Another Saturday round of club rugby is upon us – this week a slightly different look to previous Saturdays. Women’s club rugby as wrapped up for 2023 and the Under 85kg Competition has a week off for the National Club Competition. Leaving us with boy senior men’s competitions and the Colts.

In the Waikato Draught Breweries Shield - top of the table Hamilton Marist have the weekend off for their bye, they will fall below Hamilton Old Boys & Hautapu following their matches leaving just Otorohanga and Te Awamutu Sports with byes in that group. This weekend Hautapu travels down to face Otorohanga at Island Reserve is what will likely be their last home match of the 2023 season. Otorohanga come off a loss to Hamilton Marist last weekend but showed they are a quality side through the middle 50minutes, while Hautapu make their first road trip of the second round.

Hamilton Old Boys make a return to rugby this weekend following their bye last weekend with a road trip out to Te Awamutu. Hamilton Old Boys started the second round in fine form with a strong win over Hamilton Marist while Te Awamutu Sports will be looking forward to getting back home for back to back home games to end the season. The TA men will be looking to bounce back after a tough loss last week to Hautapu in Cambridge. Back in April Hamilton Old Boys were too strong for Te Awamutu Sports in Hamilton winning 17-5, this weekend can the TA men respond with a quality home performance of their own?

The Lone Star Championship sees Melville host Morrinsville Sports at Collins Road, while Fraser Tech are back home for their last home game of the round before play-offs hosting University. Melville are coming off the back of arguably an upset last weekend beating University 17-15 – their first win since start of April, while Morrinsville Sports are coming off the back of well needed rest from their bye week. A win to Melville at home will all but secure them a spot in the playoffs while Morrinsville Sports will be eager for a W to put the squeeze on the ladder.

Fraser Tech are back home after a tough road win last week over United Matamata Sports hosting University. University had their first game last weekend hosting Melville and are playing catch-up with that early defeat. They will be looking to get back on the horse and put the Fraser Tech side under a bit of pressure and get a well needed win to get back in the mix for play-offs. United Matamata Sports rest up this weekend with a bye.

The Division 1 Mooloo Shield moves into their second week of round two. Ohaupo are back home hosting top of the table Leamington. Leamington have led the way in 2023 and will pose a tough challenge for the Ohaupo side who are looking to bounce back from a week one defeat to Southern United. It was only a matter of weeks ago these sides went head-to-head when Leamington were too strong winning 44-14.

The other match up in the Mooloo Shield is just down the road where Pirongia host Putaruru. Putaruru are coming off a bye in week one while Pirongia will look to bounce back from their defeat to Leamington last weekend. This weekend sees a rematch at the same venue from a month ago where Putaruru got up 15-14 in the mud and persistent rain – fingers crossed tomorrow provides a better surface for some expansive running rugby.

The Division 1 Championship has Frankton heading back out to Hinuera where four weeks ago they upset the home team and their faithful fans. Hinuera, like Putaruru, are coming off the back of a week one bye so will be eager to get into second round action. Frankton are coming off the back of a tough defeat to Suburbs last weekend. A big weekend for both sides to get their second round on track hunting for their first wins of round two.

Suburbs and Te Rapa go head-to-head with the extra incentive of playing for the Rhineck Cup. Te Rapa currently hold onto that following their victory over Suburbs on April 1^st in a tight 13-3 win which was played out on a wet and windy afternoon at St Andrews Park.

There is plenty to play for all the Division 1 sides as they go straight into a 1v2 final rather than semi-finals leaving all sides very little room for unexpected defeats.

The Colts Competition heads into week 11 of 15 with Hamilton Marist & Hamilton Old Boys remaining undefeated, with Hautapu & Morrinsville Sports comfortably sitting well inside the top four ahead of the chasing University & Thames Valley United in fifth & sixth. Hamilton Old Boys are back home after a strong win on the road last week over Hautapu hosting the University boys. Hamilton Marist travel out to Cambridge to play 10^th place Leamington while fellow Cambridge side Hautapu host Southern United over the bridge at Memorial Park.

Suburbs host the young men from Waitete to wrap up club day at Flagstaff Park and will be looking to bounce back after a tough defeat last weekend on the road to Morrinsville Sports. Meanwhile, Morrinsville make the trip across the Waikato to take on Pirongia in another big day at their club with all teams playing at home. Pirongia who currently sit in 11^th spot on the ladder have shown glimpses of form throughout the season and on their day can put these higher ranked sides under pressure. Will tomorrow be their day?

Wrapping up the weekend is Hamilton Boys High back at home vs Matamata and Hinuera hosting Te Awamutu Sports. Hamilton Boys High & United Matamata both currently sitting on three wins a piece so all signs point to what could be a tight encounter. Likewise in Hinuera, where the home side currently have four wins to their name, the travelling Te Awamutu Sports have the three so plenty to play for for both teams as they will be looking to make a late push up the ladder heading into play-offs.

Article added: Friday 16 June 2023