Wins for U18s and U20s, Pride pipped by a point

Above: Midfielder Nick Grigg sailing to the first of his two tries in the wet at Ngatitoa Domain on Saturday for the Wellington Development XV against Wellington Maori.?

UPDATED SUNDAY: The Wellington U18s and the Wellington U20s both opened their Hurricanes region competitions with away wins on Saturday, while the Wellington Pride missed out to Waikato in their rescheduled Women's NPC clash on Sunday.

The Wellington Pride lost 22-23 to Waikato after conceding a very late penalty and a yellow card that cost them the game. ?

The Wellington U18s opened their title defence by? defeating the Hawke’s Bay U18s 31-20 in Napier and the Wellington U20s overcame the Manawatu U20s 36-19 in Palmerston North.

The Wellington U18s scored five tries in their win over Hawke’s Bay. Recently selected New Zealand Barbarians player and Naenae College right wing Fereti Soloa, scored a brace, while Scots College halfback TJ Va’a, St Pat’s Town replacement outside back Aleks Noble-Campbell and Wainuiomata club Henry Stowers also scored tries. Wellington led 19-7 at halftime.

First five-eighth Jackson Garden-Bachop scored two tries and second five-eighth Tyler Tane kicked 16 points for the U20s in their win over Manawatu. Tane kicked three first half penalties to put Wellington ahead 14-3 at halftime and they stayed ahead throughout the second half.

At Cooks Gardens in Wanganui, the Wellington U18 Centurions side defeated the home side 65-0 in their opening match of the Hurricanes region U18 B competition.

Also in Wanganui, the Wellington U16 Development side beat the Wanganui U16s 66-10 in their Hurricanes U16 B division competition opener.?

The Women’s NPC match between the Wellington Pride has been deferred to Sunday, owing to the Wellington Pride’s flight to Hamilton amongst the lightning storms last night being cancelled. The Pride flew to Auckland at 5.00 pm today and then bussed to Hamilton.

The Wellington Development side flew to a big win over the Wellington Maori side in wet and gusty conditions at Ngatitoa Domain, outscoring the opposition 11 tries to two and winning 71-15.

After conceding the first points through a penalty to Maori fullback Randall Bishop, the Development side scored four tries into the wind before halftime to lead 26-10 at the turnaround.

Second five-eighth Nick Grigg, halfback Simon Tevita, left wing James Kusel and No. 8 Presley Tufaga crossed in the first half and first five-eighth Hamish Buick added three of the conversions.

A player down in midfield owing to a high tackle and a yellow card, the Maori then conceded a soft try straight after halftime when Grigg scooped up a dropped ball and galloped away to score his brace under the posts.

Further tries to tighthead prop Whetu Henry, who has played for the Maori in recent weeks, left wing James Kusel, after a break by Tevita, and a second to Tufaga advanced the score to 52-10 with about 20 minutes still to play.

Left wing Brandyn Laursen scored in the corner to push the lead out to 57-10, before the Maori were rewarded for their best period of the match with their second try after a strong build-up.

But two late tries, to replacement forward Matt Mulaney and to right wing Hayden Whelan, gave the Development team a comfortable win.

The Wellington Development XV faces the Canterbury Development squad in their next match in a week’s time, while the Maori have completed their representative programme for the year.

The Wellington Maori Colts missed out to Wairarapa Bush B 7-44 in the playoff for third and fourth in the RDO Cup on Finals Day in Levin. Wanganui B beat Horowhenua-Kapiti B in the final.

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Scores

Wellington U18 31 (Fereti Soloa 2, TJ Va’a, Henry Stowers, Aleks Noble-Campbell tries; Josh Robertson-Weepu 3 con) beat Hawke’s Bay U18 20. HT: 19-7

Wellington U18 Centurions beat Wanganui U18 65-0

Wellington U16 Development? beat Wanganui U16 66-10

Wellington U20s (Jackson Garden-Bachop 2, Sosi Tuimavavae, Andrew Ellis tries; Tyler Tane 4 pen, 2 con) beat Manawatu U20s 36-19. HT: 13-3

Wellington Development XV 71 (Nick Grigg 2, James Kusel 2, Presley Tufaga 2, Simon Tevita, Brandyn Laursen, Hayden Whelan, Whetu Henry, Matt Mulaney tries; Hamish Buick 8 con) beat Wellington Maori 15 (John Monu, Kenny Anderson tries; Randall Bishop pen, con). HT: 26-10.

At Levin. RDO Cup playoff for third and fourth: Wellington Maori Colts 7 lost to Wairarapa Bush B 44

Women’s NPC in Te Awamutu (Sunday): Wellington Pride 22 (Brenda Collins, Aimee Sutorious, Katarina Simpkins tries; Simpkins 2 con, pen) lost to? Waikato 23

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