{"id":21457,"date":"2024-05-20T07:50:03","date_gmt":"2024-05-19T19:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/?p=21457"},"modified":"2024-05-21T19:42:29","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T07:42:29","slug":"sideline-conversions-20-may-some-rugby-news-and-information-to-start-the-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/2024\/05\/20\/sideline-conversions-20-may-some-rugby-news-and-information-to-start-the-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Sideline Conversions 20 May (some rugby news and information to start the week)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>The Paremata-Plimmerton and HOBM Presidents after their match on Saturday. Photo: Warwick Burke.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>\n\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1 .wpls-fix-box,\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1 .wpls-fix-box img.wp-post-image{max-height:250px; }\n\t\t<\/style>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wpls-wrap wpls-logo-showcase-slider-wrp wpls-logo-clearfix wpls-design-1 \" data-conf=\"{&quot;slides_column&quot;:4,&quot;slides_scroll&quot;:1,&quot;dots&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;arrows&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay_interval&quot;:3000,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;rtl&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:800,&quot;center_mode&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-showcase logo_showcase wpls-logo-slider  sliderimage_hide_border \" id=\"wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1\" >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roblawmax.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/rmax24.jpg?fit=220%2C120&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geeksonwheels.co.nz\/locations\/wellington-computer-repair\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images.jpg?fit=296%2C170&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/thecallcentre.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/TCC-Logo-400x260-1.jpg?fit=400%2C260&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.partnersfinance.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/part2.jpg?fit=300%2C195&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Monday afternoon updates<\/strong><\/em>: Blink and you will miss it. It\u2019s the back half of the 2024 Wellington club rugby first round competition.<\/p>\n<p>Heading into this coming weekend\u2019s eighth round of 13 of the the Swindale Shield, OBU lead by 5 points, but the chasing pack consists of 10 teams separated by 8 competition points, all in the mix for the Jubilee Cup and half of them in the hunt for the first-round title.<\/p>\n<p>OBU are looking sharp, but they also haven\u2019t played Paremata-Plimmerton, Oriental-Rongotai or Marist St Pat\u2019s, so we are in for a cracker of a back half of the competition.<\/p>\n<p>Matches at a glance this Saturday (home teams first):<\/p>\n<p>#1 &#8211; HOBM v Wainui<br \/>\n#2 &#8211; J&#8217;ville v Upper Hutt Rams<br \/>\n#3 &#8211; Marist St Pats v Pare-Plim<br \/>\n#4 &#8211; OBU v Poneke<br \/>\n#5 &#8211; Ories v Norths<br \/>\n#6 &#8211; Tawa v Avalon<br \/>\n#7 &#8211; Wellington v Petone<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>First XV draw<\/strong> is being confirmed, and the season starts this coming Wednesday with the traditional opener between host school <strong>Wellington College and St Pat\u2019s Town<\/strong>. Kick-off is listed at 1.00pm on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>second round Women&#8217;s draw<\/strong> will also be made early this week. The teams split into a &#8216;top four-bottom four&#8217; scenario, with a three-week round-robin, semi-finals and then finals.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Good scheduling for community rugby, with the <strong>Hurricanes<\/strong> playing the Chiefs this Friday night in Hamilton.<\/p>\n<p>It is next week there&#8217;s going to be a major problem, with a 4.35pm Saturday afternoon game scheduled. But we will get to that when the time comes.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s one for the <strong>Siliga family<\/strong> books. Norths centurion Liki played over 60 minutes off the bench as an early sub for the Premiers in their draw with Poneke, while down the road at Ngati Toa Domain his partner Lisa started for the Pare-Plim women, and their son Reuben was in midfield for the Hammerhead&#8217;s Colts side.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Double-duty for Poneke&#8217;s Premier Manager <strong>Evan Belford<\/strong> on Saturday. While he was in his usual role for the 2.45pm kickoff, he&#8217;d earlier pulled on the red and black hoops for a spot on their Premier 2 bench owing to injuries across the squad. And he turned back the clock with a late double as his team were convincing winners in their Harper Lock Shield match<\/p>\n<p>++++<\/p>\n<p>Five tries to Old Boys University centre <strong>Elijah Maene-Lokeni<\/strong> \u2013 the first five try haul in five seasons in Wellington Premier rugby.