Club rugby continues to deliver week in week out. Some big results last weekend have thrown up some interesting match ups this coming weekend – teams are now must win territory in the Waikato Draught Men’s Premiership, joint leaders in the Colts competition, while in the U85kg Competition Morrinsville Sports are clear front runners with Hamilton Marist, Fraser Tech & Melville all jostling for positions in the top four and on a weekly turnover of who sits where on that ladder.

A first for rugby in the Waikato also becomes a reality this weekend when the brand new 5G turf at Hamilton Marist is opened with the first games of code played on this brand new and renovated sports complex.

Our feature match on the live stream will come to you at 5pm Saturday evening when Hamilton Marist host Otorohanga on that new turf. The perfect match up to open this new facility – a top of the table clash. Otorohanga are off the back of a late comeback to draw with Hautapu at home last weekend while Hamilton Marist remains seven from seven for 2024.  The winner from this match will finish the weekend top of the table and be looking odds on winning the Has Catwell Trophy as winners of the first round.

The form team over the last month is the side out of Collins Road – Melville. Currently on a four-match win streak the Melville men are running hot. Those four wins have seen them move well inside the top four and sit four points clear of Hamilton Old Boys in fifth spot. They will have a tough match up this weekend when they make the trip to Cambridge and square off against third place Hautapu. A win for Hautapu will lock them inside the top five, while a fifth straight for Melville will all but end top five hopes of some the chasing sides currently below them heading into the weekend.

One of those sides is Hamilton Old Boys, they host United Matamata Sports at Fred Jones Park. Both sides have battled in 2024 to date and sit outside the top five, two wins in the final two weeks with some results their way may see them squeeze into fifth spot, while for the side who doesn’t get the W on Saturday, they will be consigned to the Championship come round two. Hamilton Old Boys are off the back of a strong road victory vs Te Awamutu Sports last weekend so will be keen to get back home in front of the red and black faithful to put another good performance on the board.

A big match up awaits at University where they host Te Awamutu Sports. Like Melville, the University boys have gone well over the last month, they are three wins for four starts and sit fourth on the ladder. Te Awamutu Sports come into town – other than a draw vs Morrinsville their last win came back in week two. Both sides are after a big performance. A win for University will lock them into the top five with a week to spare, while a win for Te Awamutu Sports, may keep their top five hopes alive with other results needing to go their way.

The final match up is a nine v 10 showdown at Campbell Park in Morrinsville. Morrinsville are chasing their first win of the season and this weekend might be their best possible chance yet when the struggling Fraser Tech side travel to town. While Fraser Tech have recorded two wins, those wins however have been few and far between.

Waitomo Group Women’s Premiership & Championship

Melville remain on top following a strong 71-0 victory over Kihikihi last weekend and will sit out this weekend on their bye week. Depending on the outcome of the Hamilton Old Boys Huskies v Otorohanga game they may see themselves drop down a spot come Saturday evening.

Huskies host Otorohanga at Willoughby Park in what will be a massive day of footy at Hamilton Old Boys. They play at home alongside their Premier men’s sides and the Colts. The Huskies are coming off a bye last weekend, while Otorohanga return to Hamilton after a strong win in the city last week vs University. A win for Otorohanga will see them go top of the table, while a Huskies win will see them join Melville at the top of the table if they secure the bonus point.

University host Kihikihi this weekend at the University. Both sides have battled in 2024 with University’s sole win coming from earlier in the year where they won vs Kihikihi 34-0.

In the Women’s Championship Putaruru & Matamata are getting the weekend off to a very early start – they played last night at Nola Block in a catch up match from the following weekend when the game had to be postponed.

A good mid table match up is on the cards at Taupiri when they host third place Hautapu at Murphy Lane. Taupiri currently sitting just outside the top four but a win at home vs Hautapu will see them well and truly climb the ladder and finish the weekend inside the top four, while a victory for Hautapu will keep them close with the front runners Putaruru & Suburbs.

Suburbs host Pirongia at Flagstaff Park. Both sides on debut in the Women’s Championship in 2024 and Suburbs have come out flying. Four wins from five starts see them sit alongside Putaruru – Putaruru do have a game in hand however at the time of writing this, while Pirongia have been competitive in matches are still looking to record that first win for the year.

Division One

Some absolute crackers await in Division One this weekend. A big weekend in Tokoroa when third place Southern United host second place Leamington – both sides have only dropped one game apiece in 2024. Meanwhile, back in town we have fourth placed Suburbs hosting fifth placed Putaruru. Suburbs currently sit alongside Southern United on 24 points and have five wins from six matches, Putaruru are chasing the top four and currently have 21 competition points. A much-needed win for the Putaruru men will see them jump Suburbs come Saturday afternoon and sit back inside the top four.

Top of the table Hinuera hosts sixth placed Ohaupo – the only other side with a greater than 50%-win rate in 2024. Ohaupo sits alongside Putaruru and could really do with an upset at Wealleans Park Saturday afternoon to stay in the running for a top five position for the second round.

Other Division One matches see Frankton make the trip out to Murphy Lane and take on Taupiri while Kereone comes into town to do battle with Te Rapa. Pirongia this weekend have the bye and a good opportunity to rest up heading into the last three weeks of the first round.

Colts

The colts competition in 2024 is shaping up to be a tightly run contest. Currently we joint leaders on 30 points, while teams three to six on the ladder are only a maximum of seven points in arrears. With four rounds remaining there is plenty more to come in the top half of the colts competition.

Competition joint front runners Hautapu got home very late last weekend vs a well organised and confident Pirongia and will travel out to Bedford Park and face United Matamata Sports. Two very different seasons to date for these teams but the Mamatama lads will be up for it, and everyone loves knocking off a top side. Fellow top side Hamilton Marist makes a similar trip stopping in at Wealleans Park where a fourth seeded Hinuera await.

A quality mid table match up see University host Pirongia at the University. Pirongia will be eager to make up for the 80^th minute Hautapu heartbreak and will see a real opportunity this weekend taking on University.

Other match up’s see Leamington hosting Morrinsville Sports, Suburbs host Fraser Tech and Hamilton Old Boys hosting the young men from Thames Valley United at a pack out Willoughby Park.

Under 85kgs

A top of the table match up at Campbell Park is on the menu Saturday afternoon where top side Morrinsville Sports, host second placed Hamilton Marist. Teams two, three and four have become very congested in recent weeks in the Under 85kg table, and there is plenty to play for in the last month of the competition.

Third place Fraser Tech travel to Te Kuiti and face Kio Kio. An expected win for Fraser Tech will see them maintain their position well and truly in the top end of the ladder, while Melville face off against Leamington.

To maintain their position on the ladder Hamilton Marist will need a big performance in Morrinsville and will be keen to get one back against the Morrinsville men who comfortable beat them at Marist park just over a month ago.

The only certainty in this grade following the weekend is Morrinsville Sports, win or lose, will remain top of the table.

Article added: Wednesday 22 May 2024