An action-packed weekend of club rugby awaits – we have the Under 85kg Competition getting underway for 2024 where last years champions Morrinsville Sports are aiming for a three-peat of Don Shergold Trophy titles.

Waikato Draught Premier Men

After a rather comprehensive victory last weekend, George Simpkin Power Farming Shield holders United Matamata Sports put it all back on the line this weekend when they host fellow week one winners Te Awamutu Sports at Bedford Park. This match will feature on our Waikato Rugby Facebook page as our live stream match of the weekend with live commentary by David Fox & Mintie Mead. In this same fixture last year – the only time these two faced off, Te Awamutu Sports won comfortably 43-0. United Matamata Sports are much improved from 2023, with Te Awamutu Sports also on a bit of a rebuild with a number of new faces suiting up in 2024.

University is back home for a second consecutive week, this time hosting fellow city rivals in the form of Hamilton Old Boys. Both teams are looking to bounce back from round one defeats to get their campaign back on track early in the season. After a strong win in week one, Hamilton Marist is back on home turf amongst the construction of their new playing surface and will host Melville who battled in week one vs Otorohanga. Following a tough road trip in week one Morrinsville Sports clock up another bus trip, this time south to Otorohanga, where a strong home side awaits after their successful trip into the city last week beating Melville at Collin Road. The final match of the weekend is Fraser Tech making the trip out to Cambridge were a strong Hautapu await after the win in week one vs Hamilton Old Boys.

All Premier games kick off at 2.45pm while the Premier B matches will kick off at 1pm.

Division 1

Taupiri make the first appearance for 2024 after a week one bye and host Southern United at Murphy Lane in Taupiri. Southern United are full of confidence after a week one demolition of new boys Kereone but will face a sterner test this weekend in an experience Taupiri side.

Hinuera are making a second trip in consecutive weeks into the city, this time squaring off vs Te Rapa at St Andrews Park. Te Rapa are hosting their second home match of the season after a tough week one defeat to Suburbs who hold onto the Reineck Cup heading into the week two bye. Kereone are back and will be better after the first round back into Division 1 and will host Pirongia at Campbell Park. Frankton await Ohaupo at Swarbrick Park. Both sides are coming off week one defeats, both conceding 50 points and will be eager to tighten up on defense while also trying to record their first win of 2024.

The final match up in Division 1 is the rematch of the Mooloo Shield Final from 2023 where Leamington host defending champions Putaruru. Both sides last met in last years final where Putaruru got up in a tight fixture, with both coming off good wins in week one this will be well worth a watch if you are looking for some Division 1 rugby to get to.

All Division 1 games kick off at 2.45pm and Division 1B kicking off at 1.00pm.

Waitomo Group Women’s Premiership & Championship

Following a week one walk through win by default, Otorohanga await Hamilton Old Boys’ Huskies who come off their first defeat since August 2020 after a week one loss to Melville at Willoughby Park. Otorohanga will be very much backing themselves to get their first win over the Huskies and will be well supported with all Otorohanga teams at home this weekend.

University makes their first appearance for 2024 in the Premiership after a week one bye and will travel to Kihikihi and look to get off to a fast start in 2024. Kihikihi are hoping to bounce back following the tough decision to default in week one and will be hoping to get the year off to a start at home.

The Waitomo Group Women’s Championship was arguably the competition of the week in week one. Five new teams to women’s rugby got underway last week with a number of those new teams upsetting established 2023 teams. Newcomers Hautapu host fellow newcomers Pirongia at Memorial Park in Cambridge. Pirongia had a close loss to Waitete last weekend while Hautapu got a win in their first match in senior women’s rugby. United Matamata Sports make the trip to Waitete while Putaruru head across to Taupiri to make for an action-packed day at Murphy Lane. Marist Park will be abuzz for the afternoon when they host Suburbs alongside both of their premier men’s teams.

All women’s matches are scheduled to kick off at 1.00pm Saturday afternoon.

Colt

The colts are back with 2023 champions Hamilton Marist travelling out to Hautapu in a rematch of that final from last year. Hautapu are much improved from this time in 2023 and will back themselves at home to cause the upset of the round in the colts’ competition.

Fraser Tech will welcome near neighbours Hamilton Old Boys down at Elliott Park, while the University students welcome Suburbs at the University complex. Leamington are at home following a week one trip into Hamilton and welcome across the young men from Thames Valley United. Following their week one victory over Hinuera the Thames Valley men will men will make the trip to Cambridge eager to record back-to-back wins to kick off 2024. Following that tight loss last week, Hinuera are back home holding down the fort at Wealleans Park hosting Pirongia. Pirongia are still pumped from a one-point win in week one at home and will be full of confidence come kick off Saturday afternoon. The last match up of the weekend is United Matamata Sports rounding out a full day at Bedford Park and will host Morrinsville Sports.

All colts’ games are scheduled to kick off at 1pm Saturday afternoon.

Under 85kg

After the additional week of pre-season preparations, the Under 85kg men get their season underway tomorrow afternoon. In 2024 we have six sides lining up on the start line with back-to-back champions Morrinsville Sports aiming for a three-peat while Hamilton Marist Bulldogs will be aiming to go one better than 2023 where they came painfully close to lifting the Don Shergold Trophy. Leamington, Fraser Tech & Melville round out the Waikato representation with King Countries Kio Kio Cattle Dogs back into the mixer for 2024.

Leamington kicks off the competition at home hosting Morrinsville Sports, while Hamilton Marist kicks off the year with a road trip down to Kio Kio. In comparison, Fraser Tech will make the long trip across the city to take on Melville at Collins Road.

Under 85kg games will kick off at 1pm Saturday afternoon.

Article added: Wednesday 10 April 2024