<\/p>\n<p><strong>MOST TRIES IN A SWINDALE SHIELD, JUBILEE CUP OR HARDHAM CUP MATCH 2006-2024 (UP TO AND INCLUDING ROUND 7):<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>6 TRIES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Mike Kingsbeer (Marist St Pat\u2019s)<\/strong><br \/>\n2009 Swindale Shield Round 5<br \/>\nMarist St Pat\u2019s 88 \u2013 Wainuiomata 3<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tauaosi\u00a0Tuimavavae (Poneke)<\/strong><br \/>\n2013 Swindale Shield Round 3<br \/>\nPoneke 102 \u2013 Rimutaka 0<\/p>\n<p><strong>5 TRIES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Brendan Watt (Marist St Pat\u2019s)<\/strong><br \/>\n2009 Swindale Shield Round 3<br \/>\nMarist St Pat\u2019s 55 \u2013 Tawa 3<\/p>\n<p><strong>Julian Savea (Oriental-Rongotai)<\/strong><br \/>\n2009 Swindale Shield Round 4<br \/>\nOriental-Rongotai 78 \u2013 Old Boys-University 17<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ajay Va\u2019alepu (Northern United)<\/strong><br \/>\n2011 Jubilee Cup Semi-final<br \/>\nNorthern United 29 \u2013 Poneke 3<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dean Brunsdon (Northern United)<\/strong><br \/>\n2013 Swindale Shield Round 11<br \/>\nNorthern United 85 \u2013 Rimutaka 0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Faresa Tasele (Marist St Pat\u2019s)<\/strong><br \/>\n2019 Hardham Cup, Round 7<br \/>\nMarist St Pat\u2019s 74 \u2013 Avalon 7<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Elijah Maene-Lokeni (Old Boys University)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>2024 Swindale Shield Round 7<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Old Boys University 74 \u2013 Avalon 7<\/em><\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Old Boys University hooker <strong>Louie Calvert<\/strong> injured in the warm-ups\u00a0 of Old Boys University\u2019s big win over Avalon. His supporters will be hoping this was precautionary and he can take his place in the NZ Universities team against Japan.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Five tries to <strong>Shakira Baker<\/strong> for Paremata-Plimmerton in the women&#8217;s competition on Saturday. Apart from Ayesha Leti-L&#8217;iga, has a women&#8217;s player scored five tries in a match in the past several years?<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Petone right wing <strong>Tia Brown<\/strong> leading the women&#8217;s competition&#8217;s top try scoring list with 9 tries at the conclusion of the first round. A former Kapiti College student, Brown works as a painter by day.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kemara Hauiti-Parapara<\/strong> has 347 points and 64 wins in his 100 games for Tawa. He scored a try and set up the winner in their 40-35 victory over Johnsonville on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-21463\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Jimmy-Gopperth-poster.jpg?resize=479%2C1064&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"1064\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Jimmy-Gopperth-poster.jpg?resize=135%2C300&amp;ssl=1 135w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Jimmy-Gopperth-poster.jpg?resize=461%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 461w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Jimmy-Gopperth-poster.jpg?resize=768%2C1708&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Jimmy-Gopperth-poster.jpg?resize=691%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 691w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Jimmy-Gopperth-poster.jpg?w=921&amp;ssl=1 921w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 479px) 100vw, 479px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Paremata-Plimmerton<\/strong> are unbeaten in their last 13 matches at Ngati Toa.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Is there are bigger livewire in the competition than <strong>Esi\u00a0Komaisavai<\/strong>. In 94 senior games he\u2019s scored 44 tries. His energy shook up Hutt Old Boys Marist.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Sharp by name, Sharp by nature. Johnsonville right wing <strong>Finlay Sharp<\/strong> showed plenty of toe in scoring two cracking tries against Tawa on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_21476\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21476\" style=\"width: 414px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-21476\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/PP-food-spread.jpg?resize=414%2C552&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"414\" height=\"552\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/PP-food-spread.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/PP-food-spread.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/PP-food-spread.jpg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/PP-food-spread.jpg?w=1536&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/PP-food-spread.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 414px) 100vw, 414px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-21476\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The food spread at Paremata-Plimmerton&#8217;s aftermatch on Old Timers&#8217; Day on Saturday.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Shout out to <strong>Chris Middleton<\/strong> &#8211; the veteran lock played 60 minutes for Tawa on Saturday. A 2006 and 2008 Jubilee Cup final winning starting lock &#8211; it&#8217;s experience like this that is invaluable.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-21461\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/111A4434.jpg?resize=489%2C243&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"489\" height=\"243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/111A4434.jpg?resize=300%2C149&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/111A4434.jpg?resize=768%2C382&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/111A4434.