More absorbing rugby around New Zealand on Saturday, with many close results and titanic struggles. The run towards the various championship deciders has started, so there’s much to be enthused about.
Wellington first round champions Hutt Old Boys Marist lost their final battle, but won the first round Swindale Shield for the second time in four years. HOBM lost 12-19 to Ories, but were presented with the title on the field afterwards. The famous Wellington Axemen also qualified for the upcoming Jubilee Cup, for the first time in 20 years.
In Christchurch, leaders Lincoln University were held to a 28-28 draw by Marist Albion, while closest rivals New Brighton edged Canterbury University 20-16, meaning that Lincoln University will need at least a point from their clash with New Brighton next week to win the first round.
Then there were two in Dunedin. Harbour beat Taieri 27-5 in their top of the table clash, while the third side that were joint leaders heading into this round, Southern, accounted for Allambra-Union 48-3. Harbour and Southern are now in front with 10 wins from 12, with Taieri third, still on nine wins.
In Nelson, Waimea Old Boys pulled clear to beat Central 60-23 in the feature match of the Tasman Trophy on Friday night, to remain unbeaten. There were also big wins for Marist over Renwick (83-13), Stoke over Moutere (39-15) and Wanderers over Harlequins (60-20)
In the Manawatu, there are two rounds being played this Queen’s Birthday weekend. In Friday night’s matches, leaders College Old Boys marched on with a 27-13 win over Te Kawau , Old Boys Marist held off Kia Toa 20-17, previously out of sorts Varsity defeated Fielding 28-22 an Linton Army over-ran Freyberg 57-5.
The first round of the Maddison Trophy was played in the Hawke’s Bay, with some teams enjoying big wins. First round champions Taradale defeated MAC 30-21, but Hastings Rugby and Sports eased past Tamatea 81-0 and Havelock North beat Clive 50-13. In a close match between two Napier teams, Napier Tech defeated NOBM 28-21.
Across in Taranaki, Tukapa and Spotswood both needed wins to stay in touch at the top. Both won well, Tukapa beating Southern 50-3 and Spotswood beating last year’s champions Inglewood 56-14. Meanwhile, it was business as usual for leaders New Plymouth Old Boys, who defeated Coastal 25-11.
In the Bay of Plenty Baywide competition, defending champions Mt Maunganui gained a much needed boost, beating Te Puna 4-19. Of the frontrunners, Tauranga Sports smoked Waikite 85-10, while Te Puke Sports earned a surprisingly one-sided 64-22 victory over Whakarewarewa
In the Waikato, it was an unlucky 13th round for some, but not University who beat Melville 37-24 to jump ahead of them into third place on the standings. Otorohanga still lead after seeing off minnows United Matamata Sports 27-17, with the Hamilton Marist Ravens holding second after they defeated mid-table Morrinsville Sports 31-15
The first round of the McNamara Cup in Counties Manukau saw first round champions Karaka see off Ardmore Marist 22-19. Pukekohe defeate Manurewa 29-21 in another close match.
Auckland University and Ponsonby were the two bonus point winners from the opening round of the Alan McEvoy Shield. University defeated the Manukau Rovers 49-12 and Ponsonby skipped to a 44-25 win over Pakuranga. Waitemata came back from a halftime deficit to beat Marist 21-19, while Grammar TEC pipped Papatoetoe 21-16 in another close encounter.
In the Premier 2 Portola Trophy, College Rifles were bonus point 31-22 winners over Eden and East Tamaki beat Maungarua 23-13 and Suburbs pipped Otahuhu 14-10.
In North Harbour, leaders Massey were pushed close by competition strugglers Silverdale before prevailing 29-25. Second placed the Western Pioneers started their second round campaign off with a 33-14 win over mid-table East Coast Bays, while North Shore beat Glenfield 25-10 in the battle for third and fourth.
Northland’s Premier players took the weekend off competition play, with the Harding Shield contested instead.
To view the news / results from our current Heartland Championship partners
- Wairarapa-Bush – http://waibush.co.nz
- Wanganui – http://wanganuirugby.co.nz
- West Coast – http://westcoastrfu.com
- Buller – http://bullerrugby.co.nz
- Mid Canterbury – http://midcanterburyrugby.co.nz
- East Coast – http://npec.co.nz
For a result wrap-up of some other club rugby competitions please see below (note of the results available as at Sunday morning):
Bay of Plenty
Baywide Premier
Te Puke Sports 64 vs Whakarewarewa 22
Mount Maunganui 41 vs Te Puna 19
Rangataua 40 vs Whakatane Marist 23
Greerton Marist 59 vs Paroa 17
Tauranga Sports 85 vs Waikite 10
Rotoiti 54 vs Opotiki 7
Counties Manukau
McNamara Cup
Karaka 22 – Ardmore Marist 19
Pukekohe 29 – Manurewa 21
Patumahoe 38 – Onewhero 0
Bombay 32 – Waiuku 10
King Country
Kio Kio United 40 – Taupo United 13
Taumaranui 49 – Tongariro 7
Piopio 39 – Taumaranui Districts 5
Waitete 29 – Coast 26
Manawatu
Old Boys Marist 20 – Kia Toa 17
College Old Boys 27 – Te Kawau 13
Varsity 28 – Feilding 22
Linton Army 57 – Freyberg 5
Feilding Old Boys Oroua = bye.
Otago
Harbour:27 – Taieri:5
Dunedin:52 – Green Island:7
Southern:48 – Alhambra-Union:3
University:18 – Pirates:11
Zingari-Richmond:25 – Kaikorai:25
Tasman
WOB 60 – Central 23
Marist 83 – Renwick 13
Nelson 30 – Waitohi 10
Stoke 39- Moutere 15
Wanderers 60 – Harlequins 20
Kahurangi = Bye
Thames Valley
Waihou 14 – Waihi 0
Bay 22 – North 0
West 29 – Thames 19
Tairua 53 – Ngatea 3
Waikato
Otorohanga 27 – United Matamata Sports 17
Hamilton Marist 31 – Morrinsville Sports 15
Hautapu 43 – Te Awamutu Sports 19
University 37 – Melville 24
Fraser Tech 32 – Hamilton Old Boys 30
