Another club rugby weekend is upon us and the last before we take a breathe over the Kings Birthday Weekend next weekend. This week we again preview our Waikato Draught Mens Premiership and we take another look at our Women's Championship while touching on the remainder of our competitions. 

Photo: Matt Gould - Yourmoment_photos

Waikato Draught Men's Premiership

Melville (8th) vs Hamilton Old Boys (4th)

Melville will be desperate to reignite their season as they host Hamilton Old Boys, who currently sit comfortably inside the top four. The home side has shown glimpses of promise but has struggled to string together consistent performances. With the season heading into its middle stages, every point becomes crucial if Melville wants to climb out of the lower half of the table.

Hamilton Old Boys, on the other hand, have been one of the more balanced sides this season. Their physicality up front and ability to strike out wide make them a threat across the park. If they can assert dominance early, they’ll fancy their chances of securing another valuable away win—but Melville’s pride at home could make this one closer than the ladder suggests.

Morrinsville Sports (10th) vs Te Awamutu Sports (5th)

It’s been a tough campaign for Morrinsville Sports, who remain anchored at the bottom of the standings. Despite their position, they’ve shown resilience and have been more competitive than their record reflects. At home for a second consecutive week they will be looking to cause an upset over Te Awamutu Sports and put a halt to their form.

Te Awamutu, meanwhile, will be eyeing a top-four finish and can’t afford to drop points against teams lower on the table. With a solid forward pack and a sharp backline, they have the tools to control this match—but they’ll need to maintain discipline and focus, as Morrinsville have nothing to lose and everything to prove.

University (3rd) vs Otorohanga (7th)

University are riding high this season and sit just one point behind competition leaders Hamilton Marist and have quietly built a strong case as genuine contenders. With a mix of youthful energy and experienced campaigners, they’ve been able to outpace and outthink many of their opponents. A home fixture against Otorohanga provides a great chance to consolidate their top-three spot.

Otorohanga, however, are a dangerous side capable of upsetting any team on their day. While inconsistent, they bring physicality and flair that can trouble even the most structured defences. If they can disrupt University’s rhythm early and make it an arm-wrestle, they could well walk away with a statement win.

Hautapu (2nd) vs Fraser Tech (6th)

This clash shapes as one of the weekend’s most intriguing matchups. Hautapu have been in stellar form and sit just behind the competition leaders. Their structured play and composure under pressure have made them one of the most difficult sides to break down, particularly at home.

Fraser Tech will need to bring their A-game to compete with Hautapu’s clinical execution. Sitting sixth, every match now feels like a must-win to stay in the playoff race. They have the firepower to test the Hautapu defence but must improve their discipline and decision-making in key moments if they’re to pull off a crucial road win.

Matamata Sports (9th) vs Hamilton Marist (1st)

It’s top vs near-bottom as Matamata Sports welcome table-toppers Hamilton Marist. For Matamata, this match is less about ladder position and more about pride and momentum. They’ll need to play with intensity and belief, especially in front of a home crowd, to challenge the competition’s benchmark. A big win at home last week in front of their home crowd will give the home men confidence for tomorrows fixture.

Hamilton Marist have been the standout team this season, with an impressive blend of attacking flair and defensive steel. Their depth and consistency have been unmatched, and they’ll be expected to take care of business here. Still, complacency can be a danger—Matamata will look to exploit any signs of it in what could be a gritty contest.

Waitomo Group Women's Championship

Pirongia (7th) vs Hamilton Marist (6th)

With both sides sitting outside the top four, this match is all about momentum heading into the second-round bottom-four competition. Pirongia, currently in seventh, will be keen to finish the first round on a high note and show they can still mix it with the rest. A home fixture provides the perfect opportunity to turn their gritty efforts into a much-needed win.

Hamilton Marist, just one spot ahead, will also be aiming to take some confidence into the second round. While their position rules them out of a top-four finish, they’ve shown patches of quality throughout the season for a young side. Expect a competitive battle between two sides eager to gain momentum for round two.

Hinuera (8th) vs Taupiri (2nd)

It’s a classic underdog challenge as winless Hinuera take on second-placed and undefeated Taupiri in the final week of the first round. Hinuera will be looking to make a statement, even if a result seems unlikely on paper. A strong showing at home could give them a spark heading into the second round, where more winnable matches await.

Taupiri, on the other hand, will want to maintain their high standards and secure their place in the top half with authority. Their attack has been one of the sharpest in the competition, and if they hit their stride early, they’ll likely prove too strong. However, they’ll need to stay focused and avoid complacency against a Hinuera side with nothing to lose.

Matamata Sports (3rd) vs Suburbs (4th)

This matchup could be the most important of the weekend, with third-placed Matamata Sports hosting fourth-placed Suburbs – both sides are secured in the top 4 for the second round. Matamata have impressed all season with their power game and structured attack, and they’ll be motivated to stamp their authority ahead of the second round.

Suburbs won’t make it easy. Known for their gritty defence and ability to strike on the counter, they’ll be looking to upset Matamata on their home turf and leapfrog them on the table. Expect a tight, physical contest as both sides boast a 4 win 2 loss record – both losses only coming to Putaruru & Taupiri for both sides.

