Wins for Wellington age grade sides in Hurricanes competitions

Above: The Wellington and Taranaki U19s fighting hard for possession in their Hurricanes U19 Seeding Tournament match today.

The Wellington U19s and the Wellington U18s had contrasting wins today over Taranaki and Wairarapa-Bush opposition, while the Wellington Development side defeated the Wellington Samoans and the Wellington Pride went down to Canterbury.

Wellington U19s 25 - Taranaki U19s 20

Two tries by Wellington halfback Luke Campbell made the difference in a hard-fought 25-20 win to the Wellington U19s over the Taranaki U19s in the second match of their National U19 Seeding Tournament.

With the game in the balance on both occasions, Campbell's tries came at vital times for Wellington, keeping their noses ahead of Taranaki.

Early in the second half the Old Boys University halfback intercepted a pass in general play and scampered all of 60 metres up the far touchline to score in the corner, extending Wellington's then lead from 13-7 to 18-7.

Taranaki closed to within a try of the lead, but with several minutes remaining it was Campbell that scored another key try, ducking over to score what proved to be the match winner. Replacement fullback Josh Robertson-Weepu converted giving Wellington a 25-13 advantage.

Taranaki, with a livewire halfback themselves in Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and a typically hard working pack led by all three front rankers, NZ U20 prop Scott Mellow, hooker Kent Myers and ?former NZ Schools prop Reuben O'Neill, came back with a late try to ensure a close finish. Taranaki put all sorts of pressure on Wellington at scrum time in particular.

Bustling centre Sean Wainui made a powerful run towards the tryline and offloaded to second five-eighth Morehu Connor Phillips who was awarded the try. But Wellington managed to hold on for their second win in this series.

They play Hawke's Bay U19 next week in Porirua, while Taranaki plays Manawatu in New Plymouth.

Manawatu beat Hawke's Bay 23-8 in the other Hurricanes U19s match today.

Wellington had gone into halftime leading 13-7, scoring their only try of the first half after five minutes to left wing Aleks Noble-Campbell after a break out wide by fullback Chase Tiatia, who later moved into first five-eighth.

The conversion of this try and two penalties to first five-eighth Pakai Turia gave Wellington a 13-0 lead midway through the first half.

Taranaki hit back with an excellent long-range try, scored by first five-eighth Michael Blanks but created by halfback Tahuriorangi who stripped past Wellington's defence on a 50 metre run up the shortside from a scrum. Tahuriorangi's inside pass to his support player was intercepted, but a Wellington error handed the ball back to Blanks who waltzed over to score. Fullback Cruz Pene added the extras.

Both teams failed to add to their scores before the break with missed penalty opportunities.

Campbell made a hash of the second half re-start, allowing Taranaki to swing straight on to attack. But Wellington were able to keep the visitors at bay before Campbell streaked away to score the first of his two tries.

Taranaki's forwards had their tails up and created further chances for them to score again over the next period, but two Pene penalties to narrow the gap to 18-13 was as close as they got.

With the help of some effective replacements off the bench, Wellington built pressure and they were soon rewarded when Campbell scored his second try, asking Taranaki to score at least two tries to win. They managed one try only.

In another U19 match played today, the Wairarapa-Bush U19s defeated Horowhenua Kapiti 29-26 - after scores had been locked up at 14-14 at halftime.

Wanganui U19 defeated the Wellington Samoan Schools 28-3.

Wellington Development 32 - Wellington Samoans 20

In the match that followed at Porirua Park, the Wellington Development side had too many guns for the Wellington Samoans, winning 32-20.

In a typically bruising encounter, the Wellington Development side scored three tries in the first half and led 17-6 at halftime.

They pulled clear to take a 25-6 after 55 minutes and, despite a stronger finish by the Samoans, the match lost its shape and fell away in the final quarter.

Apart from a skilful individual try scored in broken play to Development blindside flanker Vaea Fifita and another with the last act of the first half, the opening spell was mostly evenly contested.

