An afternoon of tight battles in the Colts competition with Pirongia colts get back in the winner’s circle with a tight win over Hamilton Old Boys, Fraser Tech recording their first win of 2024 while in the Breweries Shield Hamilton Marist & Hautapu kick off the round with good wins while Fraser Tech cause the upset of the round in the Under85kg Competition inflicting Morrinsville Sports to their first loss of the year.

Waikato Draught Breweries Shield

A weekend for the home sides to kick off the second round in the Breweries Shield competition. Both Hamilton Marist and Hautapu got up over the respective oppositions and sit atop of the ladder on 5 points.

Hamilton Marist had to come back from a half time deficit vs the students. Trailing 16 – 10 at the break, it was a big shift from the Hamilton Marist forwards in the second forty to ensure they maintained their perfect 2024 record. A hattrick to hooker and captain Liam Gilheany-Black proved too much for University to handle off the back of a well-organised lineout maul set up, while fellow forward Adrein Collins-Wharawhara touched down for two of his own ties.

A second half yellow card to young University fullback Patrick Hedley in what referee Michael Winter deemed to be an intentional infringement following a Hamilton Marist line break put the brakes on any University comeback. Hedley had been instrumental in the first 60minutes for University kicking a conversion and ticking the score over via penalty kicks on every occasion presented to them from poor Hamilton Marist discipline.

Hamilton Marist ended up putting on a flurry of late tries to comfortable win in front of a big crowd 39–16.

In the other Breweries Shield match up it was Hautapu hosting Otorohanga at Memorial Park in Cambridge. These two sides battled out a 15 all draw just under a month ago and it was the home side Hautapu who came out on top in this encounter winning 29-12.

First five Anam Farrant had his kicking boots on and kicked three from four conversions while slotting a penalty kick to keep Otorohanga at arm’s length for a tally of nine points for his days work.

Otorohanga head back to Island Reserve in week two hosting top side Hamilton Marist while University is back home and will host Hamilton Old Boys in what will be their first match of the second round.

Lone Star Championship

United Matamata Sports caused a bit of stir at home in front of their loyal supporters getting up against a struggling Te Awamutu Sports sides 43-38. In what was an exciting match-up where the lead changed hands a couple of times in the final 10 minutes it was the home side that ended up in front by the 80^th minute mark.

In a twelve try score fest where both sides crossed for six tries a piece it was the boot of United Matamata Sports’ First Five Logan Allen who proved to be the difference on the day. While Te Awamutu Sports could only convert four from six off the tee, sharpshooter Allen converted five from six, while adding a further three points via a penalty goal.

After a tough end to the first round where Melville fell outside the top five, they bounced back well picking up a 38-26 win over Morrinsville Sports at Campbell Park in Morrinsville. A double to left winger Kyan Trebes proved too much out wide for the Morrinsville defence while further tries to Cameron Scott, Hakaraia Richards-Coxhead, Nikaio Gudgeon and Vincent Green ensured the perfect start for Melville in their quest for the Lone Star Championship.

Morrinsville Sports are still chasing that allusive first win of 2024 and will wait another week as they have the bye in week two. Melville are back home at Collins Road hosting United Matamata Sports in a top of the table clash, while Te Awamutu Sports get back home and host Fraser Tech – a side they won against in week one of the first round.

Waitomo Group Women’s Premiership

The top of the table as a familiar look about it in the Waitomo Group Women’s Premiership. Melville are still atop of the ladder sitting one point clear of Hamilton Old Boys Huskies after another big win, this time over University 52-26. Melville were hot on attack outscoring the University ladies eight tries to four with doubles to right winger Pounamu Wharehinga and number eight Veisinia Fakalelu leading the charge for the home side.

The other match up saw the Huskies stay on the tails of Melville winning 65-7 over Kihikihi dotting down for 11 tries to stay one point adrift heading into the last week of the regular season this coming weekend.

The Huskies will need Otorohanga to upset Melville at the Island Reserve and score themselves a win at home over University heading into play-offs next weekend.

Division One

With a week to play in the first round the top six are locked in and in the final week will be jostling for position. Te Rapa closed the gap on sixth spot Ohaupo who lost at home in a close one to Southern United, however Te Rapa have played their 10 matches and will end the first round in seventh place. Te Rapa recorded their fourth win in the first round with a big 52-7 over a disappointing Frankton side at Swarbrick Park. Putaruru recorded two wins in two weeks with a big seven tries to two 51-12 home win over Taupiri at Nola Block. Third place Leamington had a hard-fought battle over fourth placed Suburbs winning 37-15 in front of their home crowd.

Southern United & Hinuera were the two travelling sides that were good enough to pick up victories on the road. Southern United went into Ohaupo winning 26-18 while Hinuera made the trip to Pirongia winning 31-22 to keep them in second spot of the ladder two points shy of Southern United at the top.

Some big match ups await in the closing week of the first round with a southern derby in Putaruru when they host top of the table and neighbours Southern United, while Leamington also host Hinuera in a two v three match up with the winner likely to jump into second place, or potentially top spot depending on the Putaruru v Southern United result.

Waitomo Group Women’s Championship

Putaruru’s perfect season is still intact with a tight 22-19 home win over Hauraki North outscoring the away side four tries to three.

Suburbs remain hot on the heels of Putaruru winning comfortably at home 43-5 over Hautapu. Halfback Violet Hapi-Wise had a day to remember dotting down for four tries for the home side, while United Matamata Sports won 44-14 Pirongia.

As we head into the semi-finals this weekend Putaruru will host Hautapu while Suburbs will welcome Taupiri to Flagstaff Park in the top four play-offs.

Under 85kgs

The upset of the round came in the live streamed match where Fraser Tech hosted the previously unbeaten Morrinsville Sports 15-8 at Mill Street Park. In a typical under 85kg match up there was plenty of rugby played in the 80minutes with both sides not giving each other an inch but ultimately it was the errors from Morrinsville Sports and Fraser Tech’s accuracy to convert their opportunities which ultimately decided the outcome.

Hamilton Marist and Melville, while picking up big win’s themselves it was not enough to see either team climb the ladder due to the Fraser Tech upset. Hamilton Marist winning 57-0 over Leamington, while Melville won 53-13 over Kio Kio.

Colts

A weekend of tight affairs. After two heartbreak loses before the long weekend, Pirongia have got one back in their own favour winning a nail bitter at home 29-26 over Hamilton Old Boys. In what is a shock to the scoring charts, Fraser Tech picked up their first win in 2024 with a 3-0 win over United Matamata Sports. In a scoreline that more reflects a round ball game of football, it was a sole penalty kick at goal that proved to be enough for the home side to record that maiden win.

Hautapu recorded a win at home over Hinuera 27-26. Both sides crossing the line on four occasions it was the boot of reserve Matthew Christenser who kicked a penalty goal keeping his side in front ensuring they stay top of the table for another week.

Morrinsville Sports, like Pirongia, Fraser Tech and Hautapu all kept their supporters on edge outscoring University 23-19 at home on Campbell Park. First five Benjimin Pettigrew kicking an additional two penalty kicks enough to keep the home side in front as both sides went try for try scoring three a piece.

Suburbs keep the trend of tight fixtures alive winning 38-33 on the road over Thames Valley United. Outscoring the home side six tries to five ensured Suburbs remain in the top five three points adrift of Pirongia and two points clear of Hinuera. Hamilton Marist picked up a good home win over Leamington 40-26 to be only one point behind Hautapu at the top of the table.

Article added: Monday 10 June 2024