawatu v Hawke’s Bay White 1.30pm and Wellington v Hawke’s Bay Black 2.30pm
• Division B: Whanganui v Poverty Bay 11.00am and Wairarapa-Bush v Horowhenua-Kapiti 1.00pm

Tuesday:

• Division A: Wellington v Hawke’s Bay White 12.00pm and Manawatu v Hawke’s Bay Black 1.00pm
• Division B: Horowhenua-Kapiti v Whanganui, 11.00am and Poverty Bay v Wairarapa-Bush 11.30am

Wednesday

• Division A: 3 v 4 10.15am and 1 v 211.30am
• Division B: 3 v 4 11.00am and 1 v 2 10.00am

About the Don Broughton Shield

A full article about the Broughtons and the silverware that bears the family name can be read here: http://hyrc.org.nz/news/the-broughtons-of-punahau-maori-football-club.html

An extract from the link above about Don Broughton, of whom the Shield is named after is below:

“On moving to Levin from South Taranaki, Don Broughton joined the Levin Wanderers Rugby Football Club and is said to have played in the Horowhenua Māori team against the Wellington Māori side in 1954 and 1956. He played for the Levin Wanderers Club until he was well over 50 years old, as a flanker and No. 8.

“It is believed that Don married Mona Paki (Muaupoko, Rangitane) from Hokio Beach and his only son Tane (now deceased) represented Horowhenua at the Under 16 representative level. It is thought that it was at this time in 1972, that Don presented the Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council Shield that carries his name.

“Don worked for the Levin Municipal Abattoir, and he was actively involved in youth rugby in the Levin area, also donating a trophy for the local Saturday morning competition. He was a great supporter of youth rugby, with a strong sense of community spirit.”

Winners and tournament MVPS

Our records on this website go back to 2012 – see below.

Division A winners since 2012:

2012: Wellington
2013: Wellington
2014: Hawke’s Bay
2015: Wellington
2016: Wellington
2017: Wellington
2018: Hawke’s Bay
2019: Wellington
2020: Tournament not played owing to COVID
2021: Hawke’s Bay
2022: Manawatu
2023: Wellington Gold
2024: Hawke’s Bay
2025: Wellington

The Players of the Tournament since 2012 have been:

2012: Leni Apisai (Wellington)
2013: Nese Solia, (Wellington)
2014: Braydon Iose, (Manawatu)
2015: Naitoa Ah Kuoi, (Wellington)
2016: Malo Manuao, (Wellington)
2017: Ropati Sooalo, (Wellington RFU)
2018: Treyah Kingi-Taukomo, (Hawke’s Bay)
2019: Dominic Ropeti, (Wellington)
2020: Tournament not played owing to COVID
2021: “Tournament Team” not named owing to COVID disrupted Tournament.
2022: Ryder Crosswell (Manawatu)
2023: Isireli Qaranivalu (Hawke’s Bay)
2024: Noah Rogers (Hawke’s Bay)
2025: Fletcher Cooper (Wellington)

Heartland

Like the NPC, it’s the final round of the Heartland Championship and both Wairarapa-Bush and Horowhenua-Kapiti are assured of playing next week, but where and against who is yet to be sorted.

The Bush (20) are already certain to be in the Lochore Cup section, and they face already-eliminated East Coast (7) on the Memorial Park turf but will be depending on results elsewhere if they are to be back there next week.

Horo-Kap’s (23) loss last week severely dented their hopes of the Meads Cup, but they are in Westport against Buller (13) who are playing their last match of the year. Win and the Nua could crack those Meads Cup places, but a loss could have them on the road in the Lochore.

Elsewhere King Country (32) are locked into the Meads Cup and need just a point to assure themselves top spot. But they are away at Cooks Gardens against a Whanganui (22) team fighting to make that top four. Defending champions Mid-Canterbury (28) host Thames Valley (27) where the loser is in serious danger of missing the Meads Cup, while North Otago (27) will look to make hay against bottom-placed West Coast (5) in Oamaru. Up SH1 the sixth match sees South Canterbury (23) looking to crack those Meads Cup places when they host Poverty Bay (13).

