Senior Club Update after weekend 15th July 2017

GREAT LEG OVER PETONE,

BUT THEY STILL HAVE THE McBAIN…GRRRRR

HOBM JAMES O’RIELLY GET GAME TIME FOR THE HURRICANES

SEMI FINAL SPOTS CONFIRMED FOR JUBILEE CUP

ROUND 7 HOBM V TAWA HUTT REC. 2.45

The 2017 Jubilee Cup semi-finalists were found this afternoon, with Old Boys University, Marist St Pat’s, Hutt Old Boys Marist and Tawa set to contest this year’s Wellington club rugby championship playoffs.

Just the order of finishing and the all-important home ground advantage will be sorted out in next week’s final regular season round. The four teams play each other next week as well, with MSP hosting OBU and HOBM entertaining Tawa.

Leaders the Old Boys University Goats (on 25 points) are guaranteed to book one of the two home semi-finals, with MSP (21), HOBM (18) and Tawa (18) all hoping to book the other spot.

After a week of storms in Wellington, the sun shone brightly on club rugby today and there were a series of electric results to match the weather on Ruck Cancer day.

In Jubilee Cup contests, OBU claimed the Bill Brien Challenge Shield with a 56-17 win over Wainuiomata (10) at William Jones Park, MSP pulled away from Norths (12) to win 43-32, HOBM out-muscled Petone (3) 36-17 and Tawa sneaked past Oriental-Rongotai (12) 29-17.

In the Premier 2 Hardham Cup, leaders Johnsonville maintained their frontrunning position with a 22-19 win over Avalon away at Fraser Park. The other two Hardham Cup matches saw the Upper Hutt Rams comfortably account for strugglers Paremata-Plimmerton 57-16 and Poneke beat Wellington 35-14 on a game that was transferred down to Kilbirnie Park from Hataitai.

The Hardham Cup points table after 6 rounds of 10 sees Johnsonville and the Upper Hutt Rams tied on 27 points, Poneke on 19, Wellington on 10, Avalon on 8 and Paremata-Plimmerton on 1.

At Lyndhurst Park, a late Penasi Toackacke try, converted by James So’oialo, earned Tawa a place in the top four. The 2016 Billy Wallace Best and Fairest Winner appeared to be grounded short, but willed himself over in traffic after a mighty display of strength.

Eariler Tawa surged to a 15-3 lead on the back of a superior set-piece, but two length of the field tries to Hayden Wheelan and Karl Dumelow saw the visitors lead 17-15 at halftime.

Tawa mauled 25-metres for their third try, but another cracking try to wing Andrew Ellis chasing down a Pauolo Aukuso kick put Ories back in front. So’oalio missed two easy penalty attempts, but in the end it wasn’t costly as Tawa’s bench added more impact and edged one of the best games of the season.

At the Hutt Recreation Ground, forwards power got HOBM home over Petone whose dangerous backs were kept in check for the most part. After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, the Eagles scored two converted tries to lock David Filipo and blindside flanker Tasi Fidow to take a 14-0 lead into the interval.

Petone closed the gap through halfback Logan Henry but the Eagles pulled clear to lead 31-12 and eventually win 36-17. HOBM bounced back from three consecutive defeats.

At Jerry Collins Stadium, MSP led 6-0 early on penalties before a pair of tries from kicks ahead in broken play put them in front 20-3, the second of these engineered after a penalty and quick tap from halfway by halfback Jack Taulapapa. MSP went to the interval leading 20-8. The second half saw a Norths comeback and they closed to within a point to trail just 22-23. But MSP skipped ahead.Right wing Ryan Saunders scored two of their tries, while fullback Andrew Wells nailed 23 points with his boot.

At William Jones Park, OBU leapt to an early lead and kept home side Wainuiomata in check throughout the contest. Centre Regan Verney finished with two of seven tries, while flyhalf Dale Sabbargh scored a try and landed nine goals for 26 points in the 56-22 win. Wainuiomata were in the contest for long periods but poor decision making and lack of execution proved costly.

