Jubilee and Hardham Cups finals, lower grade and college previews

Starting with several matches tonight, a big weekend of rugby is anticipated around Wellington.

Jubilee Cup Final preview: Old Boys-University v Marist St Pat’s

A prominent Old Boys University player remarked under the tunnel at the Basin Reserve earlier this season that if there was a Jubilee Cup after dark then the Goats would win every year. For many in the club, they’d happily stay home on Saturday nights for the rest of the year if they win their first championship since amalgamation over two decades ago. MSP are no strangers to Jubilee Cup success, having won the last of their 14 titles in 2012.

It’s a match-up of two similar styles in tomorrow's decider, pitting city rivals Old Boys-University and Marist St Pats against each other.

The two sides have faced off twice already this year; five weeks ago the Goats triumphed on the Basin Reserve 29-20, backing up their 33-17 Swindale Shield win at Evans Bay where they led 26-0 at the break. MSP’s last win over OBU came in the last round of last year’s Jubilee Cup round-robin by 34-20, while OBU won the prior encounter 30-29 with a last-minute penalty in a match played at Wellington College. Both sides come into this on the back of thrilling semi-finals. OBU sweated out a 20-18 win over 2011 champions Oriental-Rongotai, while MSP won a see-saw encounter with 2013 winners Tawa.

OBU have gone undefeated in the Jubilee Cup with their last loss being to Wainuiomata at the conclusion of the Swindale where they finished seventh, but endured several weeks down on numbers due to national Universities and Under 20 representative duties. By contrast MSP finished second on the table in both the Swindale and Jubilee round-robin, and having tasted defeat to OBU twice, will look to avenge that on club rugby’s biggest stage. Across the season, OBU have won 13 of 19 matches, with MSP going one better.

OBU enjoyed two romps in the Swindale, beating Johnsonville 72-13 and Paremata-Plimmerton 79-10, with their biggest loss a 20-40 reverse to Swindale winners Hutt Old Boys Marist. MSP also took big wins against those same two teams, 52-8 and 61-6 over Johnsonville and Paremata-Plimmerton respectively, with their biggest reverse a 6-34 mauling by Ories in the opening game of the Jubilee. They also took part in the highest scoring Premier match of the year, the fifteen-try 49-54 loss to HOBM in the Swindale.

OBU haven’t played on this stage since 2002, when they lost 10-18 to MSP at Westpac Stadium, and the club is looking to end a drought that goes back to 1966 when University claimed the title, though their other ancestor club – Wellington College Old Boys – were the first winners of the Jubilee Cup in 1929. By contrast, MSP have won 14 titles since their formation in 1970, with Fa’atonu Fili, Ryan Setefano, Isaia Petelo, and captain Isaac O’Connor survivors of the 2012 final. Peniasi Tokakece played in the 2002 final, along with Fili.

OBU will look once again to their quintet of impressive youngsters; former Wellington College stars centre Wes Goosen, hooker Zeke Sopoaga and halfback Luke Campbell, hulking former Kings College Auckland No.8 Teariki Ben-Nicholas, and fullback Sam Chamberlain from Christs College, a key cog in the OBU Colts’ three-peat of titles, and who has earned cult figure status amongst the Goats faithful for his sizzling performances over the last ten weeks and his mop of red hair. The experience in the side comes from five-eighth Hamish Buick, wingers Te Wehi Wright and Joe Hill; with centurion Thomas Fleming, who returned to action last week for the B’s after concussion and former Norths Jubilee Cup winner Tomasi Palu also likely to be involved after both being named on the bench. Dutchmen Huey van Vliet and Alex Barendregt alongside Argentine Agustin Escalona, provide an international flavor; while the side will be captained from lock by Joe Beech in the absence of Ian Kennedy.

They make two changes to last weeks starting lineup. Jonathan Fuimaono returns at loosehead with Finbarr Kerr-Newell swapping sides and Barendregt dropping to the bench while Adam Hill starts at openside in place of Mitch Clarke.

MSP have been able to call on a solid core of players this year. Captain and openside O’Connor is a threat at every breakdown, and one of two players to have started every game; the other being halfback Ken Kapeli who has ably deputised for the injured Peter Sciascia. The side has plenty of experience, with lock Nemani Waaka having over 100 Premier appearances for Wests and MSP combined, and several others including hooker Valentine Meachen, midfielder Petelo, and utility back Setefano with more than 50 games under their belts. Tokakece has returned to add his considerable power to the back of the scrum, notching doubles in the past two weeks, while long-time national 7’s representative Lote Raikabula is well-versed in high-pressure situations. Veteran pivot Fili, who may again wear the #19 jersey as he has all year in memory of a family friend and one of Wellington club rugby’s outstanding servants, will once again be entrusted to guide the side around the park. This will be the third time in four years he has taken the field in the Jubilee Cup final, counting his 2013 appearance for Oriental-Rongotai.

They make a single change to the side that started the semi-final against Tawa, with Jacob Taituave replacing Vince Sakaria at loosehead prop.

