Marist continue strong start
There was plenty of Waikato club rugby action last weekend with some highscoring matches, while it is becoming crunch time for some sides looking to maintain top-five status for secondround action.
Waikato Draught men’s premiership
The top four still looks much the same as last weekend with Hamilton Marist, Hautapu and Ō torohanga going on to record their third straight victories.
It was the mid-table sides that were jostling for places, a tight contest for those top five remaining places.
It feels early in the year to be talking about top five bottom five, but with the form of Hamilton Marist, Ō torohanga and Hautapu — they are looking hard to beat and likely to proceed into the top half of the draw for the second round.
The George Simpkin Power Farming Shield changed hands for the second consecutive week.
Following Te Awamutu Sports’ victory over United Matamata Sports last weekend, they lost their first defence at Albert Park to Ō torohanga.
Ō torohanga led throughout, winning 22-13 and taking the shield back to the Island Reserve.
They will next defend that in week six when United Matamata Sports make the trip
south.
Hamilton Old Boys got their season back on track with a good victory over a Morrinsville Sports side who were home for the first time in 2024.
In front of a packed-out Campbell Park, with all Morrinsville Sports teams at home, like Hamilton Old Boys, they were chasing their first win of the year but came up short 24-8.
The University of Waikato Rugby Club made the trip to Cambridge following their one point victory over Hamilton Old Boys the previous weekend.
A double to hooker Nic Jeffcoat and tries for Tahere Reha, Quentin Hill and Rui Farrant outscored University’s three tries. This saw the home side scrape in with a 31-27 win.
Hamilton Marist carried on their dominant form with a comfortable home win 66-5 over UMS while Fraser Tech got their first win — 31-26 – over Melville in what was Nathan
Smith’s 50th Premier game for Fraser Tech.
Marist’s Newton Tudreu scored four tries, while Shauncy Waho dotted down for three of his own in the rout over UMS.
Division one
Three sides remain unbeaten in division one and have started the season well.
Putā ruru and Hinuera make it three from three, while Suburbs returned from bye week and picked up where they left off following week one with a strong 36-5 win on the road against Pirongia.
Putāruru look to be strong again in 2024. In 2023 they went under the radar with a number of very tight wins but this year have been much more convincing.
Saturday’s match against Kereone was much the same as weeks one and two. Back home on Nola Block they scored unanswered 52 points.
Leamington are back to winning ways after a road trip to Hamilton ended in a 32-12 victory over Te Rapa.
Adam Fairley played his 150th senior A game for Te Rapa.
Joining the club straight out of high school, Fairley has played all of his senior rugby at Te Rapa.
Ō haupō had a close loss at home 24-20 to Taupiri, who picked up their first win in their second game of the season.
In the final game of the weekend — Hinuera were at home for their first time and maintained their perfect start with 25-13 win over Southern United.
It was a perfect finish for front-rower Pete Smit’s 100th game for Hinuera.
Waitomo women
After a rocky start, the Hamilton Old Boys’ Huskiez are back on track and climbing their way back up the ladder.
At home for the first time since their week one defeat, the Huskiez scored a 20-5 win over Kihikihi at Willougby Park.
In the other Premiership match Melville travelled across the city to take on the previously unbeaten University women.
Arguably the form team of the competition, Melville, picked up a hard fought 30-6 win.
There were only two matches in the Waitomo Group Women’s Championship with Hamilton Marist and United Matamata Sports both defaulting.
Marist have since withdrawn and a new draw is in the pipeline.
The completed matches saw Waitete travel north for a big day at the Pirongia Domain where they upset the locals 30-17, scoring six tries to three.
Newbies Hautapu remain unbeaten, winning away at Hauraki North 17-5.
Tries to Hayley-Marie Church, Inge Wilbers and Madison Hunt were enough for the Cambridge women to seal the win.and make for a pleasant road trip home.
Colts
Thames Valley United Colts are still top of the charts and closely followed by Hamilton Marist, Hautapu and Hamilton Old Boys who also all recorded victories on the weekend.
Valley made it three from three beating University 20-12 at home, while Hamilton Marist defeated UMS 21-0 at Marist Park to keep their perfect start to the year.
Hamilton Old Boys and Hautapu maintain their top four positions with victories over Suburbs, 27-10, and Fraser Tech, 40-5, respectively.
Morrinsville Sports hosted Hinuera at home going down 29-17 and Leamington won a tight clash with Pirongia 17-12.
Under 85kg
Defending champions Morrinsville Sports hosted Fraser Tech at Campbell Park winning 27-8.
Hamilton Marist travelled to Cambridge where they defeated Leamington 24-0 and
Melville made the trip to Kio Kio winning 31-18 for their first win of the season.