Blockbuster Saturday of rugby coming up for Wellington fans

A blockbuster Saturday is in the wind for local rugby players and supporters, with four consecutive matches at three different venues to set schedules to.

The day starts at 11am at Rongotai College with a one-off match between the Wellington U18s and Tasman U18s, followed by the Wellington Pride against Counties Manukau in their Women’s NPC semi-final fixture at the Petone Recreation Ground at 12.30pm and then two matches at Westpac Stadium with the Wellington Development side against the Canterbury Colts at 3.10pm and the Wellington Lions against Manawatu at 5.35pm.

The Wellington U18s will be hoping to end their season on a high against the Tasman U18s after being battered by Auckland last weekend in their clash at Porirua Park. The Makos U18s recently competed in a South Island U18 competition. Their published results are sketchy at best but one result was an 8-31 loss to Canterbury Metro U18s.

Their team features a combination of Marlborough Boys’ College, Nelson College and Waimea College UC Championship First XV players, as well as a handful of players affiliated to local clubs. Wellington has made a number of changes to the team that met Auckland, including the return from NZ Schools duty of Wellington College halfback Kemara Hauiti-Para and St Pat’s Silverstream centre Losi Filipo.

The Wellington Pride will be hoping to reach their first Women’s NPC final since 2011 with victory over Counties Manukau.

Both sides go into this clash fully focused on earning their spot in next week’s Women’s NPC final, against either Auckland or Waikato.

Wellington goes into this semi-final with a record of five wins from six matches, their only loss being to Waikato in Hamilton. Counties Manukau won four of six, losing to Auckland and to the Pride. Wellington has scored 221 points and 33 tries and Counties Manukau has scored 215 points and 35 tries. The Pride has conceded just 80 points and 13 tries, while the Heat has let in 126 points and 20 tries.

Both sides have won their previous two matches since meeting in round 5, the Pride beating Canterbury 32-18 and Bay of Plenty 69-5 and the Heat defeating Otago 55-24 and Waikato 21-10.

The Pride’s 69-5 win was their second largest margin of victory after they posted 81 against Poverty Bay in 1999.

With a dry day forecast, the Heat are expected to attack the Pride with width and pace. Black Fern Arihana Marino shifted from halfback to first five-eighth last week against Waikato and will line up there again tomorrow. Further out, Black Ferns fullback Renee Wickliffe poses a big threat, after scoring a hat trick against Otago and nine tries in total. Another interesting addition to the Heat’s bench tomorrow as a “loan player” is Black Ferns outside back Janna Vaughan, who has been playing for Manawatu all season.

For the Pride, centre Georgia Daals is their leading try scorer with seven, including a hat-trick last week, while Ayesha Leti-I'iga has scored five tries.

If it comes down to goal-kicking, the Heat’s Marino has scored 58 points this season so far, whilst Pride First five-eighth Lizzie Goulden has scored 56. Last week against BoP, Goulden kicked seven conversions, one short of Wellington’s single-match record of eight set by Neroli Knight against Poverty Bay in 1999. Goulden’s also now kicked 19 conversions this season, surpassing the previous record of 17 set by Rebecca Mahoney.

The Wellington Development XV finish their season with a match at Westpac Stadium against the Canterbury Colts.

The Wellington Development side is coming off a 36-33 win over their Tasman counterparts, having won the Hurricanes region Development competition the previous week, so will be eager to finish well.

Information about the Canterbury Colts side has proved difficult to source. As always, maintaining their own websites seems to be all a bit too much for the CRFU. 

The goal tomorrow for the Wellington Lions against the Manawatu Turbos is clear: earn a solitary bonus point from the encounter and they’ll be back at Westpac Stadium next weekend for a home semi-final against either Otago or Bay of Plenty. If Waikato beats Hawke’s Bay tonight (also a Ranfurly Shield challenge) the Lions will be playing for top spot.

Manawatu’s 31-25 2011 win at Wellington was their first in the capital in 124 years of trying. Last year they returned and repeated that with a 27-21 victory and once more took the Coronation Cup with them up the highway.

