Wellington Axemen ready for Premier rugby return

Above: New Wellington Axemen openside flanker Dean Brunsdon, who played 103 games for Norths, playing for his former club against Wellington in last August's Hardham Cup final.

Updated: April 13, 2002 is the last time Wellington played Petone in the Swindale Shield. The result was a poor one for the Axemen slumping to a 43-7 defeat.

In fact Wellington failed to win a single game in their last Swindale Shield campaign, conceding 545 points in 11 matches. They then bowed out of the Premier ranks altogether when they were beaten 25-0 by then Senior 1 club Hutt Old Boys Marist.

Twelve years later, after some serious soul-searching and rebuilding, Wellington is back in the big time and confident about their prospects of being a competitive side.

Former Axemen halfbacks, Richard Deck and Tracy Smith,along with Grant Cederwall, will coach the team in 2014 and Deck says the pre-season has been really positive.

"The guys have been working really hard. I can remember standing here with the under-21's a few years ago and they were all skinny kids, now they look like rugby players."

Deck says, "We have something to really look forward to this year. Playing the likes of Poneke and MSP, who have been here for years, is a real challenge and something we have to be prepared for."

Wellington has played three pre-season fixtures, auditioning about 40 players, and enjoyed positive outings against Tawa, Massey University and Avalon. Deck stresses however these were only trial matches and it's hard to gauge exactly where Wellington stands. Deck does concede however that a lack of size could be an issue.

"Ories, Tawa and Hutt Old Boys' were very big sides last year. While we want to be physical and structured we are going to have to use the ball effectively and play at pace to win some games because a good big man will always beat a good small man."?

There is no shortage of pace in the Wellington team though. Tony Smith (Ex Ories) and David West are accomplished sprinters.

West, originally from Brisbane, holds the record for the fasted 40 and 60 metre sprints at the IRANZ Academy. IRANZ opened 15 years ago and has had 67 Super Rugby players pass through its doors. West, who covers wing and fullback, is capable of covering 100 metres in 10.3 seconds!

The midfield paring most likely charged with realising these speed merchants are Jaco de Waal and Paddy Hughes. De Waal is a solid second-five out of a farming family in South Africa while Hughes is a centre highly rated by Deck.

"Paddy spent the off season playing for Biarritz in France. He has come back in great shape and is now able to pass in motion with accuracy, depth and speed in both directions. He is a smart footballer; I think he could press for an ITM Cup contract"

Ahtun Masun, a Jubilee Cup winner with Ories, is another midfield option.?

Wellington's first-five-eighth's will be the experienced Hilton Mexted and former Ories play-maker Jamie Hargreaves. Mexted, the son of former All Black Murray, was the leading point's scorer in the Hardham Cup last year and is the most likely starter. Hargreaves is a dependable backup.

On the subject of Murray Mexted, his relationship with new halfback Nick Butterworth goes back some way. Nick's father Simon played with Murray at Tawa in the seventies. Nick after playing senior firsts at Tawa then spent some time in Wales before being lured back to New Zealand for a crack at the Swindale Shield.?

The Wellington forward pack will be young, aggressive and mobile.

Adam Stewart and Tevita Falekakala are props, both under 25, who relish ball carrying and improved at scrum time last year.?

The side will be led by hooker Tala Kitekei'aho who has been at the club since 2008. Deck speaks highly of Tala

"Tala is a great leader. He is a quiet and intelligent man, who leads by example."

Tala's brother Terry is a blindside flanker and it's in the loose where Wellington will perhaps present the most problems for their opposition.

The outstanding Vaea Fifita returns for another season. Fifita, able to cover lock, blindside or eight, scored over twenty tries last year and played a game for the Wellington Lions. Terry Soli, another former Ories representative, is an industrious open side who is strong over the ball and Wellington's star recruit is Dean Brunsdon.

Brunsdon, an openside and eight, played 103 games for North's and won two Jubilee Cups, Deck is delighted to have Brunsdon on board.

"Last year our average age was under 20 years old. Guys like Dean and Simon Shearer (Lock) will add some necessary experience. You can't compete in the Jubilee Cup with kids."

?Wellington v Petone Swindale Shield round one, Hataitai Park Saturday kick-off 3.00 pm.

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