Putaruru (1st) vs Waitete (5th)

Putaruru have been the standout side of the Women’s Championship, and they’ll want to finish the first round unbeaten as they host fifth-placed Waitete. With a strong pack and sharp execution across the park, they’ve built a reputation as the team to beat. A win here would solidify their top billing and send a message to their rivals heading into the top-four split.

Waitete, sitting just outside the cutoff, will be playing with desperation and purpose. While a win will only keep them in the bottom four, it will be a great boost to the confident the Waitete ladies could do with heading into the second round. If they can stay in the fight early and build pressure, they might just have a chance to pull off a season-defining upset.

Division 1 Men's Competition

With just weeks remaining in the first round of the Division 1 Men’s Competition, the race for top-six positions is heating up—and this weekend’s fixtures could play a decisive role in shaping the ladder. As teams jostle for top six spots or fight to climb out of the lower tier, every match carries added intensity and importance.

In what could be one of the most balanced matchups of the round, Pirongia (8th) host Kereone (11th) in a clash between two sides hungry to move up the standings. Pirongia will see this as a must-win at home to keep touch with the top half, while Kereone, despite sitting near the bottom, will be eyeing this as an opportunity to disrupt the table and build some late-season momentum.

A top-four showdown is brewing in Putaruru, where the 5th-placed hosts welcome Southern United (1st). Southern have set the pace all season, but Putaruru’s strong home form and physical edge could pose a serious challenge. Similarly, Ōhaupō (3rd) will be aiming to solidify their finals credentials when they take on Hinuera (6th), who sit just inside the top six and will view this as a potential statement game and crucial in their quest to remain in the top six for the second round.

Elsewhere, Suburbs (2nd) will look to keep pressure on the ladder leaders when they face Frankton (10th). With Suburbs in fine form, they'll be favourites, but Frankton have proven they can play spoiler if taken lightly. Rounding out the round, Leamington (4th) host Taupiri (9th) in a fixture that Leamington will hope to control from the outset—but Taupiri will arrive determined to pull off an upset and push their way toward mid-table safety.

Waiomo Group Women's Premiership

The Waitomo Group Women’s Premiership enters a pivotal round this weekend with several key matchups that could shape the top half of the table and build tension ahead of the postseason. With bragging rights, ladder positions, and rivalries on the line, fans can expect a fiercely competitive set of fixtures.

The headline clash sees Hamilton Old Boys (1st) host Melville (2nd) in a heavyweight battle between two of the competition’s premier sides. Hamilton Old Boys remain unbeaten in 2025 and have looked dominant across the park—but Melville, last year’s champions, know exactly what it takes to perform in big games. These two met just a fortnight ago, with Hamilton Old Boys coming out on top, but Melville will be hungry to even the score and reassert their title credentials in what’s shaping up to be a thrilling showdown.

Elsewhere, Kihikihi (6th) will look to bounce back when they welcome Otorohanga (4th). Otorohanga won the previous encounter comfortably with a 41–14 win at home, but this time Kihikihi will have the home crowd behind them and a point to prove. Otorohanga, meanwhile, are eyeing a push toward the top three and will know the importance of taking care of business on the road.

Rounding out the round, Hautapu (5th) take on University (3rd) in what could be one of the weekend’s most intriguing matchups. Newcomers Hautapu have turned heads with their competitiveness in their debut Premiership season and will be keen to test themselves against a polished University side. For University, this is a must-win if they want to keep pressure on the leaders, but they’ll need to be sharp—Hautapu won’t go quietly.

Under 21s Competition

As the Under 21s competition continues to build momentum, this weekend’s fixtures offer plenty of intrigue with tight ladder races, key matchups, and a Friday night showdown to kick things off. With teams beginning to jostle for top-four spots and others fighting to stay in touch, every game is starting to feel like a mini-final.

Friday night footy sees Hinuera (7th) host Pirongia (11th) under lights in what promises to be a spirited encounter. Hinuera will be eager to bounce back into contention after some up-and-down results, while Pirongia, still searching for consistency, will look to spoil the party and grab their second win of the season.

Saturday features a blockbuster near the top of the table as Hautapu (2nd) square off against Hamilton Marist (3rd) in what could be a preview of a semifinal clash. Both teams have been in strong form and boast plenty of attacking weapons, so expect fireworks in what’s shaping up to be one of the round’s marquee matchups. Elsewhere, University (9th) will be hoping to turn their fortunes around when they take on Suburbs (6th), who sit just outside the top four and are hungry to break back into the playoff mix.

Leamington (10th) face a tough challenge at home against a well-drilled Rugby United (4th) outfit that has quietly become one of the more consistent sides in the comp. Meanwhile, the clash between Morrinsville Sports (5th) and Fraser Tech (8th) could be a turning point for both teams—Morrinsville looking to force their way into the top four, and Fraser Tech desperate for a result to stay in touch with the pack.

Article added: Thursday 22 May 2025