{"id":6794,"date":"2020-07-31T12:30:09","date_gmt":"2020-07-31T00:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/?p=6794"},"modified":"2020-07-31T12:31:52","modified_gmt":"2020-07-31T00:31:52","slug":"club-rugby-in-heaven-in-round-seven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/2020\/07\/31\/club-rugby-in-heaven-in-round-seven\/","title":{"rendered":"Club rugby in heaven in round seven"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Above: Bruce Kauika-Petersen and Luca Rees join Parekura Lalaga in the loose forwards in an unchanged Norths team to play Wainuiomata tomorrow for the Alf Keating Memorial Trophy.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\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<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>By Scott MacLean<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Teams and draw <a href=\"http:\/\/www.clubrugby.co.nz\/wellington\/games-results.php?competition=1&amp;season=16&amp;round=7\">HERE<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s perhaps hard to believe, but this weekend marks the halfway point of the Premier season, and the race for those precious top 4 spots will only intensify in the coming weeks. Elsewhere the Women\u2019s competition has their annual Gala Day with all four matches at Fraser Park, there\u2019s some key matches in the Colts, 85s, and Reserve grades, and it\u2019s Old Timers&#8217; Day at both Petone and Johnsonville.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also a special day for two players, as Oriental-Rongotai\u2019s Tuakana Metuarau and HOBM\u2019s Brandyn Laursen all bring up a century of appearances for their clubs. Both have overcome some adversity to reach their milestones and are terrific ambassadors for the club game; <em>Club Rugby<\/em> congratulates them on their achievement.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Premier Swindale Shield<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After last week\u2019s results a four-way logjam exists at the top of the Swindale Shield standings on 24 points, highlighting just how tight it is at the top end of the competition<\/p>\n<p>Two of those teams, and coincidentally the two that lost last week, meet at Lyndhurst with <strong>Tawa<\/strong> and<strong> Old Boys-University<\/strong> keen to get back to winning ways after their respective narrow defeats last week to Norths and MSP, knowing that a loss tomorrow could see them drop out of those precious top four places.<\/p>\n<p>The home team make a handful of changes, with returns for Luke Cummings, Maui Wallace, Eamonn Carr, and an eye-raising one for Sitiveni Paongo. Folau Vea makes his first start for the year and Trent Renata drops to fullback and Tom Maiava moves back to centre. The Goats have just a single change to their starting side with Matt Sleith replacing Paddy Carter on the flank with former Poneke back Kurt Sickler named on the bench alongside a returning Izzy Foai.<\/p>\n<p>Another of those leaders is involved in the round opening match tonight, with <strong>Marist St Pat&#8217;s<\/strong> venturing to Fraser Park to take on <strong>Avalon<\/strong> under lights at 7.30pm after both teams agreed to the move. MSP have rebounded well from their first loss of the year to see off both Ories and OBU and will be warm favourites against a Wolves outfit that appears to be growing increasingly frustrated with how their season has progressed.<\/p>\n<p>MSP have taken the opportunity to rest several players this weekend but are able to bring in plenty of experience. James Proctor moves into 10 with Isaia Petelo between him and younger brother Billy, Pago Haini is on the back of the scrum, and on the ageless Fa\u2019atonu Fili is on the bench. After missing last week Avalon get veterans Daley Ena and Tom Kiwara back, and the robust Ale Peni makes his first start this year. One thing they\u2019ll certainly need to do is try and give Chris Aumua more opportunities and space to work in.<\/p>\n<p>Having won back the McBain, <strong>Petone<\/strong> face another challenge to their credentials when they host an <strong>Oriental-Rongotai<\/strong> side that returned to winning ways in emphatic style in beating Wainuiomata. It\u2019s been an impressive start for the Villagers but having worked their way into that top four they know they\u2019ll need to keep working to stay there. Their side tomorrow includes a starting debut for well-regarded young prop Niko Manaena and returns for lock Dylan Williamson and winger Viliami Fine, with veteran Mateaki Kafatolu in line for his first action of the season from the bench.<\/p>\n<p>Ories have righted their ship, but even though they have all of the current bottom-three yet to play a loss tomorrow would leave them as much as more than two wins outside the top four. Their one change up front is the addition of Hurricanes prop Alex Fidow, while a backline reshuffle has Alex Ropeti at 10 and a quarter of youngsters in their outside backs; Steven Va\u2019a, Ethan Webster-Nonu, Roderick Solo, and Saia Paese. And as mentioned above Metuarau plays his 100<sup>th<\/sup> match.