Another Saturday, another dose of finals rugby to get out and support and the final regular season matches for the Division One sides.

The big dance and main event is Hamilton Marist hosting Hautapu at Marist Park in the Breweries Shield Premiership Final. The best two sides all season will go head to head in one last duo to end the 2024 season. Defending champions Hautapu will come to town looking to repeat last seasons victory, while Hamilton Marist are looking to win their first title since 2015.

Meanwhile, over in Matamata, United Matamata Sports host Fraser Tech in the Lone Star Championship Final at Bedford Park in Matamata. United Matamata Sports are 2023 champions and will be looking to remain unbeaten at home in the second round of 2024.

Breweries Shield Premiership Final

The best two sides from 2024 will square off in one last dance with the hope come 4.30pm Saturday of lifting the Breweries Shield Trophy and with it taking home the title of 2024 Champions. Hamilton Marist are the only side to go through the season unbeaten and are coming off the back of a big home win last weekend over Hamilton Old Boys, while Hautapu made the trip last weekend to take on University and upset the students in what was their first Premiership semi-final in a long time.

Both teams boast plenty of experience and man to man it will be a quality match up. A couple changes for both sides that were victorious in their respective semi-finals, but no doubt the experience throughout the season this changes will have little impact come 2.45pm tomorrow afternoon.

For the Cambridge men, regular half back Quintony Ngatai moves out to the number 10 jersey in what will be his 50^th cap for his side, which see Rui Farrant move into the starting line up in the number nine jersey. While this is a rather considerable change in key positions, it is not the first time this year Hautapu have run this nine, ten combo and will confident tomorrow it will pay off for them. The battle will be upfront for Hautapu where the experience of David Morris and Nick Jeffcoat will be key for the traveling side and they will be up against some powerful and experienced men in the green and white.

For the home side they have recently had the timely the return of Mason Tupaea from his short stint with the Māori All Blacks and tight head prop Mosese Mafi who returns to the starting lineup. The experience Wharenui Hawera, who has recently returned from an injury which saw his sit out a big chunk of the second round, will be instrumental for the home side who will look to control field position and put Hautapu under pressure. Big backs in Leigh Bristowe, Leroy Van Dam and Shauncy Waho will no doubt pose challenges to the Hautapu defensive line.

If you can’t get to Marist Park to catch the action, our Waikato Rugby Facebook page will have this match Live Streamed, with live commentary from Joel Skulander, Bevin Jenkinson and Andrew Vercoe.

Lone Star Championship

2023 Champions United Matamata Sports are back home and will be looking to go back-to-back winner of the Lone Star Championship and join Marist’s Colts and Morrinsville Sports Under 85kg sides as 2023/24 champions. Following a tough start to the season where they only won one match from their opening nine, the home side have gone four wins and five starts in the second round to book themselves the top spot.

The last meeting between these only came a fortnight ago when United Matamata Sports’ Logan Allen kicked an 80th-minute penalty goal to get his side up 25-24 at Mill Street Park locking his side into top spot.

Like the Matamata men, Fraser Tech battled there way through the first round. Winning four from nine matches and just missing out on the Premiership coming sixth, four points outside the top 5. A much improved second round saw them win two, loss two, however, those two losses were by four points or less. The Hamilton side will be excited by there trip to Bedford Park in the hope of bringing home the clubs first piece of silverware for 2024.

Get across to Bedford Park Saturday afternoon with kick off at 2.45pm.

Division One Mooloo Shield

The final week of the regular season for all Division One sides, and for a good number of them, it will be their last for 2024. Next weekend sees a straight final between the top two seeded sides.

Suburbs currently sit atop of the Mooloo Shield ladder and will be favourites to stay their come weekends end. They host Leamington at Flagstaff where this weekends game will be the end of the road for the Cambridge side. Suburbs were impressive at home last weekend beating Southern United 31-26 to get to the top of the ladder, while Leamington have struggled in the second round, but did win their first game last weekend vs Ohaupo.

The big match up is the southern neighbours going head to head. Second placed Southern United host third placed Putaruru in what is shaping up to be a semi-final like match up. If Suburbs can win vs Leamington, the winner of this Southern United vs Putaruru match will climb to second place on the table and will come to Hamilton next weekend and square off vs Suburbs for the Mooloo Shield. If Suburbs don’t beat Leamington, the winner here will likely go top of the ladder and host next weekends Mooloo Shield final. Plenty to play for in Tokoroa!

The final match up has Ohaupo at home hosting Hinuera. Ohaupo currently sitting down in sixth and out of the running, while Hinuera are relying on a couple results to go their way, including a big win for themselves. Hinuera currently sit fourth and if they can achieve a bonus point win, Suburbs get well beaten by Leamington, they could find themselves joining the winner from the Tokoroa game in next weekends final.

Plenty of intrigue in this final weekend to see how that final pans out next weekend.

Division One Championship

Compared to the Mooloo Shield, the top two in this competition are locked in. Te Rapa currently sit top of the table and will finish there Saturday night as second place Taupiri are on the bye. Te Rapa are three from three and host the winless Frankton at St Andrews Park. While third place Pirongia will host fourth place Kereone – both sides have battled in the second round and each recorded wins over Frankton and losses to Te Rapa and Taupiri. Pride and a positive end to the season is on the line here for both sides.

Taupiri sit this weekend out at what is timely weekend off. They will enjoy the rest and be well prepared for next weekends final at St Andrews Park in Taupiri.

Article added: Friday 19 July 2024