Hutt Old Boys Marist and Northern United preparing for Colts Division 1 Final

Above: The Northern United and Hutt Old Boys Marist Colts teams celebrating their respective semi-final wins last weekend

UPDATED (WITH TEAMS AT THE BOTTOM): Hutt Old Boys Marist will be hoping its third time lucky while Northern United will be chasing their first title in this grade since 2010 when their Colts teams meet at Jerry Collins Stadium in the final of the Division 1 John E Kelly Cup on Saturday afternoon.

Both will arrive primed for the final having won their semi-finals away from home.

The HOBM Green side was the beaten finalist in both 2013 and 2014 by what was a rampant Old Boys University Green team that previously won 33 matches in a row and captured a hat-trick of U21 titles.

Last Saturday at Te Whaea HOBM knocked over OBU 25-8 in a stirring semi-final win. HOBM RDO and Colts team Technical Advisor Dan Pavihi said this win was based on a strong forwards effort and the kicking nous of the backs.

“Our defence was united and everyone understood the game-plan set to beat a very good champion side like OBU,” said Pavihi. “Preparation was good and we just kept things simple and worked as a team.”

“We have worked hard in the latter stages of the season on changing our players’ attitudes and approach and we are seeing the benefits of that now coming through.”

Norths travelled out to a muddy Maidstone Park and tipped over a well-performing Upper Hutt Rams Colts side 17-12. Holding a narrow lead at halftime, the Junior Rams came back to take a 12-7 but Norths won in the second half with a converted try and a late penalty.

Norths Coach Alphonso Parsons put last week’s semi-final win down to a determined team performance. “It was a tough semi-final match for us last weekend out at Maidstone Park, but it was a collective team effort that enabled us to win,” he said.

Norths heads into Saturday’s final with a slightly better season record than HOBM. The modified single round Paris Memorial Trophy competition started in April and Norths won 12 of 14 games and HOBM 10 of 14. Norths scored 377 points and conceded 157, whilst HOBM scored 329 and let in 204.

In their only meeting so far this year in the Hutt at the start of June, Norths prevailed 21-5.

HOBM coach Mark Keating said Norths will be hard to beat.

“These are two evenly matched teams with similar styles, the outcome of the match will come down to the team that wants it more,” said Keating. “Norths have beaten us previously this season so we are well aware of how well we will need to play to wi n.For us, winning the Colts title will continue to raise the profile of our young men and will mean a successful year for the club with the Swindale Shield already locked away.

 “We will play as a cohesive unit with everyone working towards the ultimate goal. As a team we have the ability to alter our game plan depending on our opposition and the conditions.”

Norths coach Parsons said it will take another collective effort like last week’s semi-final win to beat HOBM on Saturday. “This would boost our club, team, community and management morale as a whole, and would also give us more confidence to develop professionally and gain the support from our community, colleges and sponsors.”

“Our key players are our leaders and our strength is our whole team spirit. As for the opposition, they must have a different team to beat OBU, so they are going to be very hard to beat.”
Meanwhile, there are three other Colts trophies up for grabs on Saturday.

Poneke and Tawa meet in the Vic Calcanai Cup Division 2 Colts final at Kilbirnie Park at 2.30pm, Wellington and Ories meet at Hataitai Park at 12.30pm in the final of the Division 3 Colts Eric Connolly Memorial Cup and Paremata-Plimmerton and Avalon will contest the James Gilbert Memorial Trophy at Ngatitoa Domain at 2.30pm.

About the John E Kelly Memorial Cup

The John E Kelly Memorial Cup was donated to the WRFU by the Wellington Football Club for play in the Under 21 Division 1 Competition in 1985. The trophy is in memory of Wellington’s late Club Captain, John E Kelly, who died of cancer. John played and administrated rugby with the Wellington Club for many years and had the privilege of playing alongside his young son.

The past 10 winners have been: 2005 Upper Hutt, 2006 Petone/Norths, 2007 Petone, 2008 Upper Hutt, 2009 Upper Hutt , 2010 Norths , 2011 MSP, 2012 OBU Green, 2013 OBU Green, 2014 OBU Green

Match details:

What: John E Kelly Cup Colts Division 1 Final
Where: Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua Park
Who: Northern United Colts v Hutt Old Boys Marist Colts
When: Saturday 15 August, 2.30pm.

Teams: 

Hutt Old Boys Marist:

1. Brett Manaia (St Bernard’s College)
2. Inia Wright (St Bernard’s College)
3. Ben Butler (St Pat’s Sliverstream)
4. Inoke Tufele (St Bernard’s College)
5. Jason Hoffmann (Hutt Valley High School)
6. Chad Briant (St Bernard’s College) 
7. Jordan Gillies (Hutt International Boys)
8. Lui Luamanu (St Pat’s Sliverstream)
9. Taylor Edwards (Hutt International Boys) Capt
10. Liam Forbes (St Pat’s Sliversteam)
11. Patricio Taafua (Taita College)
12. Bernard Nickel (Wainuiomata High School) 
13. Chris Alosio (St Pat’s Silverstream) 
14. Karez Hunt - Tiumalu (Bishop Viard College)
15. Anthony Van Ooyen (St Bernard’s College)
16. Joel Cooper (Hutt International Boys) 
17. Junior Tanuvasa (Hutt Valley High School) 
18. Riki Ward (Naenae College) 
19. Jarrod Coppell (Naenae College) 
20. Benji Van Ooyen (St Bernard’s College)
21. Rajiv Reddy (Naenae College)
22. Henry Sinioti Grey (St Pat’s Silverstream) 

Other Squad Members during the season
Livingston Faimalie (St Bernard’s College)
Bernie Seufale (St Bernard’s College)
Sunia Kamakorewa (St Bernard’s College)
John Tufele (St Bernard’s College)
Paasi Fine (St Bernard’s College)
Ryan Perez (St Bernard’s College)
Moses Samuelu (Tamaki College)
Logan Cole (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Francis Tanuvasa (Hutt Valley High School)
Tasi Fidow (St Pat’s Town)
Seth Recalma (Nanaimo District Secondary school, Canada)

Coaches: Mark Keating, John Pereira and Dan Pavihi (Technical Advisor)
Managers Pat Braid and Hans Butler

Northern United (playing squad):

Arthur Seumanutafa (Aotea College)
Bernard Schutz (Bishop Viard College)
Brendon Fai (Bishop Viard College)
Cedric Aiulu (St. Bernard’s College)
David Logie (Mana College)
Denvarie Ros-Oum (Aotea College)
Elkan Seaga (Aotea College)
Feofa’aki Tuangalu (Aotea College)
Hatden Blair (Bishop Viard College)
Hezron Neru (Tawa College)
Iuta Gaualofa, Tekinene Toom (Bishop Viard College)
Isack franklin (Onslow College)
Jackson Luafutu (Rongotai College)
Jonty Garrett (Onslow College)
Kalolo Fale (Mana College)
Manaia Thorne , Sam Filipo (Aotea College)
Mason Tuanu’u (Rongotai College)
Matthew Ranfurly (Porirua College)
McKay Parker (Rongotai College)
Muna Lafaele (Rongotai College)
Pasia Filipo , Peter & Tuohy Pili, Willieam Teleaga, Ponesa Muna, Sagato Nafatali, Andre Kemp (Porirua College)
Simon Butler, William Garrett (Onslow College)
Maka Halapio (Tonga College)

Coaches: Alphonso Parsons and Peter Tupua.
Managers: James Maoate, Willie Aiulu and Franko Collins.