Old Boys on track for Hautapu battle
Waikato premier club rugby leaders Hamilton Old Boys and Hautapu go head-to-head to determine the winner of the competition’s preliminary round on Saturday.
There is just one game left in round one of the premier division, before at least one club is relegated from the premier competition.
That club will join the championship competition, with the top clubs from division one.
The remaining clubs in the premier division restart on zero points for round two.
Hamilton Old Boys, Hautapu and Otorohanga locked in big wins over their respective opponents on Saturday, in week eight of club rugby.
Hamilton Old Boys travelled south to take on Te Awamutu Sports at Albert Park and came away with a 64-15 win.
There were 10 tries by the visitors, among them was halfback Jackson Holmes who dotted down three times, while Quin Tupaea and Sam Cooper scored two tries each.
Over in the other Waipa town, Hautapu hosted Morrinsville Rugby and Sports at Cambridge Memorial Park.
The hosts dished out a 52-16 lesson to Morrinsville.
Two Hautapu players scored a couple of tries each, including hooker Sekope Moli and fullback Dylan Taikato-Simpson.
Further south again and Otorohanga was at home to score seven tries to University’s two, to win their encounter, 45-12.
Players in the front row, lose forwards and backs were among the try scorers for Otorohanga, with captain Te Amo Wilbore kicking the extras.
University’s tries came from hooker Tomoki Yamaguchi and winger Cody Chilcott, who also kicked a conversion goal.
Hautapu sits at the top of the table, with six wins from seven games, on 31 points.
Hamilton Old Boys is second, with five wins from seven games, on 26 points.
Otorohanga is third, with four wins from their seven games so far this season, on 21 points.
In other results from the premier division, Hamilton Marist was too strong for Fraser Tech, 24-12 and Melville had the bye.
Hautapu heads to Fred Jones Park on Saturday to play the feature match of the round against Hamilton Old Boys.
The winner will claim the Ron Crawford Memorial Trophy, for the team that is the preliminary round winner.
Otorohanga will host Melville Rugby and Sports, Morrinsville will host Hamilton Marist and University will host Fraser Tech.
Te Awamutu has the bye this weekend. All games kick off at 2.45pm.
In the Gallagher’s Women’s Premier Club Rugby competition, Melville remain the only unbeaten team after dispatching Hamilton Old Boys 25-5 on Saturday.
Three players scored Melville’s five tries, including two each to winger Lonita Lavimai and fullback Jazmin Hotham, while lock Karli Faneva scored the other.
University travelled to south and scored 14 tries to claim the biggest win of the round, keeping opponents Putaruru scoreless, 82-0.
Southern United was the other winner of the round, defeating Otorohanga 29-7. Taupiri had the bye.