Weekly Newsletter

Published: Wed, 07/08/26

Updated: Wed, 07/08/26

Kia ora ,

The ABs got off to a winning start in the Rennie era with a pulsating 34 - 32 win against the Frogs. You wouldn’t say it was a vintage AB display, especially when you saw what the Boks did to the Poms in the first five minutes at Ellis Park, but a win is a win.

I felt a bit sorry for the Aussies against Ireland, who looked vastly improved on recent performances and it took Ireland 80 minutes to get over them.

It wasn’t the best of results for the first games of the championship round for the Premiers and Premier 2s.

The Premiers played at the NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport (home of the Canes), due to the Poua playing at Maidstone. We just had one of those off days and lost comprehensively to Upper Hutt 47 - 28.

The match was Nigel Hunt's 100th game for the Premiers that stretches back to 2004. A remarkable achievement of a true legend of the game for Tawa.

The game was actually in the balance at half time, with Upper Hutt holding a 19 - 10 lead and Tawa turning with the wind at its back in the second half. Whatever was in the oranges for Upper Hutt, they came out with real purpose and scored two tries in the first ten minutes to stretch the lead to 33 - 10. Tawa came back with two of its own converted tries and with 20 minutes to go it was 33 - 24. But Upper Hutt found another gear and came home strongly to win well.

This sets up an elimination quarter-final against the Ories at the home of rugby Lyndhurst Park after the Ories beat Pare-Plim on Saturday 28 - 18 away. The winner of this game plays HOBM at the Hutt Rec in a semi-final after HOBM upset Petone 23 - 10.

In other games, the Premier 2s were upset by the Ories 36 - 39, which means they move down to the HD Morgan Memorial Trophy and a quarter-final against OBU at home.

The Colts lost to HOBM 20 - 50 and will need to improve their results in the second round to make the big dance.

The Ducks beat Johnsonville 49 - 19, which sets them up for a final against Pōneke for the Paul Potiki Memorial Shield.

The Reserves couldn't find enough players for their game against Petone!

On a sombre note, there is NO club football this week due to the referee association deciding that, after 19 referee abuse cases over the season to date, that enough is enough and they have withdrawn their services for the weekend.

The 19 cases are a combination of player, coach, and spectator abuse towards match officials covering approximately 2,300 matches. Although the decision is disappointing, no volunteer should have to put up with abuse of any kind, so hopefully this pause will let everyone take stock and we will see a positive end to the season.

As a result, the Colts and Reserve grade teams all receive three points for the 'no result’ match, the Ducks final has been pushed out a week, and the WRFU are working through the options on the Premier and Premier 2 competitions which are scheduled to conclude on 25th July.

Steve Rogers

President

JUNIOR SPOTLIGHT

Thank you,

Tawa Rugby Football Club

23a Lyndhurst Road
Tawa Wellington 5028
NZ

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