In what was the perfect afternoon weather wise for quick running rugby, our clubs delivered and produced some cracking tight games that game came right down to the final play of the game.

In the Premier men’s competition we had Morrinsville Sports tie with Te Awamutu Sports in the 80^th minute with a converted try, Hamilton Marist came from 19 points down to beat Hautapu 21-19 in the final 20 minutes and in the Women’s Premiership Melville were held to a 22 all draw vs Otorohanga.

Waikato Draught Men’s Premiership

It was an afternoon of tight matches throughout the Premiership with all games decided by less than seven points.

At Cambell Park in Morrinsville, the visiting Te Awamutu Sports were up 25-18 with only minutes remaining. The home side made their way down field and managed to score between the sticks as full time clicked over. The conversion was slotted to lock it up 25 all followed by the fulltime whistle of Bradley Thomas.

Back in town it was a typical Hamilton Old Boys and Fraser Tech arm wrestle throughout the 80minutes with both sides trading blows with the lead changing multiple times. Fraser Tech making the trip down Seddon Road crossing the line for five converted tries was enough to inflict more pain on Hamilton Old Boys to sit eighth with only one win in 2024.

Hautapu hosted Hamilton Marist in a 2023 Breweries Shield final rematch. Up 19-nil heading into the final 20minutes the Cambridge based men went into defend mode to close out the match. Hamilton Marist had other ideas managing to dot down with three converted tries to storm home winning 21-19. Wharenui Hawera was clutch off the boot converting all three kicks from wide out to the left of the posts.

Melville have seemed to have turned a corner for their 2024 season. Following a one-point win over Te Awamutu Sports last weekend, they made the bus trip out to Bedford Park and took on a confident United Matamata Sports side who are traditionally tough to beat at home. Melville were keen to ensure the week four win wasn’t a flash in the pan and went out to Matamata picking up a hard fought 27-22 win to push them up into the middle of the table only sitting two points outside the top five.

The final match up was at University where they hosted Otorohanga. Like Hautapu, the University lads started with a hiss and a roar and got out to an earlier lead, only to be clawed back by an inform Otorohanga side who are now sitting a top of the premier ladder alongside Hamilton Marist.

Waitomo Women’s Premiership & Championship

Melville sit atop of the Women’s Premiership ladder and remain the only unbeaten side following their 22 all draw with Otorohanga on Saturday at Collins Road. Both sides could not be separated after a tough fought 80minutes. Both sides touching down for four tries with only one successful kick at goal apiece ensured the sides remained locked up come full time.

Hamilton Old Boys’ Huskies took their match vs University over to the University to support their women in rugby day, and with it picked up a 24-12 victory. Following their week one defeat, the Huskies have gone three on the bounce and now see them sitting second on the ladder behind Melville who they will play this weekend where the winner will sit top of the table just after the midway point of the round.

In the Women’s Championship Taupiri & Pirongia got the weekend off to an early start with a Friday night match under lights at Murphy Lane. Taupiri got their second win of the year with a strong 41-14 win at home. Hauraki travelled down to Waitete picking up a 26-22 in what was their second win for the season. They now sit just inside the top four above Taupiri and United Matamata Sports. Putaruru travelled into town and took on Suburbs at a busy Flagstaff winning 43-20. Putaruru sit top of the ladder with four wins from four starts, while Suburbs maintain third place on the ladder with two wins from three starts.

Hautapu & United Matamata Sports had the bye due to a side withdrawing earlier in the season.

Division One

The upset of the round came in Ohaupo where the home side upset high flying Putaruru 29-15. Putaruru started the year three from three but over the last two weeks have fallen at the hands of Hinuera and now Ohaupo.

The remaining four games all went largely as planned for the home sides each picking up rather comfortable victories. Pirongia hosted Frankton running in 12 tries to one winning 76-5 while Hinuera hosted Kereone picking up a 53-3 win at home. Te Rapa made the trip south to Tokoroa to take on Southern United where the home side were too strong winning 47-10 and Suburbs shut out Taupiri 32-0 at Flagstaff Park.

Leamington enjoyed the weekend off and with that still remain inside the top five. The home sides from the weekends action full out the top five. Suburbs & Hinuera remain unbeaten and sit top of the table, Suburbs do also have a game in hand over Hinuera. Southern United and Putaruru round out the top five in third and fourth place just above Leamington.

Colts

Another week and another strong win for the young Hamilton Marist men – this time winning 50-10 vs Hamilton Old Boys at Marist Park. Doubles to Ben Gordon and Taine Cantwell proved to be too much for the men from Hamilton Old Boys.

Hautapu Sports and University put on another fine match up at Memorial Park in Cambridge which was a perfect preview to the Premier match that featured soon after. It was the young men from Cambridge this time who picked up a 26-24 win with the additional points coming from the boot of Matthew Christenser and Johanson Tamala who between them kicked three from four attempts while University were successful two from four.

Morrinsville Sports hosted Suburbs at Campbell Park picking up a much needed home win 33-27. Pirongia have locked sharp in 2024 with three wins, one draw and one loss to their name picked up a quality win over Thames Valley United in what was their first loss of the year 39-12.

The last two matches was a comfortable 59-8 win for Hinuera at home over Fraser Tech and a tight 15-12 win away win for Leamington over United Matamata Sports at Bedford Park.

Under 85kg

Hamilton Marist’s 9-3 win over Melville see them inch above the Melville men into second place on the ladder and with it was Melville first defeat in 2024. Comfortable wins for Morrinsville Sports and Fraser Tech rounded out the remaining matches in the Under 85kg Competition.

Morrinsville Sports winning 64-0 over Kio Kio at Campbell Park while Fraser Tech won 50-8 over Leamington in Cambridge.

Article added: Monday 06 May 2024