The Samoans started strongly; centre Joyner Key successful with one of three early penalties.

The Development side struck with the first try of the match in the 20^th minute when left wing Andrew Wells ran back a general kick from halfway up into the 22. They kept the ball alive and stretched them over in the far corner with No. 8 Matt Peni dotting down.

Vaea Fifita skirted with the touchline in a run to the line from 35 metres out to double the score to 10-3.

Joyner Key slotted his second penalty to close the margin to 10-6, before the Development side attacked inside the 22 late in the half. Awarded a series of penalties, they packed down scrums instead of taking the three points and centre Ope Peleseuma sliced through to score a seven-pointer.

Development flyhalf Fa'atonu Fili kicked a penalty that extended the lead to 20-6, before replacement prop Apa Heemi scored from close range moments after Fifita almost ran in a try from 70 metres after fielding another kick in open play.

The Samoans enjoyed their best period on attack and replacement midfielder Teru Time scored under the posts to close the score to 25-13. But the Development outfit hit straight back when their replacement midfielder Nick Grigg replied in kind after an attacking lineout. This made it 32-13.

Replacement hooker Eli Hunt closed the match with a well-deserved consolation try for the Samoans.

Wellington U18s 81 -Wairarapa Bush U18s 5

St Pat's Silverstream openside flanker Daniel Schrijvers was the individual star today for the Wellington U18s in their comfortable 13 tries to one win over the Wairarapa-Bush U18s.

Schrijvers ran in four tries, including two from close range off mauls and drives and two running strongly in support play.

Wellington scored three of their tries from 20-metre rolling mauls, with No. 8 Asafo and prop Tristan Fuli both featuring strongly and each scoring tries. Prop Fuli scored a 50 metre runaway try.

In the backs, wing Salesi Rayasi scored two tries, fullback Hugo Phillips was rewarded for an industrious game with a try and first five-eighth Piri Paraone knocked over several kicks.

Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay play their Hurricanes region U18 curtain-raiser tomorrow, ahead of the Hawke's Bay - Otago Ranfurly Shield match.

In the U18 Development competition curtain-raiser at Petone, the Wellington Centurions defeated East Coast U18 71-9.

Wellington Pride 13 - Canterbury 33

The Wellington Pride ensured a perfect 0-9 losing record for Wellington's two NPC men's and women's teams with a 13-33 defeat to defending champions Canterbury in the fourth round of the Women's NPC in Christchurch today.

Returning loosehead prop Muteremoana Aiatu scored Wellington's only try, while first five-eighth Elizabeth Goulden kicked a conversion and two penalties. Canterbury scored four tries, to four different players.

The Pride only trailed 6-12 at halftime and kept Canterbury scoreless from midway through the first half to midway through the second half. Canterbury pulled clear at the end with two tries in the final five minutes.

Scores:

Wellington U19s 25 (Luke Campbell 2, Aleks Noble-Campbell tries; Pakai Turia 2 pen, con, Josh Robertson-Weepu con) beat Taranaki U19s 20 (Michael Blanks, Morehu Connor Phillips tries; Cruz Pene 2 pen, 2 con). HT: 13-7

Wellington Development 32 (Matt Peni, Vaea Fifita, Ope Peleseuma, Apa Heemi, Nick Grigg tries; Fa'atonu Fili pen, 2 con) beat Wellington Samoans 20 (Teru Time, Eli Hunt tries; Joyner Key 2 pen, 2 con) HT: 17-6.

Wellington Pride 13 (Muteremoana Aiatu try; Elizabeth Goulden 2 pen,con) lost to Canterbury 33 (Tara Horsnell, Vicki Campbell, Estelle Uren, Keisha Grant try; Kendra Cocksedge 2 pen; 2 con).HT: Canterbury 12-6

Wellington U16s 32 - Wellington U16 Development 14 (Friday night)

Wellington U13s 75 -Taranaki U13s 17.