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 489px) 100vw, 489px\" \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-21462\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Chris_Middleton.jpg?resize=247%2C360&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"247\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Chris_Middleton.jpg?resize=206%2C300&amp;ssl=1 206w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Chris_Middleton.jpg?w=447&amp;ssl=1 447w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 247px) 100vw, 247px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>++++++<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of lineouts, Johnsonville openside flanker <strong>Tyler Hall<\/strong> goes well as a lineout jumper and in his role around the field. He finished off a another terrific try against Tawa.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Taradale<\/strong> are first round Nash Cup champions in <strong>Hawke\u2019s Bay Premier rugby<\/strong>. The Maddison Trophy starts this coming weekend.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>This comment will come across the wrong way and be criticised, but going to place it anyway. Why are the <strong>Hurricanes<\/strong> so matey-matey with the <strong>Phoenix<\/strong>? Good to wish them luck but posting commiseration posts? The Phoenix are a big reason the Hurricanes live audience in Wellington has halved over the past 15 years. Whilst the Phoenix are there and doing well, the Hurricanes will never recapture those 20,000 plus crowds consistently. Different sport so chalk and cheese, yes. But same spending dollar and as the NZ economy gets worse in the coming months before (hopefully) getting better the squeeze will continue to be on. Perhaps the Hurricanes should take a competition match to Levin and another to Whanganui each year? Why wouldn&#8217;t they?<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>Wellington Colts competition<\/strong> is tight after seven rounds. HOBM Green are out in front on a perfect 7 wins from 7 and 35 points. Below them, MSP have moved into second on 28, followed by Petone on 27, the Upper Hutt Rams on 26, Norths on 26, Ories on 25, Poneke 23 and OBU 21. So that is seven teams separated by as many points in the chasing pack.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Another two tries to Wainuiomata right wing <strong>Niko Patelesio<\/strong> on Saturday, in his team\u2019s 47-11 \u2018two Bills\u2019 win over Wellington. He has scored 11 tries in five matches this year and 22 in his past 11 games overall.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C7Dc6FLSK4C\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:640px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C7Dc6FLSK4C\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C7Dc6FLSK4C\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Oriental Rongotai Rugby Club (@oriesrugby)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>A good day for the family, his brothers Herman and Salesa were also try-scorers in Ories&#8217; 23-5 win.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>A curious level of silence from NZR HQ on the <strong>National U85 Club Cup<\/strong>, which is usually well underway by now.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>A tough gig being a <strong>MSP Premier team supporter<\/strong> at the moment. A couple of big losses, as well as some battling wins. Their 27-point loss to the Upper Hutt Rams on Saturday was eye-catching to many results collators. The Rams went 26 matches without beating MSP between 2002-19, at the time the longest Premier losing streak between clubs continuously in the top grade (Upper Hutt before the UH Rams) in a head-to-head encounter.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Vale <strong>Sid Going<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C7FgS1ULGRT\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:640px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C7FgS1ULGRT\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C7FgS1ULGRT\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Northland Rugby (@northlandrugby)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Brothers in Arms:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/clubrugby.smugmug.com\/2024\/2024-Swindale-Shield-\/Round-7-Upper-Hutt-Rams-46-v-MSP-19\/i-gr9CrZP\/A\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.smugmug.com\/2024\/2024-Swindale-Shield-\/Round-7-Upper-Hutt-Rams-46-v-MSP-19\/i-gr9CrZP\/0\/FbMNwvvTptr48sxBxsHJk9SLVztfhq4g6QMCSNFFd\/640x473\/45-640x473.jpg?resize=640%2C473&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"473\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, it was <strong>Jason Woodward<\/strong>&#8216;s 34th birthday on Friday. He plays for Sale Sharks in England.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>What is the <strong>Super Rugby round-robin<\/strong> doing being played past late May? One domestic competition to rule them all going forward?<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>On the subject of the NPC, it was reported last week that the <strong>Ranfurly Shield<\/strong> has been repaired and is in safe hands back in the Hawke&#8217;s Bay.