Wellington Pride, U18s and U20s wind up seasons tomorrow

Above: The Wellington U20s packing down against Manawatu last weekend. They are away in Auckland tomorrow for their final game of the season

The Wellington Pride, U18s and U20s wind up their 2013 representative seasons tomorrow with away matches in Christchurch, Blenheim and Auckland respectively.

The Wellington Pride and Wellington U18s are playing in ITM Cup semi-final curtain-raisers. The Pride meet Canterbury in the seventh and final round of the Women’s NPC at Rugby Park in Christchurch ahead of the Premiership playoff between Canterbury and Auckland, while the U18s meet the Tasman U18s at Landsdowne Park in Blenheim in the curtain-raiser to the Tasman versus Southland Championship semi-final.

The Wellington U20s will look to end their busy season on a high against the Auckland U20s at Mt Wellington War Memorial in Auckland.

With their defeat to Auckland last week, the Pride dropped out of final contention in the Women’s NPC, but they can still play a key spoiling role against the top-of-the-table Canterbury who will want to maintain their winning momentum going into next week’s final against either Auckland or Otago.

If the Pride earn their third win of the season and other results go their way they can finish as high as fourth in the eight team competition.

Coach Fili Liua’ana said the Pride are looking to finish their final match for 2013 on a positive note after losing to Auckland last week.

“Last week the focus wasn’t there and we didn’t play to our game plan, or our strengths. It’s a matter of getting back on track and doing those things well.”

Liua’ana said the team still had a lot to play for, including the JJ Stewart Trophy which is held by Canterbury.

“That’s another incentive for us going down there. It would be great to win that and have it sitting in the cupboard for summer.”

The JJ Stewart Trophy is the Ranfurly Shield of women’s rugby, and changed hands for the first time ever when Otago shocked Auckland. Canterbury then beat Otago and took up the road to Christchurch.

Playing the curtain raiser was also a great opportunity, he said, especially for the younger players in his squad.

“What a great opportunity for girls’ rugby in general. I know our players are looking forward to being part of that and for some of our younger ones, it’s a great occasion.”

The Wellington U18s and the Wellington U20s are both out to put the disappointment of last weekend’s Hurricanes region final defeats behind them. The U18s lost to Hawke’s Bay U18 11-24 and the U20s met a 15-17 to Manawatu.

The Lion Cubs meet the Tasman U18s who are coming together for this one-off game against Wellington after recently competing in the South Island-wide U18 tournament as two separate teams, Nelson Bays and Marlborough who finished fifth and sixth respectively in the 12-team competition.

The majority of the Tasman U18s have been selected from the Marlborough Boys’ High School and Nelson College First XVs who met in the South Island Press Cup final in Blenheim in August.

The Junior Lions will face a tough test against the Auckland U20s, in a contest that promises to be explosive and fast-paced from the get-go, such is the Auckland way. Previous matches in recent seasons between these age-grade sides have been nothing short of frenetic with several high scoring results.

The Auckland U20s have so far won seven from eight of their matches, their only loss being a 13-19 defeat to Canterbury U21 last week in Christchurch. Along the way they have beaten Northland U20 (twice), Hawke’s Bay U20 (33-22), Waikato U20 (34-22), BoP U20 (46-10),? Counties Manukau U20 (8-7) and North Harbour U20 (25-24).

Teamlists (subject to change):

Wellington Pride:

1. Muteremoana Aiatu (captain); 2. Sharleen Fagalilo; 3. Patsy Schwalger; 4. Jackie Patea; 5. Joanah Ngan-Woo; 6. Carol Sio; 7. Kirsten Stewart; 8. Aimee Sutorius; 9. Acacia Claridge; 10. Elizabeth Goulden; 11. Brenda Collins; 12. Vaine Marsters; 13. Fa’asua Makisi; 14. Lekah Leti; 15. Kauna Lopa RESERVES: 16. Tina Kelemete; 17. Noeleen Nonu; 18. Maryanne Leota; 19. Miriam Ready; 20. Mena Tuma’ai; 21. Pauline Pilia’e; 22.? Katarina Simpkins

Wellington U20s (24 players):

1. Donald Brighouse; 2. James O’Reilly; 3. Etimani Sului; 4. Zac Power; 5. Taamilo Va’a; 6. Gabriel Papuni; 7. James Prescott; 8. Cameron Ross; 9. Luke Campbell; 10. Ken Kapeli; 11. Sosi Tuimavavave; 12. Jackson Garden-Bachop; 13. Aukuso Tuitavia; 14. Andrew Ellis; 15. Andrew Wells. RESERVES: 16. Zeke Sopoaga; 17. Adam Stewart; 18. Nick Harrison; 19. Jordie Maxey; 20. Tyler Tane; 21. Ivan Vaisagote; 22. Luese Moemai; 23. Eduan Struwig; 24. Faamanatua Mativa

Wellington U18s:

1. Andrew Mamea; 2. Tony Coburn; 3. Anthony Mamea; 4. Lui Okeamoa Luammanu; 5. Vern Sosefo; 6. Peter Pili; 7. Sam Dawson; 8. Henry Stowers (captain); 9. Luke Coulston; 10. George Boyhan; 11. Aleks Noble-Campbell; 12. Francis Tanuvasa; 13. Malo Tuitama; 14. Jarrod Adams; 15. Fereti Soloa. RESERVES: 16. Lewis Ngatai; 17. Joel Hintz; 18. Sam Wasley; 19. Josh Robertson-Weepu; 20. Varani Komaisavai 21. Chase Tiatia; 22. TJ Va’a

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