What a weekend of Saturday club rugby, both on and off the field. Some quality footy was played throughout the region, with some high scoring matches, a couple of upsets and torrential rain at times throughout the afternoon. Our Gallagher Women’s Premiership play-off scenario is confirmed, 4 of the 5 premier teams secured top 5 play-off spots – with Te Awamutu & University going head-to-head this coming weekend for that fifth spot and some more tight matches in Division 1.

Willoughby Park played host to the two v three battle Saturday afternoon when Hamilton Old Boys hosted Hautapu in what was some average conditions for free flowing footy. While the two sides had secured top 5 honors for the second round there was plenty to play for. Hamilton Old Boys touched down twice with a penalty try awarded by referee Ben Woolerton. Hautapu ultimately were too good and showed their quality form heading into this match by scoring five of their own tries with Quintony Ngatai converting three from five.

Fellow top 5 sides Otorohanga and Te Awamutu Sports went head-to-head down at Island Reserve with the home side winning 27-13. A double to Sivamiolo Lumelume and solo try to Ryan McNeil, with a clinic off the boot by first five Dominic Clapcott converting all three and adding a further two penalties. Meanwhile back in Hamilton, top of the table Hamilton Marist put on a try scoring feast in the rain and ran in eight tries comfortably winning 50-0. A double to Newton Tudreu further adds to his season tally, while Wharenui Hawera converting five from eight off the tee.  

In contrast to the top of the table action, ninth placed Melville hosted eighth placed Fraser Tech at Collins Road. Fraser Tech needed a good victory and some results to go their way for them to remain in top 5 contention. The Fraser Tech men did all they could in challenging conditions at Collins Road winning 19-8. Liam Coombes-Fabling and Moana Pasifika midfielder D’Angelo Leuila controlled the game well and each scoring five pointers of their own. Melville were consigned to their seventh consecutive defeat. The final premier game of the weekend saw University host United Matamata Sports – both sides, like Fraser Tech, needing a victory to keep their top 5 aspirations alive for another week.

University made the most of their opportunities with tries to Louis Rogers, Jack Harding, Te Rama Reuben & Xavier Saifoloi winning 31-15 over a United Matamata side that has shown glimpses all first round that they can match it with the ‘big’ sides in premier club rugby. University’s victory sets up a block buster in week nine with the students heading to Te Awamutu Sports in a fifth v sixth match where both sides currently sit on 21 competition points – the winner will go to top five; the loser will battle it out in the championship with fellow bottom 5 sides Morrinsville Sports, Melville, United Matamata Sports and Fraser Tech.

The Gallagher Women’s Premiership wrapped up its regular season with expected victories to the current top four sides – Hamilton Old Boys Huskies, University, Melville & Kihikihi respectively. A big victory for Melville over Putaruru 86-0 wasn’t enough for them to jump the University ladies on the competition ladder with University maintaining their superior points differential over the Melville side. University travelled down to Tokoroa and played Southern United, and their 36-5 win was enough to ensure they qualified second and will host Melville this coming weekend in a 2v3 semi-final. 

Another strong convincing win for the Huskies against Otorohanga 60-0 sees them go undefeated since 2020 and qualifies them for top of the table. Running in 10 tries with doubles to Princess Elliot & Phoenix-Tiaria Todd. They will host Kihikihi in the other semi-final. Kihikihi locked in fourth place with their 30-5 win over Hamilton Marist. The home side were far too strong in front of their loyal supporters, running in six unconverted tries to finish the season with a four and three record only recording losses to the three sides above them on the ladder.

The Division 1 competition continues to provide a number of tight matches and yet again another upset that shakes up the competition heading into their final two weeks of the first round. Table toppers Leamington hosted Suburbs at home and put on a quality defensive effort keeping the travelling side scoreless – tries to Liam Rickwood, Jarrod Davey, Robert Day & James Fraser with two conversions to Robert Day rounded out a convincing 24-0 home win. The nature of the ladder all but ensures Leamington will top the table at the end of the first round. In what was arguably the upset of the weekend a travelling Frankton side travelled to Hinuera looking for their first win in a month, while the home side were on a three-game winning streak. The travelling side started strong and defended throughout the 80minutes to ensure the home side could only run in two tries, meanwhile Frankton recorded their second win, winning 16-12.

The side capturing the attention of this competition is the Putaruru men. Finishing 2022 with 4 consecutive defeats and winning two of 13 matches, they have stormed into 2023 and currently sit second behind Leamington. That impressive position includes two draws, four victories and their sole defeat to neighbours Southern United. Putaruru travelled to Pirongia and in what was very challenging and wet conditions with the field covered in surface water battled away for a 15-14 away victory.

In other matches, Southern United hosted Te Rapa in Tokoroa and won 17-7 with a double to Jemaine Waea-Allan and Jayviar Waea-Allan was enough to get their home win and keep them well inside the top 5 alongside Putaruru & Ohaupo on 23 competition points. The last match of the weekend saw Ohaupo get their season back on track after back-to-back loses. The home side ran in six sides with four conversions to put away the travelling Taupiri men 38-5.

The Under85kg Competition crossed the halfway point with comfortable wins to Morrinsville Sports 57-8 over Leamington in Cambridge. A hattrick to lock Barry Rhodes and doubles to Brodie Taylor & Detroit Sluys-Tamanui were the highlight for the Morrinsville side. Fraser Tech comfortably won 31-0 vs Kio Kio United and Hamilton Marist won in terrible conditions at Collins Road 16-0.

Like the Under85kg Competition, our Colts competition has now reached the midway point of their 14-week competition. Hamilton Marist, Hautapu & Hamilton Old Boys remain undefeated and along with Morrinsville Sports sit comfortably inside the top four. Mid table is a log jam with fifth placed Thames Valley United and 12^th placed Hinuera are separated by just two wins – with a further seven matches, there is plenty of time for movement on the ladder. Matamata kicked off the weekend on Friday night winning 32-0 vs Waitete getting their third win of the year. Other results saw Hautapu win 38-12 over Pirongia, Hamilton Marist 31-0 vs Hinuera, Hamilton Old Boys 38-14 over Leamington and Morrinsville Sports 47-13 over Te Awamutu Sports – all away wins for the top 4. Suburbs hosted University winning 33-12 while Southern United traveled over to Waihi beating Thames Valley United 15-7.

Hautapu's David Morris dots down for one of sides five tries on Saturday vs Hamilton Old Boys on Willoughby Park.   Photo: Matt Gould

Article added: Monday 22 May 2023