At Ngatitoa Domain, the Upper Hutt Rams bounced back from their defeat last week by laying on eight tries. The Rams led 21-6 at halftime. Right wing Joyner Key and kicked 17 points for 22 points, while lock Sio Luamanu crashed over for two tries.

At Fraser Park, Johsonville took a 10-0 lead over home side the Avalon Wolves at the turnaround, but the Wolves came back to lead 19-15 late in the clash. The top-of-the-table Hawks held their composure and won with a late converted try.

At Kilbirnie Park, Poneke scored five tries to five different individuals, all converted by first five-eighth Pakai Turia. The Axemen replied with two converted tries, to centre Paddy Hughes and bookend Joe Reid.

Premier Reserve

In Ed Chaney Cup Division 1 results today, leaders Old Boys Univeristy put 50 points on Wainuiomata to book their home semi-final spot and all but qualify first. Tawa are now second after beating Ories 33-5, while Norths came back with a strong second half performance to defeat MSP 31-28 after MSP had led 20-5 at halftime. Petone defeated HOBM 44-18 in the other match.

In the HD Morgan Memorial Division 2 competition, Johnsonville beat the Avalon Wolves 49-38, the Upper Hutt Rams defeated Paremata-Plimmerton 31-3 and Poneke accounted for the undermanned Wellington Axemen’s second XV 55-15. All three of these matches went the way of the main games that followed.

STUFF.CO.NZ

HOBM 36 PETONE 17

Hutt Old Boys Marist 36 (Fereti Soloa,Lise Soloa,Tasi Fidow, David Filipo, Brett Manaia, LA Moemai tries; Brandyn Laursen 3 con) Petone 17 (Losi Filipo, Willie Fine, Logan Henry tries; Henry con). HT: 14-0.Best and fairest: 3 points: Nick Risdon (HOBM halfback); 2 points: Bruce Kauika-Petersen (Petone flanker); 1 point: Lise Soloa (HOBM No.8).

What happened: Petone the first 20 minutes but couldn't convert possession into points.In the 20th minute Hutt Old Boys Marist worked their way to the Petone line, and after hammering away, finally broke down the defence when David Filipo crashed over. Tasi Fidow repeated the dose eight minutes later, attacking Petone through the middle of the park, to allow Hutt to take a handy 14-0 lead into halftime.

Petone got themselves back into the match when Logan Henry raced in from 50 metres. A third try restored HOBM's lead, then the scoreline closed again to 19-12 when Losi Filipo burst clear to score under the posts. When it looked like the result was going down to the wire the home side had other ideas and took control of the match, closing out the game with a further three tries.The big play: In the 58th minute Petone were coming back into the match. The score was 19-12 and momentum was turning their way. They were awarded a penalty right in front of the posts and took a quick tap. HOBM were awake and cleared the ball to halfway where Petone were hesitant.

After a series of errors, Fereti Soloa picked up the bobbling ball and scampered to the corner to put an end to Petone's comeback. Who stood out: Veteran HOBM halfback Nick Risdon played the role of conductor and steered his big backs around the field. Wing Fereti Soloa looked dangerous every time he got the ball as did replacement LA Moemai. Lise Soloa and Tasi Fidow impressed in a big powerful Hutt pack.

Petone's loose forwards Bruce Kauika-Petersen and Mateaki Kafatolu stood out for the visitors.DOUG SMITH

(36)Hutt Old Boys MaristVPetone(17)

(14 h/t)(6T 3C) (3T 1C)(h/t 0)

Saturday, 15 July 2017, 2:45 PM

Hutt Rec

Referee: Nick Hogan

(3C 6) Brandyn Laursen15Zach Hrstich

Francis Tanuvasa14Jarrod Adams

Opetera Peleseuma13Lester Maulolo

Izzy Foai12Losi Filipo (5 1T)

(1T 5) Fereti Soloa11Willie Fine (5 1T)

Glen Walters10Ngarangi Haerewa