If it comes down to goal-kicking, these sides have two of the best in the business in Fili and Chamberlain, who top the Jubilee Cup points scoring table with 105 and 99 respectively.

Past Jubilee Cup finals have generally been tight. Twelve of the past 16 finals since 1997 have been decided by a winning margin of six points or fewer, and after last weekend’s semifinals fitted that pattern; it could be the case again.

Including last week's semi-final, OBU go into the final having scored 573 points this season and conceded 365 and MSP have scored 610 and let in 413. Goosen is OBU’s leading try scorer with 12, with Chamberlain scoring 152 points since assuming the kicking duties. For MSP Setefano leads with eight, and Fili has scored 209 points.

Richard Gordon is the referee, taking charge of his first Jubilee Cup final and his 67th Wellington Premier match in all, and is a member of NZ Rugby’s National Development Squad.The Assistant Referees are Nick Hogan and Daniel Mangin, who refereed last weekend’s semifinals. Kickoff is at 3.30pm

Hardham Cup Final preview: Johnsonville v Upper Hutt Rams

It’s somewhat foreign territory for both sides in the Hardham Cup contest, with neither Johnsonville nor the Upper Hutt Rams - the latter through their predecessors - having a significant finals day pedigree. The Maidstone club hasn’t lifted Premier silverware since their Swindale triumph of 2005, while Johnsonville’s lone success was claiming that same title in 1998. Both clubs have long histories however, with Johnsonville formed in 1900 and Upper Hutt dating back to 1909.

Both have points to prove in the season-ender. The Rams will want to atone for missing out by a single competition point on this year’s Jubilee Cup, while the Hawks will want to prove that their run of form throughout the Hardham Cup can be sustained for one more outing.

Upper Hutt held their Jubilee Cup ambitions in their own hands through eight rounds of the Swindale Shield, but successive losses to OBU, Wellington, and MSP left them on the outside. Johnsonville endured a trying Swindale campaign, humbled by 40+ point losses to both of the Jubilee Cup finalists and notching their only wins over Avalon and Paremata-Plimmerton, the two sides that finished below them on the ladder.

The two sides got into their work from the outset of the second round, Johnsonville taking a 62-33 win over Norths, while the Rams overpowered Harper Lock Shield winners Tawa B by 64-6. Johnsonville’s only loss of the round was to Poneke 22-28, which they avenged in last week’s semi-final by 31-17; while the Rams defeated Avalon 44-16 to set this up, and will be looking to overturn the 24-21 win to Johnsonville when the two sides met at Helston, which was their only meeting of the year.

Johnsonville has benefitted from an infusion of experience in the back half of this season, none more so than from Roy Kinikinilau once he decided to put the boots back on, scoring 13 tries in only 8 games. Former Norths pivot Rob Aloe was another, but he hasn’t taken the field since being injured against Avalon, with Jack Taulapapa and Declan Hay alternating the halves roles. Tiwi Davies scored 26 points last weekend, taking him to 87 in the last three games, while the loose forward quartet of Sean Bridge, Corey Lawrence, Kane Le’aupepe and recent centurion Louis Karl are combative and mobile. Bridge and Le’aupepe are bracketed on the blindside, but are otherwise unchanged from the side that started last weekend against Poneke.

The Rams have had a more settled group, though the loss of fullback Jordon Simpson Hefft coincided with their slide out of the Jubilee Cup places, and his recent return has been welcomed. Veteran Joyner Key has been steady with the boot, wherever he has played across the backline, but a knee injury will keep provincial 7’s captain Hayden Schrijvers from offering his energy and enterprise from halfback. Their loose forward trio of Josh Hunt, Mitchell Markov, and Murphy Taramai will provide the other half of what should be a fascinating clash, while hooker Eli Hunt has started every game this season. Aside from Schrijvers, who is replaced at halfback by Kaide McCashin, their only change is up front where Tui Hunt returns at tighthead with Apa Heemi swapping sides and Delano Morkel to the bench.

Vincent Ringrose has the whistle for the Hardham Cup for the second year in a row. It is his 31st Wellington Premier match and he is also a member of the National Development Squad. He will be assisted by Scott Kennedy and David Walsh. Kickoff is at 1.15pm

Women’s Victoria Tavern Trophy: Oriental-Rongotai v Northern United

The first final of the day is the Victoria Tavern Trophy Premier Women’s contest where Oriental-Rongotai and Norths meet for the third year in succession. This match was previewed in depth yesterday on Club Rugby, and kicks off at 11am.

Extra time in finals

In the event any of these three matches are drawn at fulltime, then extra-time of 10 minutes each way will be played. If still tied then a 10 minute ‘sudden death’ period will be played, with teams playing in the same direction as in the first half of regulation. If a team scores in this period the match is over. If it remains tied then the winner will be the teams that scored the most tries in the final (including extra time), and if that is equal it will be the side with the best points differential.

College and lower grades

As well as the events at Porirua Park, there is still a round of matches in the lower and college grades. For some teams, today will be their last outing for the season as their round-robins conclude, while there are a pair of semi-finals, and one further final.