<\/p>\n<p>Having come out on the right side of the most bizarre scoreline seen in Wellington Premier rugby for a few years, <strong>Norths <\/strong>are back home at Jerry Collins Stadium for the visit of <strong>Wainuiomata<\/strong> and seem to have gotten the blue machine working after a sputtering start to the year. In something of a rarity they\u2019ve named not just an unchanged starting XV, but the exact same 22 as they did for Tawa. The same can\u2019t be said for Wainuiomata as they make a number of changes to go looking for an upset result to keep them in touch for a return to the showpiece final.<\/p>\n<p>Two players &#8211; Wainuiomata\u2019s well-travelled Tyler Tane and Norths\u2019 utility Esi Komaisavai \u2013 player their 50<sup>th<\/sup> matches for their respective sides.<\/p>\n<p>Just up the road at Ngati Toa a team coming off back-to-back wins meets one on a three-game slide, and you\u2019d be forgiven which was <strong>Paremata-Plimmerton<\/strong> and which was <strong>Hutt Old Boys Marist<\/strong>. The home team have climbed to 11<sup>th<\/sup> with their wins over Wellington and Johnsonville and would dearly love to make it three on the trot for the first time ever in the Premier grade. By contrast the Eagles need to get back on track having dropped to sixth after losing the McBain following their reverses against Norths and Tawa.<\/p>\n<p>Pare-Plim hand first starts to winger Simon Black and Swedish International Adam Christersson on the openside, while HOBM will be seeing double with the McMillan-Parata twins Tane and Kewa teaming up in midfield. Aside from Laursen\u2019s 100<sup>th<\/sup> match, the Eagles have Chase Tiatia available to them and he starts at fullback, so Glen Watlers gets a run at 10 with Pakai Turia on the bench.<\/p>\n<p>Across the Haywards there\u2019s a mid-table scrap with the <strong>Upper Hutt Rams<\/strong> also back on their new Maidstone carpet for another week and <strong>Poneke<\/strong> venturing out into the Hutt Valley for the second consecutive weekend for a contest both need to win to stay in touch. The Rams would have taken some solace from their last gasp draw against the Axemen and have tweaked their lineup with returns for veteran trio Jamie Norman, Devon Macdonald, and Kono Feaunati.<\/p>\n<p>Poneke make several changes from the side that beat Avalon, rotating in several players who came off the bench in their win over Avalon including Greg Foe, Mario Counsell and Caleb Robson. There\u2019s no Galu Taufale, and Cole Stewart will wait a week for his 100<sup>th<\/sup> cap (Poneke only count starts) as he\u2019s named on the bench.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, a pair of seemingly snakebitten sides meet at Helston Park when <strong>Johnsonville<\/strong> host <strong>Wellington<\/strong>. The Hawks latest bid to end their drought came up ended in dramatic fashion with their penalty-try loss to Pare-Plim, while the Axemen coughed up a 19-0 lead to the Rams. Johnsonville will try again, though their side is without Andy Ellis or Irish duo Mark Sutton and Niall Delahunt, while Wellington give starts to long-serving pair Tevita Falekalala and Te Aranga Hakiwai, and the versatile William Cosgriff starts in yet another different position.<\/p>\n<p>No fewer than five interclub trophies are in play this weekend:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Avalon and MSP contest their Joe Aspell Cup, which he awarded for competition between the Marist and Taita clubs when he was the licensee of the Taita Hotel, one of many that he ran. Aspell was also a Marist player, and later President and awarded Life Membership.<\/li>\n<li>Petone and Ories play for their Jim Brown Memorial Trophy, which honours the long time Petone servant and 1965-74 Wellington representative. The trophy was donated by his employer Dominion Breweries following his death in 2004.<\/li>\n<li>Johnsonville and Wellington have their Mick Kenny Memorial Trophy in play. Donated after his death in 2000, Kenny played for the Hawks before World War II and the Axemen after it, and was instrumental in having a Services Trophy that he had played a part in winning during the war \u2013 the Harper Lock Shield \u2013 being donated to the WRFU.<\/li>\n<li>Norths and Wainuiomata play for their Alf Keating Memorial Trophy, which honours a man who played for both clubs.<\/li>\n<li>And Upper Hutt and Poneke have their Alby Makeham Shield, after the former Wellington representative halfback who played for both clubs (Poneke 1951-59, Upper Hutt 1960-62) and earned the nickname \u2018Kick it again\u2019 for the regularity with which he put boot to ball, and later mentored several young halfbacks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All six of tomorrow\u2019s matches are at the usual 2.45pm kickoff time<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Baring a massive upset, Norths should retain their place at the top of the table when they host cellar-dwellers Wainuiomata in the early game at the JCS. \u00a0MSP should be the favourites to do likewise when they travel out to Fraser Park to play Avalon, and Ories will gave their work cut-out to stay third when the visit Petone A at the Rec.