The Wellington Lions have lost two more players to season ending injuries, with halfback Adam Deck and wing/midfielder Wes Goosen both out with ankle injuries. Similarly, Vaea Fifita remains sidelined with a calf injury.

From the Lions team that beat BoP last Sunday, a new starting front row of Reggie Goodes, James O’Reilly and Ben May will take the field against Manawatu. Loose forward Henry Stowers will claim his first start of the season, while Jonny Bentley and Marvin Karawana come back into the fold.

The Lions will be wearing a unique charity strip this week, designed by their captain Ardie Savea. The pink and white jersey was created by Savea in honour of his grandmother, who died from breast cancer in 2005.

Wellington teams for tomorrow (as received):

Wellington Lions: 1. Reggie Goodes, 2. James O’Reilly, 3. Ben May, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. James Blackwell, 6. Henry Stowers, 7. Greg Foe, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Frae Wilson, 10. Jonny Bentley, 11. Sam McNicol, 12. Marvin Karawana, 13. Matt Proctor, 14. Jason Woodward, 15. Cory Jane. Reserves: 16. Leni Apisai, 17. Jeffery To’omaga-Allen, 18. Vince Sakaria, 19. Hoani Matenga, 20. Isaac O’Connor, 21. Tomasi Palu, 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23. Tomasi Alosio

Wellington Pride: 1. Muteremoana Aiatu, 2. Alice Soper, 3. Noeleen Nonu, 4. Sanita Levave, 5. Joanah Ngan-Woo, 6. Carol Sio, 7. Aimee Sutorius, 8. Jackie Patea, 9. Raukawa Tuahuru, 10. Lizzie Goulden, 11. Ayesha Leti-l’iga, 12. Sauimoana Solia, 13. Georgia Daals, 14. Timena Tuma’ai, 15. Vaine Marsters. Reserves: 16. Alicia Print, 17. Sunema Tupuola, 18. Kirstin Stewart, 19. Tatiana Tafatu, 20. Acacia Claridge, 21. Fa'asua Makisi, 22. Helena Lawrence

Wellington Development: 1. Finbarr Kerr-Newell, 2. Hunter Prescott, 3. Whetu Henry, 4. Agustine Escalona, 5. Joe Beech, 6. Valentine Meachen, 7. Sam Gard’ner, 8. Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 9. Sheridan Rangihuna, 10. Fa’atonu Fili, 11. Fereti Soloa, 12. Mike Lealava’a, 13. Matt Goosen, 14. Paddy Hughes, 15. Jordan Simpson-Hefft. Reserves: 16. Lotu Nuku, 17. Apanui Heemi, 18. Gerard Faitotoa, 19. Liam Hallam-Eames, 20. Nemani Waaka, 21. Luke Campbell, 22. Isaia Petelo, 23. Josh Robertson-Weepu

Wellington U18s: 1. Sefo Numia, 2. Sitiveni Paongo, 3. Ivan Fepuleai, 4. John Tuia, 5. Henry Mexted, 6. Hannon Brighouse, 7. Jimmy Hewit, 8. Folau Vea, 9. Kemara Hauiti-Para, 10. Sam Fox, 11. Brandon Mudzekenyedzi, 12. Willie Schutz, 13. Losi Filipo, 14. Reece Plumtree, 15. Saia Paese. Reserves: 16. Ben Aumua-Peseta, 17. Nu’u Haueia, 18. Junior Foaitua, 19. Jack Nelson-Murray, 20. Zac Donalson, 21. Jayden Treviranus, 22. Alex Ropeti

Matches on Saturday at a glance:

• Wellington U18s v Tasman U18s, Rongotai College, 11am
• Wellington Pride v Counties Manukau, Petone Recreation Ground, 12.30pm
• Wellington Development v Canterbury Colts, Westpac Stadium*, 3.10pm
• Wellington Lions v Manawatu, Westpac Stadium, 5.35pm

*Gates open at Westpac Stadium at 2.55pm.