The Weltec Premiership has reached its semi-final stage, ahead of next Sunday’s final at Porirua Park. Scots College finished the round-robin unbeaten and as top qualifiers, and will host Wellington College, who they beat 34-3 in their earlier meeting. Wellington College edged past Rongotai 20-14 to set up this meeting, while Scots had last weekend off from competition play, but took on visiting school Skinners College from the UK.

The other semi-final is at Silverstream, where the hosts and St Pats Town will meet for the second time in 10 days after their Traditional clash, won 30-15 by Silverstream. That result meant that Town had to host one of the quarter-final matches, in which they thrashed Wairarapa College by 76-0, while Silverstream have been able to rest up. Both semi-finals kick-off at 2.30pm

In the Premier 2 grade Bishop Viard claimed yet another piece of silverware when they took the Isberg Cup off of Kapiti last weekend, and have assured themselves as top qualifier ahead of facing the Wellington College 2nds, who need to win to make the top-6, in a 12.30pm kick-off. The other team to get the bye will be decided when St Bernard’s host the Silverstream 2nds at 1pm, with Bernard’s needing a bonus point win and to deny their opponents a bonus point to claim second. The matches between Aotea and Hutt Valley HS (at 2.30pm) and the Town 2nds and Porirua (at 1pm) both carry significant top-6 implications, while the two sides at the bottom and out of contention, Kapiti and Upper Hutt, meet up the coast.

In the Premier Reserve Ed Chaney and HD Morgan Cups most of the playoff picture has been sorted with only the final pieces to fall into place in the final round. The round has three matches tonight, involving the four clubs who’s Premiers are in finals action, with the remaining three tomorrow. In the Ed Chaney division MSP and Norths are battling for the last semi-final place, though if MSP beat Avalon with a bonus point tonight on the St Pats artificial they will be through, if they don’t then they will leave the door open for Norths who travel to joint-leaders HOBM tomorrow. HOBM, along with OBU are already confirmed to host a semi-final next week, but whether they hold the rights to the final as well will be determined after their match and OBU’s crossover contest tonight with the Upper Hutt Rams at Maidstone Park. In the HD Morgan Ories will finish top if they beat Johnsonville tonight at Te Whaea, Wainuiomata will claim second if they beat winless Paremata-Plimmerton at Ngatitoa tomorrow, and Avalon must beat MSP tonight if they are to vault into the playoffs. The remaining match is an Ed Chaney contest tomorrow at Hataitai between already-eliminated Wellington and Poneke, who cannot finish anything other than third.

All matches tonight kick off at 7.45pm, with tomorrows at 1pm.

The Colts Paris Memorial reaches its conclusion with the final round of matches, following which the competition will be split into four tiers with semi-finals next weekend and finals the weekend following. OBU Green accounted for one challenger in Norths last Friday night, and will claim this title with just a single competition point against Wellington at Kilbirnie. The rest of the top four is already set and only the order to be sorted out. The Upper Hutt Rams can slip through if OBU mess up, but will secure the other home semi if they beat Johnsonville tonight at 7.45pm at Fraser Park, though themselves will slip to third if they lose with Norths already bagging five points after Wainuiomata defaulted. HOBM are assured of fourth and have the bye. The other final round matches have Ories hosting Petone (at 2.45pm), MSP take on Poneke (at 11am), OBU Black face Tawa, and Avalon and Paremata-Plimmerton meet in a battle of two of the bottom three. All matches are at 1pm tomorrow unless stated.

No team will complete the Under 85kg season undefeated after the Poneke Cavs upended the Tawa Titans in their Paul Potiki Shield contest last weekend and assumed the top spot on the table. The Cav’s will have to be wary when they take on Wellington at Kilbirnie tomorrow as the lightweight Axemen have toppled Avalon and the OBU Bunnies in successive weeks. The Bunnies remain second and face Avalon at Te Whaea, while Tawa make the trip to HW Shortt to face Eastbourne, with all three matches 1pm kick-offs. The fourth match is between the MSP Reds and Johnsonville at 11.30am on the neutral turf of Redwood Park, while HOBM have the bye this week.

After a weekend were only two games were played owing to defaults, a logjam has appeared at the top of the First Grade Johnsonville Centennium Cup, with four sides now sporting five-win, one-loss records with only bonus points separating them. With Tawa having already departed the competition (meaning Norths has the bye) and Poneke having already defaulted to the Petone Saxons, there are only three games scheduled. Two of those four sides, the Petone Brotherhood and Stokes Valley clash at the Petone Rec where Stokes Valley’s Kieran Duffy will make his 100th appearance for the clubs’ senior side; while the other two – the HOBM Barbarians and OBU - are involved in MSP home games that have been relocated to Ngatitoa Domain; MSP Avele face HOBM on the #2 ground, while MSP ‘A’ take on OBU on #3.

Finally, the fourth final of the day is at William Jones Park in Wainuiomata for the Senior Women’s title, where the home side, fresh off a 188-0 mauling of minnows Johnsonville, take on Poneke.