We review Saturdays club rugby action from around the traps. Plenty of rugby action and some high scoring matches to catch up while it is becoming crunch time for some sides looking to maintain top five status for second round action. 

Waikato Draught Men’s Premiership

The top four still looks much the same as last weekend with Hamilton Marist, Hautapu and Otorohanga going on to record their third straight victory. It was the mid table sides that are jostling for places and where it is becoming a tight contest for those top 5 remaining places. It feels early in the year to be talking about top five bottom five, but with the form of Hamilton Marist, Otorohanga and Hautapu – they are looking hard to beat and likely to proceed into the top half of the draw for the second round.

The George Simpkin Power Farming Shield is changing hands for the second consecutive week. Following Te Awamutu’s victory over United Matamata Sports last weekend, they had to defend that shield only a week later hosting Otorohanga at Albert Park. Some challenging conditions awaited in Te Awamutu and it was the visitors that got out to an early lead and never really let the hosts back into the game. Otorohanga leading throughout and winning 22-13 and taking the George Simpkin Power Farming Shield back to the Island Reserve. They will next defend that in week six when United Matamata Sports make the trip south where they will be keen to get their hands back on the beloved shield.

Hamilton Old Boys got their season back on track with a good victory over a Morrinsville Sports side who were back home for the first time in 2024. With a packed out Campbell Park – with all teams at home, Morrinsville Sports, like Hamilton Old Boys, were chasing their first win of the year, unfortunately coming up short 24-8. University made the trip out to Cambridge and following their one point victory over Hamilton Old Boys the previous weekend the students were confident they could do a job on the high flying Cambridge men. A double to hooker Nic Jeffcoat and tries for Tahere Reha, Quentin Hill and Rui Farrant for the Cambridge men outscored the University sides three tries, ultimately saw the home side were too strong and scraped in with a 31-27 home win.

Hamilton Marist carried on their dominant form with a comfortable home win 66-5 over United Matamata Sports while Fraser Tech got their season back on track with their first win – a 31-26 victory over Melville in what was Nathan Smith’s 50^th Premier Game for Fraser Tech. Hamilton Marists Newton Tudreu scoring four tries, while Shauncy Waho dotted down for three of his own in our route over United Matamata Sports. 
 

Division One

Three sides remain unbeaten in Division One and have started the season well. Putaruru & Hinuera make it three from three, while Suburbs returned from bye week and picked up where they left off following week one with a strong 36-5 win on the road vs Pirongia.

Putaruru are looking to be strong again in 2024. In 2023 they went under the radar a bit with a number of very tight wins, in 2024 it has been much more convincing at Saturday vs Kereone was much the same as weeks one and two. Back home on Nola Block they scored 52 points, while holding a clean sheet for Kereone.

Leamington are back on winning ways with a road trip into Hamilton winning 32-12 over Te Rapa. A special shoutout to Adam Fairly who played his 150^th Senior A’s game for his beloved Te Rapa side on Saturday. Heading to Te Rapa straight out of high school, Adam has played all of his senior rugby at Te Rapa, and it was a special and proud occasion for the staunch Te Rapa man.

Ohaupo had a close loss at home 24-20 vs Taupiri who picked up their first win in what was their second game of the season. In the final game of the weekend – Hinuera were back home for their first home game of 2024 and maintained their perfect start with  25-13 victory over Southern United from Tokoroa.

Waitomo Group Women’s Premiership & Championship

After a rocky start, the Hamilton Old Boys’ Huskies are back on track and climbing their way back up the ladder. Back home for the first time since their week one defeat, the Huskies hosted Kihikihi at Willougby Park wrapping up a 20-5 victory over the ladies from just south of Te Awamutu. In the other Premiership match up is was Melville travelling across to take on the previously unbeaten University ladies where, arguably the form team of the competition – Melville, picked up a hard fought 30-6 win.

Only two matches to report on in the Waitomo Group Women’s Championship this weekend with Hamilton Marist and United Matamata Sports both defaulting their respective fixtures. Hamilton Marist have since withdrawn from this competition and a new draw is in the pipe-line. How that looks moving forward is yet to be seen.

The two completed matches saw Waitete travel north and take on Pirongia in big day at the domain. The away side coming to town upsetting the locals 30-17 winning six tries to three. Newbies Hautapu remain unbeaten winning on the road to Hauraki North 17-5. Tries to Hayley-Marie Church, Inge Wilbers and Madison Hunt was enough for the Cambridge ladies to get a good victory on the road and make for a pleasant road trip home.

Colts

Thames Valley United are still top of the charts and closely followed by Hamilton Marist, Hautapu and Hamilton Old Boys who also all recorded victories on the weekend.

Thames Valley United made it three from three beating University 20-12 at home, while Hamilton Marist hosted United Matamata Sports at Marist Park winning 21-0 keeping their perfect start to the year. Hamilton Old Boys and Hautapu maintain their top four positions with victories over Suburbs and Fraser Tech respectively. Hamilton Old Boys winning 27-10 vs Suburbs and Hautapu 40-5 over Fraser Tech.

Morrinsville Sports hosted Hinuera at home going down 29-17 and Leamington winning in a tight one vs Pirongia 17-12.

Under 85kgs

Defending champions Morrinsville Sports hosted Fraser Tech at Campbell Park winning 27-8. Tries to Detroit Sluys-Tamanui, Jakob McClelland, Jamie Walton and Michael Hollier proving too much for Fraser Tech and providing the home crowd plenty of entertainment.

Hamilton Marist travelled out to Leamington winning 24-0 with four tries and keeping a clean sheet for the first time this season. Melville made the trip to Kio Kio winning 31-18 in what was their first win of the season following a draw in week one vs Fraser Tech.

Article added: Monday 22 April 2024