<\/p>\n<p>In the remaining matches Poneke have a potentially tricky outing at Stokes Valley, HOBM will look to keep pace when they head to Ngati Toa Domain to face Pare-Plim, Tawa and OBU meet at Lyndhurst in a midtable scrap with both needing to win to keep pace, and at Helston Johnsonville \u2013 who broke their duck last Saturday \u2013 host the Petone Brotherhood who are looking to notch their first success.<\/p>\n<p>All matches are at 1pm, bar the Stokes Valley vs Poneke match which is at 2.45pm<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Premier Women\u2019s Rebecca Liua\u2019ana Trophy<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>All roads for the women lead to Fraser Park, with a Gala Day for all four matches. <strong>Old Boys-University <\/strong>and<strong> Marist St Pats<\/strong> take to the artificial and with their new Jensen Family Cup being played for the first time. On the other side of the Sportsville building home team <strong>Avalon<\/strong> are against valley rivals <strong>Hutt Old Boys Marist<\/strong> on the #1 grass pitch, its second vs third on #2 with <strong>Norths<\/strong> facing<strong> Petone<\/strong>, and at the northern end on #3 leaders <strong>Oriental-Rongotai <\/strong>meet <strong>Paremata-Plimmerton<\/strong>. <strong>Poneke<\/strong> has this week\u2019s bye.<\/p>\n<p>As usual, all matches are 11.30am kickoffs<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>College<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The week&#8217;s round of the Premiership is already underway, with Silverstream making it two wins from two with Wednesday\u2019s 45-26 result over Wellington College. Tomorrow three schools can join them, with Scots heading out to Aotea, Rongotai venture to Masterton to visit Wairarapa College, and St Bernard\u2019s are at home against Mana. The fourth fixture of the day is in Kilbirnie, where Town and Tawa go in search of their first wins.<\/p>\n<p>In Premier 2 first-up winners the Silverstream 2nds and Wainuiomata meet in Upper Hutt, Hutt International head to the city to face the Wellington College 2nds and as do Kapiti to open their campaign against the Town 2nds. The only all-1<sup>st<\/sup> XV match is at Upper Hutt College, who host Porirua.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s another early start next week, with Wellington College hosting Town on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Other grades<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The highlight match of the <strong>Colts<\/strong> round is the meeting between perennial contenders HOBM and OBU Green tomorrow at the Hutt Rec, though the round starts tonight with Johnsonville hosting the only team to have won all of their matches so far in Petone under lights at Alex Moore Park. The other matches tomorrow have the two \u2018B\u2019 teams \u2013 OBU Black and current table leaders Norths White \u2013 meeting at Nairnville, the Upper Hutt Rams and Poneke get the chance to add to their wins tally at Maoribank, and Tawa will be favourites to keep the momentum from upsetting Norths Blue \u2013 who have the bye \u2013 when hosting strugglers Wellington at Redwood.<\/p>\n<p>In <strong>Under 85kg<\/strong> the Upper Hutt Rams continue to lead the way, with Avalon\u2019s surprise loss last weekend to MSP leaving them somewhat adrift. Both are at home with the Rams hosting Wellington and the Wolves facing winless HOBM, with Eastbourne \u2013 now up to second but still yet to have their bye \u2013 back at HW Shortt for the visit by MSP. The fourth match is in the city, with the OBU Scallywags and Wests Roosters meeting at Nairnville.<\/p>\n<p>And finally there\u2019s a big couple of matches in <strong>Reserve Grade<\/strong>, with unbeaten joint-leaders the Ories Vatos and Upper Hutt J8\u2019s both in the eastern suburbs. The Vatos host the third-placed Pare-Plim Punters at Polo, while the J8\u2019s are at Kilbirnie Park to face the fourth-placed Poneke Ruffnuts who themselves went down to the Vatos last week.<\/p>\n<p><em>\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<\/em><\/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>Above: Bruce Kauika-Petersen and Luca Rees join Parekura Lalaga in the loose forwards in an unchanged Norths team to play Wainuiomata tomorrow for the Alf Keating Memorial Trophy.\u00a0 By Scott MacLean Teams and draw HERE\u00a0 It\u2019s perhaps hard to believe, but this weekend marks the halfway point of the Premier season, and the race for&#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":6796,"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":[4,5,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-club-rugby","category-college-rugby","category-swindale-shield"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/BRUCE-AND-LUCA.jpg?fit=850%2C567&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbDiON-1LA","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6794","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=6794"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6794\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6800,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6794\/revisions\/6800"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}