Premiership A Semi Finals Preview (Kickoff 2.45pm)

It is Semi finals time for the Waikato Draught Premiership A competition with four teams playing for a spot in the Final at FMG Stadium Waikato and to be crowned the Waikato Breweries Shield champions.

Hautapu v Hamilton Marist - Memorial Park, Cambridge

Top seed Hautapu are two games away from completing a perfect 2019 season and this week they host fourth seed Hamilton Marist at Memorial Park. These two sides have faced off twice this season and as the undefeated tag suggests Hautapu have won both encounters, the first was in week 6 of Round 1 where Hautapu won at home 54-40 in a high scoring thriller while the return match in week 2 of Round 2 was a close affair with Hautapu leaving it late to beat Hamilton Marist 26-22 at Marist Park. So the question is can Hautapu win three from three this season against Hamilton Marist and book themselves a spot in the final or can Hamilton Marist pick up a victory at a crucial time of the season.

Otorohanga v Fraser Tech – Island Reserve

The second semi final will have Otorohanga at their home fortress at Island Reserve a place where they are undefeated in 2019. Fraser Tech has a hard task ahead of them as they try to upset Otorohanga to reach the final. This season the two matches between these two sides were both held at Fraser Tech’s home ground of Mill Street, where Otorohanga won both matches comfortably. The first encounter was in week 2 of Round 1 as Otorohanga scored 51 points to Fraser Tech’s 22. In the second match in week 5 of Round 2 against Otorohanga was too strong winning that match 41-12. Like the above match, can Otorohanga continue their win streak over Fraser Tech or can Fraser Tech pull off an upset to make the final.

Premiership B Semi Finals (Kickoff 1.00pm)

Fraser Tech v Melville – Mill Street

Otorohanga v Hamilton Marist – Island Reserve

Championship A Round 2 Week 7 Preview (Kickoff B’s – 1pm, A’s - 2.45pm)

It is the final regular season week of the Lonestar Hamilton Championship A club rugby competition as Morrinsville Sports and United Matamata Sports battle it out for the top spot in the standings and home field advantage in the finals. There is still a fight on for the final two spots as three teams have a mathematical chance of making the finals.

Ohaupo v Hinuera – Memorial Park, Ohaupo

Both of these sides are out of the running for the semi finals and both are winless in Round 2, so the match is really for pride and one team has the chance to finish the season on a high. Ohaupo will be buoyed by the fact that they won the first encounter between the two sides earlier on this season back in week 7 of Round 1 at Memorial Park where they won a narrow contest 34-31.

Southern United v Taupiri – Memorial Sports Gorunds

This match has semi final repercussions as fourth place Southern United currently hold a semi final berth but have Taupiri who are in fifth place only 3 points behind them and desperate for a win to have a chance of keeping their spot in the Premier competition for 2020. The winner of this match will most likely take the final spot in the semi finals booking an away clash with Morrinsville Sports or United Matamata Sports depending on who tops the standings.

Suburbs v Leamington – Flagstaff Park

Another match with semi final repercussions as sixth place Suburbs host third place Leamington at Flagstaff Park. Leamington are semi final bound but it will depend on the result of this match to weather they finish third or fourth. Suburbs on the other hand are out of semi final contention as they sit 5 points behind fourth and the result of the Southern United and Taupiri game will see them take the final semi final spot. The last time these two met was in week 2 of Round 1, where Suburbs picked up an upset win over the home team Leamington 24-20.

United Matamata Sports v Morrinsville Sports – Bedford Park

This is the game of the week and possibly the round as first place Morrinsville Sports travel to face second place United Matamata Sports at Bedford Park. Both teams are undefeated in Round 2 and have enough points in the standings that they have both secured home games in the semi finals. But a win is vital for both teams this week, as a win will see that team secure home field advantage come the final and also secure the NZFP Trophy as the second round winners.

Division 1A Semi Final (Kickoff 2.45pm)

Division 1A moves into the semi finals and now only four teams remain in the quest for the Mooloo Shield. The winner of the two semi finals will move on to the Division 1A Final at FMG Stadium Waikato next weekend.   

Putaruru v Pirongia – Nola Block

The first semi final has second place Putaruru hosting Pirongia at Nola Block. Both these sides have faced off twice in 2019, with each side picking up a win a piece. The first encounter was back in week 6 of Round 1 where Pirongia won at home 34-26, but Putaruru drew the ledger level with a narrow 1 point victory 15-14 at Nola Block in the return match.  

Te Rapa v Frankton – St Andrews Park

The second semi final will see first place Te Rapa host Frankton at St Andrews Park. Te Rapa topped the standings at the end of Round 2 with an undefeated run and so far this season they have beaten Frankton in both of the encounters. The first was in week 9 of Round 1 where they won at home 38-29 and in the return match Te Rapa was too strong for Frankton beating them on their home ground 42-5.

Division 1B Semi Final (Kickoff 1.00pm)

Frankton v Te Rapa – Swarbrick Park

Pirongia v Putaruru – Pirongia Domain

Division 2 Week 13 (Kickoff – 2.45pm)

Undefeated Hamilton Old Boys now have a 20 point buffer at the top of the division as they continue their undefeated 2019. Both them and Raglan have secured home semi finals next weekend leaving Whatawhata, Matangi Hillcrest and Kereone to fight it out for the final two spots.

Hamilton Old Boys v Kihikihi – Willoughby Park

Jaradites v Whatawhata – Steele Park

Matangi Hillcrest v Raglan – Matangi Park

Te Awamutu Marist v Kereone – Castleton Park  

Under 85kgs Week 14 (Kickoff – 1pm)

It is the final regular season match before the semi finals in the Under 85kgs division as Morrinsville Sports hold a 3 point lead at the top of the standings over Melville. So the winner of their match this weekend should secure home field advantage in the finals. They will be joined by Hamilton Marist (3rd) and Fraser Tech (4th) in the semi finals next weekend.

Fraser Tech v Hamilton Marist - Elliott Park

Leamington v University – Leamington Park

Melville v Morrinsville Sports – Collins Road

Colts Round 2 Top 4 Week 6 (Kickoff 1pm)

It is the final week of the Colts Top 4 season before the Top 2 teams play in the final next weekend. Currently Leamington has booked a spot in that final being over 5 points in front of second place, leaving Hamilton Marist and Matamata Combine to fight ii out for the final spot. If Hamilton Marist win or record two points in this match they will claim that spot.

Hamilton Marist v Leamington – Marist Park

United Matamata Combined v Morrinsville Sports – Bedford Park

Colts Bottom 5 Semi Finals (Kickoff 1pm)

The Bottom 5 are into their semi finals as first place Southern United host fourth place Pirongia and in the second semi final second place Hamilton Old Boys host third place Hamilton Boys High School

Southern United v Pirongia – Memorial Sports Ground

Hamilton Old Boys v Hamilton Boys High School – Willoughby Park

Gallagher Women’s Premiership Semi Finals (Kick 1pm)

Only four teams remain in the Gallagher Women’s Premiership and Melville are on track for a perfect season and back to back titles. This week they will host top of the Bottom 4 Otorohanga and in the second semi final is second place Hamilton Old Boys hosting University.  

Hamilton Old Boys v University – Fred Jones Park

Melville v Otorohanga – Collins Road

Article added: Friday 12 July 2019