Spillane tournament in Napier this weekend

Above: HOBM’s Tomasi Alosio running on to a pass by Alexis Time in last year’s Spillane tournament opener against Auckland Marist. The Eagles are hoping to win the tournament for the sixth consecutive year this weekend

The 84th New Zealand Marist Spillane Cup tournament is being hosted by the Napier Old Boys Marist club at Park Island, Napier this weekend. The tournament features Senior and Colts teams from several leading clubs, from Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, North Harbour, Waikato, Wanganui and Wellington.

There are four main prizes up for grabs, the Spillane Cup (Division?1), Ham Cumming Cup (Division 2), Brennan Cup (Colts) and Liston Cup (President's). First round games are being played on Saturday starting at 11.00 am, 12.45 pm, and 2.30 pm and the finals are on Sunday from 11.00 with the Spillane Cup final at 1.00 pm Sunday on Tremain Field.

Wellington Jubilee Cup club rugby champions Hutt Old Boys Marist have won the Spillane Cup for the last five years running and are thus gunning for a six-peat of titles in the top division. Last year HOBM defeated Christchurch Marist Albion 30-7 in the final of the tournament that they hosted at the Hutt Recreation Ground. HOBM’s previous four consecutive finals wins were over Auckland Marist in 2013 (33-12), MSP in 2012 (20-7), Napier Old Boys Marist in 2011 (66-17) and MSP again in 2010 (26-18).

HOBM’s Wellington city rivals Marist St Pat’s return to the main Spillane Cup draw this year after winning the division 2 Ham Cumming Cup last year, beating Hastings Rugby & Sports in the final.

Auckland Marist and Hastings join HOBM and MSP in the Spillane Cup draw, with HOBM playing Hastings and MSP playing Auckland in day one matches.

HOBM halfback Nick Risdon, a member of all five of HOBM’s recent tournament wins, said the competition will be hard-fought.

The Spillane Cup is a tough tournament, “Risdon explained. “The Sunday game is particularly hard, given the Saturday night’s activities. Any one of the teams can win it and it will be tough this year with the promotion of our Wellington rivals and Marist brothers, MSP.”

“2014 was obviously a great year for the Eagles, started by retaining the Spillane Cup at home and ending with Jubilee Cup success,” he said.

“But that was 2014 and the boys have a new set of goals.?The season always starts for us at Spillane; it is not a pre-season warm-up tournament but a tournament which we take great pride in competing at, as it is part of our Marist traditions and history.

Napier Old Boys Marist Chairman Terry Gittings said the club is looking forward to hosting the tournament.

“We last hosted this tournament in 2006 and we are excited about the weekend coming up. Rugby is the common bond, but it’s an opportunity for old friends and acquaintances and rivals on the field to catch up off it and maintain and re-establish relationships.”

“We have only missed one Spillane tournament, and that was last year owing to too many pre-season injuries, so we are proud to be associated with the Marist organisation and the biggest affiliated club tournament in New Zealand.”

Napier Old Boys Marist join recent New Zealand Marist Sevens champions North Harbour Marist, Palmertson North Marist and Marist St Pat’s (their second XV) in the division 2 Ham Cumming Cup.

Six clubs are entered in the Brennan Cup Colts section - hosts NOBM, Hamilton Marist, Hastings, HOBM, MSP and defending Colts champions Auckland Marist.

The Auckland Marist Colts were the tournament’s dominant side last year, easing past MSP 124-0 and defeating the Hamilton Marist Junior Ravens 46-0 in their two matches.

Wanganui Marist and a Hawke’s Bay Marist selection meet in the President’s match for the Liston Cup on Saturday.

Sunday’s Draw?will comprise of winners v winners / losers v losers matches in each division - with promotion and relegation between divisions.

Unfortunately several unions’ competitions will be commencing on Saturday, which has precluded some teams from participating.

As well as rugby, a netball tournament is also being played. Tournament rugby and netball teams will be selected.

Draws and Spillane Cup squads

Day one draw

Spillane Cup:

• Hutt Old Boys Marist v Hastings Rugby and Sports. Tremain 1 at 1.00 pm
• Marist St Pat’s ‘Red’ v Auckland Marist. Tremain 1 at 3.00 pm

Ham Cumming Cup:

• Marist St Pat’s ‘White’ v North Harbour Marist. Tremain 2 at 1.00 pm
• Napier Old Boys Marist v Palmerston North Old Boys Marist. Tremain 2 at 3.00 pm

Brennan Cup Colts:

• Napier Old Boys Marist v Hastings Rugby and Sports. Bond Field 1 at 12.00 pm
• Hamilton Marist v Hutt Old Boys Marist. Bond Field 1 at 1.30 pm
• Auckland Marist v Marist St. Pat’s. Bond Field 2 at 12.00 pm

Liston Cup President’s

• Wanganui Marist v Hawke’s Bay Marist. Bond Field 2 at 1.30 pm

Spillane Cup squads (note these are all subject to change):

Hutt Old Boys Marist:

Forwards
Simon Malaeulu, Rei Manaia, Joe Apikotoa, Gerard Faitotoa, James O'Reilly, Harry McVey, James Wall, Kava Vulu, Jared Woodward, Jason Risdon, Lise Soloa, John Tufele , Matt Sleith
Backs
Sheridan Rangihuna, Nick Risdon, Ope Peleseuma, Alexis Time, Eroni Ekevati, Francis Tanuvasa,?Fereti Soloa, Blake McGregor, Site Timu , Sala Soloa

Marist St Pat’s (both squads combined):

Jacob Taituave, Frank Faatau, Vince Sakaria, Asa Saneviri, Clermont Dupouy, Geoff Fepuleai , Ray Paala, Valentine Meachen, Joe Walding –Karitiana, Nick Harrison, Nemani Waka, Dustin Clyde, Gabe Papuni, James Zino, Teaki Koaneti, Sefo Setephano, Isaac O'Connor, Caleb Hilbron, Sione Halahifi, Jay Hawkins, Nathan Fuatai, Jake Goodger, Teila Faumuina, Peter Sciascia, Ken Kapeli, Sam Flemming, Adam Bradley, Antoine Destombs, James Mallon, Isaia Petelo, Mike Buckley, Jeff Sione, Josh Foster, James Arbury, Filipo Alefosio, Andrew Wells, Manu Quintaine, Julian Tupai, Fa'atonu Fili, Terongo Tekii, Wade Sloane

Auckland Marist:

Forwards
John Bosco Tagaloa, Areta Tanoi, Moli Funua, Tapa Taitangaloa, Mika Futialo, Kalafi Pongi, Sam Christianson, Jamie Lane, Will Lloyd, Samiu Folau, George Gray, Sione Vaiangina, Tavake Makoni, David Afamasaga, David Kraay
Backs
David Osafua, Paea Ahokava, Jordan Walters, James Cherrington, James Raea, Fetuli Paea, Paula Hala, Enoka Muliufi, Tim Timo, Aaron Somerset, Jamie Brassey

Hastings Rugby and Sports

Forwards
Tivaini Fomai, Aaron McGrail, Dennis Tapusua, Junior Tere, Laurent Simutoga, Paulo Nuu, Geoff Gridge, Tom Parsons, Junior Sonolia, Jono Makris, Mark Ioane, Ben Hamerlink, Tafiro Fomai, Angus McGuire
Backs
Jayden Rihia, Ioane Ioane, Ausage Fomai, Star Timu, Mike Ward, Olive Paea, Mason Emerson, Enoka Chung Ching, Timo Vaiusu, James Rosenberg, Jack Wiggins