Paremata Plimmerton on the board

Paremata Plimmerton celebrated their Old Timers’ Day with a morale-boosting win over Johnsonville in Swindale Shield premier rugby on Saturday.

The home side led 5-3 at halftime, after a tight tussle at Ngatitoa Domain.

Johnsonville came back to level at 8-8 in the second half, but a huge effort from Paremata Plimmerton’s forwards got them home 22-8, their first victory at this level since 1987. First-five Blake Neve kicked 17 points.

In other matches, Northern Utd got their season back on track with an entertaining 35-27 win over a spirited Avalon side at Porirua Park. Norths winger Te Kahui Bishop scored a brace as he continued his fine form.

Tawa, meanwhile, almost gave Old Boys-University their first loss in 19 games, but came up just short, OBU winning 34-33 in a thriller at Nairnville Park.

In a see-saw match, Tawa were down 14-0, and up 19-14, before the defending Jubilee Cup champions prevailed. Norths are sixth and Tawa seventh in a congested table, while Paremata Plimmerton sit second-bottom, above winless Johnsonville.

In Kapi Mana premier 1 netball, there were big wins for KBJ 1 over Aotea College (79-23), Norths 1 over Te Tai Timu 2 (87-23) and Te Tai Timu 1 over Rockz 1 (86-23).

Norths 1 and Te Tai Timu are unbeaten after two rounds and meet on May 28.

In the first round of Chatham Cup football on Saturday, Western Suburbs outclassed Eastbourne AFC at Endeavour Park, winning 14-1.

Central League action resumes on Saturday, with fourth-placed Wests taking on last-placed Petone at Petone Memorial at 3pm.