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Canada stunned the Black Ferns<\/strong> 22-19 in Christchurch. Despite Canada making 227 tackles against 89, the visitors were thoroughly deserving of their victory making better use of possession and at one stage defying a 36-phase attack against them. The Black Ferns were ill-disciplined, conceding 14 penalties and two yellow cards.\u00a0 Attack was inaccurate and Ruahei Demant kicking the ball down the middle of the park with 90 seconds left an error not befitting of her quality. The Black Ferns have lost three of their last five Test matches and their last two in white jerseys after the 17-18 loss to Wellington last year.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Half Season From XV (one perspective, who would you have)?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Benet Kumeroa (HOBM)<\/li>\n<li>Louis Calvert (OBU)<\/li>\n<li>Antonio Prim (Wellington)<\/li>\n<li>Boston Hunt (OBU)<\/li>\n<li>Kitiona Leitufia (Wainuiomata)<\/li>\n<li>Harry Irving (OBU)<\/li>\n<li>Dominic Ropeti (Ories)<\/li>\n<li>Dougal Perrers (OBU)<\/li>\n<li>Kyle Preston (OBU)<\/li>\n<li>Callum Harkin (OBU)<\/li>\n<li>Belgium Tuatagaloa (Petone)<\/li>\n<li>Emmanuel Solomona (Upper Hutt)<\/li>\n<li>Finlay Sharp (Johnsonville)<\/li>\n<li>Niko Patelesio (Wainuiomata)<\/li>\n<li>TJ Clarke (Petone)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>* Esi\u00a0Komaisavai first player picked for the bench.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>\n\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-2 .wpls-fix-box,\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-2 .wpls-fix-box img.wp-post-image{max-height:250px; }\n\t\t<\/style>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wpls-wrap wpls-logo-showcase-slider-wrp wpls-logo-clearfix wpls-design-1 \" data-conf=\"{&quot;slides_column&quot;:4,&quot;slides_scroll&quot;:1,&quot;dots&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;arrows&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay_interval&quot;:3000,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;rtl&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:800,&quot;center_mode&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-showcase logo_showcase wpls-logo-slider  sliderimage_hide_border \" id=\"wpls-logo-showcase-slider-2\" >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roblawmax.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/rmax24.jpg?fit=220%2C120&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geeksonwheels.co.nz\/locations\/wellington-computer-repair\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images.jpg?fit=296%2C170&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/thecallcentre.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/TCC-Logo-400x260-1.jpg?fit=400%2C260&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.partnersfinance.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/part2.jpg?fit=300%2C195&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Palmerston North Overpowers S<\/strong><strong>t Patrick&#8217;s College, Silverstream<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Palmerston North Boys\u2019 High School hosted St Patrick\u2019s College, Silverstream in the 94th annual fixture which coincided with a reunion of the 1964 First XV that\u00a0won 12 out of 16 games and yielded All Black Bob Burgess.<\/p>\n<p>Silverstream was immediately into their work, using their big forward carriers to good effect and making ground. After several phases, Silverstream earned a penalty to take a 3-0 lead.\u00a0Liam Slight knocking over the goal.<\/p>\n<p>Palmerston North was sparked into life. Blindside Bradley Tocker busted a tackle and broke down the sideline before offloading to Ryder Crosswell to cross and give the hosts the lead.<\/p>\n<p>Silverstream took the lead with a\u00a0Ashton Stere\u00a0try but TJ Wallace propelled Palmerston North back in front with a try before the interval.<\/p>\n<p>Palmerston North played with greater accuracy and aggression in the second spell. Joe Ratcliffe crossed for Palmerston North\u2019s third try before Crosswell cut through from a scum move for his second try.<\/p>\n<p>Undeterred Silverstream attacked with venom using their big forwards to gain momentum. Palmerston\u2019s discipline was fractured losing two players to the sinbin but superb tackling from Sione Taeiloa and Manase Toumohuni held Silverstream at bay and secured the Wallace Cup 22-8.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stunning Comeback Sinks National Champions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s doubtful that in over a century of intense rivalry there has ever been a comeback like the one Otago Boys\u2019 High School produced against National champions Southland Boys\u2019 High School last Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Down 24-0 early in the second half at Littlebourne, it appeared Otago was set to receive a hiding. \u00a0No 8 Thomas Spain\u00a0and Captain\u00a0Taine Withy\u00a0were productive for the visitors each scoring tries.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, speedy winger Manaia Lesa audaciously\u00a0chipped ahead and scooped the ball back up to race his way upfield.\u00a0The cover defence hauled him in,\u00a0but Otago Boys\u2019 swung the ball to the right and Christopher Ure went over in the corner.\u00a0Impressive second five Tevita Latu nailed the conversion and that was the catalyst for a stunning shift in momentum.<\/p>\n<p>Latu\u00a0became imperious, landing four of his five conversion attempts. But he was even more\u00a0dangerous with possession engineering much of Otago\u2019s attack.