Teams (as supplied):

Wellington Pride

1.Keiana Roffey (Poneke)
2. Valini Vaka © (Ories)
3. Faythe Finau (Norths)
4. Eva Maora (Petone)
5. Jackie Patea-Fereti (Petone)
6. Lourdes Faifua (Petone)
7. Paige Lilo (Norths)
8. Evelyn Tea (Ories)
9. Milly Mackey (Petone)
10. Arene Landon-Lane (Norths)
11. Ana Kerr (Petone)
12. Litia Bulicakau (Petone)
13. Merania Paraone (Ories)
14. Fia Laikong (OBU)
15. Keira Su’a-Smith (Wainuiomata)
16.Amaria Ranapia (Wainuiomata)
17. Paige Misky (Norths)
18. Giovanna Leo (Norths)
19. Jessica Jackson (Poneke)
20. Sinead Ryder (Ories)
21. Lynda Rabeni-Vatuloka (Petone)
22. Sophia Ropeti (Ories)
23. Baylee Merioti (OBU)

Wellington Lions

1.Sekope Lopeti-Moli (Import)
2. James O’Reilly (HOBM)
3. Siale Lauaki (Norths)
4. Matolu Petaia (Tawa)
5. Hugo Plummer (Tawa)
6. Dominic Ropeti (Ories)
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (Norths)
8. Murphy Taramai (Upper Hutt)
9. Riley Williams (Import)
10. Stanley Solomon (Petone)
11. William Davis (Petone)
12. Callum Harkin (OBU)
13. Matt Proctor (Wellington)
14. Losi Filipo (Petone)
15. Cam Burgess (MSP)
16.Penieli Poasa (Ories)
17. Geordie Bean (OBU)
18. Alex Hewitt (Upper Hutt)
19. Kenkichi Yanagawa (Japan)
20. Rupeni Raviyawa (HOBM)
21. Logan Henry (Petone)
22. Divad Palu (Import)
23. Jackson Ropata (Import)

Wellington Under 85s

1.Tom Doyle (OBU)
2. Edward Bloomfield (Tawa)
3. Will Tobin (Poneke)
4. Nathan Wanders (Tawa)
5. Mike Francis (Jville)
6. Seamus Rowberry © (Jville)
7. Codi Hannan (Pare-Plim)
8. Troy Howe © (Tawa)
9. Carter Stefanidis (Tawa)
10. Dom Ernst (HOBM)
11. Campbell Withington (Tawa)
12. Ben Huntley (Poneke)
13. Lachie Hannon (Pare-Plim)
14. Ryan Carter (Pare-Plim)
15. Jakob Tainui (Petone)
16.Jasper Spencer (Poneke)
17. Joshus Tanielu (OBU)
18. Sautia Misa (HOBM)
19. Hamish Mansell (OBU)
20. Pasia Asiata (Poneke)
21. Kieran Mee (Jville)
22. Connor Piper (HOBM)
23. Max Rodgers (Poneke)
24. Alex Morrissey (Poneke)
25. Ryan Preston (Tawa)

Horowhenua-Kapiti

1.David McErlean (Foxton)
2. John MacNeilage (Paraparaumu)
3. Kafaonga Katoa (Loan – Petone)
4. Isaac Carter (Waikanae)
5. Aaron Lahmert (Waikanae)
6. David Leota-Johnson (Loan – Ories)
7. Lesen Huiarangi (Paraparaumu)
8. Mika Alaifatu © (Loan – HOBM)
9. TJ Barnsley (Paraparaumu)
10. Ethan Woodmass (Foxton)
11. Leighton Ralph (Ranui)
12. Connor Paki (Foxton)
13. Taine Hata (Waikanae)
14. Darren Falaniko (Wanderers)
15. Zane Ainslie (Loan – HOBM)
16.Max Saunders (Paraparaumu)
17. Ted Northcott (Rahui)
18. Brad Reilly (Paraparaumu)
19. Fredrick Moananu (Rahui – debut)
20. Michael Laursen (Foxton)
21. Junior Sione (Wanderers)
22. Ben Harris (Foxton)
23. Willie Paia’aua (COB)

Wairarapa Bush

1.Stan Wright, Jr (Marist)
2. Leon Tuiloma (Loan – Upper Hutt)
3. Lewis Bush (Greytown)
4. Cody Cunningham (Martinborough)
5. Matt Masoe (Marist)
6. Malakai Biumaiwai (Greytown)
7. Inia Katia (Carterton)
8. Isireli Biumaiwai (Greytown)
9. Daryl Pickering © (Carterton)
10. Josh Pepperell (Marist)
11. Hayden Cooper (Marist))
12. Fiula Tameilau (Carterton)
13. Caleb Robson (Loan – HOBM)
14. Charles Mataitai (Marist)
15. Gracyn Evans (Greytown)

16.Jerry Mapusua (Marist)
17. Michael Savage (Martinborough)
18. Sam Siaosi (Marist)
19. Folau Finau-Vea (Loan – OBU)
20. Charlie Gain (East Coast)
21. Archie Bennett (East Coast)
22. Harry Eschenbach (Martinborough)
23. Soli Malatai (Greytown)