<\/p>\n<p>Southland Boys\u2019 botched a lineout\u00a0throw and\u00a0Otago\u00a0charged down the touchline. Halfback Jackson Hughan stayed in support and scored.<\/p>\n<p>Jetlag was a likely factor in Southland Boys\u2019 demise. They only returned from the\u00a0Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational\u00a0tournament in Japan on\u00a0Sunday<\/p>\n<p>Lesa finished off a move with a barging run to the corner and Kane Dynes crossed to make it 24-24. Latu banged over the conversion to give Otago Boys\u2019 their first lead, and loose forward Sione Takataka scored late to complete a stirring comeback.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>\n\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-3 .wpls-fix-box,\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-3 .wpls-fix-box img.wp-post-image{max-height:250px; }\n\t\t<\/style>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wpls-wrap wpls-logo-showcase-slider-wrp wpls-logo-clearfix wpls-design-1 \" data-conf=\"{&quot;slides_column&quot;:4,&quot;slides_scroll&quot;:1,&quot;dots&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;arrows&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay_interval&quot;:3000,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;rtl&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:800,&quot;center_mode&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-showcase logo_showcase wpls-logo-slider  sliderimage_hide_border \" id=\"wpls-logo-showcase-slider-3\" >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roblawmax.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/rmax24.jpg?fit=220%2C120&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geeksonwheels.co.nz\/locations\/wellington-computer-repair\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images.jpg?fit=296%2C170&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/thecallcentre.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/TCC-Logo-400x260-1.jpg?fit=400%2C260&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.partnersfinance.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/part2.jpg?fit=300%2C195&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Captain Hurricane<\/strong> conducting the band:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 640px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-26923-1\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/P1110995-Copy.mp4?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/P1110995-Copy.mp4\">https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/P1110995-Copy.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Highlanders watch:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When was the last time the Highlanders named an unchanged side for a match? It was in the Covid-adjusted Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition in June 2021, when the Highlanders smashed the Brumbies 33-12 in Canberra. Aaron Smith scored two tries with All Blacks prop Ethan De Groot the only survivor from that win, a fifth in a row before the Highlanders lost the final 23-15 to the Blues.<\/p>\n<p>Since 2002 the Blues and Highlanders have competed for the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy.\u00a0 A police detective with one eye, Hunter was a legendary Otago coach assisting Laurie Mains (127 wins in 178 games) when Otago won their first NPC title in 1991. Hunter was Otago\u2019s head coach from 1992 to 1995 winning 52 out of 80 games, including victories against the 1993 British and Irish Lions and 1994 Springboks. In 1996 Hunter was a selector when the All Blacks won a series in South Africa for the first time. In 2001 he coached the Blues.\u00a0Sean Withy on the Otago legend.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGordon Hunter was your quintessential Highlanders man\u2026We had a pep talk from Jamie Joseph this week and he explained Jamie was more like a father than a coach. He picked people up when they were down, he worked hard. He was a good southern bloke.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The last time the Highlanders won consecutive games against New Zealand opposition was on 2 April 2021 when they beat the Crusaders 33-12 in Christchurch. Billy Harmon, Michael Collins, and Connor Garden-Bachop scored tries that night with Mitch Hunt booting 18 points.<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Paremata-Plimmerton and HOBM Presidents after their match on Saturday. Photo: Warwick Burke. Monday afternoon updates: Blink and you will miss it. It\u2019s the back half of the 2024 Wellington club rugby first round competition. Heading into this coming weekend\u2019s eighth round of 13 of the the Swindale Shield, OBU lead by 5 points, but&#8230;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21466,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,60,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-club-rugby","category-latest-club-rugby-news","category-news-in-briefs"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Presidents-teams.jpg?fit=950%2C633&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbDiON-5A5","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21457"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21457\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21513,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21457\/revisions\/21513"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}