Following a King's BIrthday long weekend celebration all grades are back tomorrow afternoon. The Premier clubs have split into the Waikato Draught Breweries Shield Premiership and Lone Star Championship while all the other competitions are on the verge of play-offs or a second-round split.

Division One has two weeks to play before they split into a Top Six who will play for the Mooloo Shield and the Bottom Six will play for the Division One Championship. The Waitomo Group Women’s Premiership is a fortnight away from play-offs while the Women’s Championship are in their final regular season match of the year.

Waikato Draught Men’s Premiership

Following a dominant first round – Hamilton Marist is back on level pegging and will host University at Marist Park. Potentially the surprise package of the first round, University went through with six wins and three losses, one of those losses in week one to Hamilton Marist, however with four wins on the bounce to round out the first round University will make the trip down to Marist Park full of confidence. Hamilton Marist will still be without star first five Wharenui Hawera who continues to recover from a hand injury, but welcome back loose head prop Mason Tupaea following a short stint with the Blues in Super Rugby.

The other match up is in Cambridge where Hautapu host Otorohanga. Just under a month ago these two sides faced off at Island Reserve and could not be split after 80minutes drawing 15 all. Hautapu had to come back late in that match and will hoping to be more comprehensive this weekend back at home in front of their home fans. Otorohanga will be keen to get back in the winner’s circle as their last victory came before that 15 all draw with two defeats on the road in Hamilton.

After sneaking into the top five with three wins in a row Hamilton Old Boys will sit out the weekend with the first week bye.

Lone Star Championship

In the Lone Star Championship, it is current holders United Matamata Sports kicking off the second round at home hosting Te Awamutu Sports at Albert Park. The hometown men will be keen to get their second round off to the best start and get a win on the board early. Both sides have battled throughout the competition to date and will be looking for a run of consistency to round out their 2024 season and take home some silverware.

The other match up comes to you from Campbell Park in Morrinsville where they host Melville. Melville surged up the ladder towards the back end of the first round but due to some results not going their way and a tough last round match saw the Melville men drop into the Lone Star Championship. Their form would suggest they are a good chance in this competition. The Morrinsville side are still looking for the first win of the year this weekend could be a good chance to get one up on a hurting travelling team.

Waitomo Group Women’s Premiership

With two weeks to play in the Premiership, the top of the table is becoming rather congested and probably too congested for the coaches liking. Melville still sit atop on 25 points, while the Huskies are one point behind on 24 and Otorohanga a further two back on 22 – Otorohanga however have an extra game on both Melville and the Huskies and sit out tomorrow with the bye.

Melville host University at Collins Road in which will be a good match up. Melville needing to win to stay atop of the table welcome a University side who is coming to some form in recent weeks welcoming back former Black Fern Chelsea Semple into their line up and coming off the back of a comprehensive 46-0 win over Kihikihi.

Meanwhile, Hamilton Old Boys Huskies make the trip south to do battle against Kihikihi in what will be a tough match for the home side. Winning 20-5 earlier in the year at home, the Huskies travel south knowing a win will push them further out from Otorohanga but depending on the result at Collins road, could also see them jump to the top of the table.  

Division One

With a fortnight to play in the Division One first round the top six sides are largely in position with a seven-point gap between sixth placed Ohaupo and seventh placed Taupiri. Top of the table Southern United make the trip across and square off against Ohaupo.

The top four match up of the round sees Leamington host Suburbs. Suburbs currently with only one loss against their name sit on 33 points make the trip to Leamington who are on 31 points with only two losses. A big match for both sides will likely see with side sit just behind Southern United in second spot if they get up in Ohaupo.

Fellow top four side Hinuera make the trip down to Pirongia, while Putaruru host Taupiri at Nola Block. Following their first win in 2024 in what was a massive day for newcomers Kereone, they will have the bye this weekend, while the team that suffered that defeat, Frankton will host Te Rapa at Swarbrick Park.

Waitomo Group Women’s Championship.

The Waitomo Women’s Championship is into their last week of the regular season and Putaruru have top spot all but locked up. Currently undefeated after six matches they host mid-table Hauraki North at Nola Block. Second placed Suburbs are also at home hosting fourth placed Hautapu. A win for Suburbs and a shock loss for Putaruru could see Suburbs jump to top of the table, however, an unlikely scenario. The final match up for the Championship is United Matamata Sports hosting Pirongia at Bedford. Both sides have battled in 2024 and this sits as a seventh v eighth match up so plenty for both sides to play for to end their regular season.

Colts

Following a week off thanks to Kings Birthday the Colts competition is back in action. Top sides Hautapu and Hamilton Marist are at home with Marist hosting Leamington at Marist Park and Hautapu hosting Hinuera in Cambridge.

2024 battlers Fraser Tech and United Matamata Sports are both looking for their first wins of the year and square off at Elliott Park Saturday afternoon where one team will hopefully experiences a victory for the year.

The other big match up sees Pirongia host Hamilton Old Boys in a third v fourth match up at Pirongia. The Pirongia men have been extremely unlucky their last two outings with losses within 5 points, while Hamilton Old Boys are coming off three wins on the bounce. Both sides chasing a win to stay in touch with Hautapu and Hamilton Marist at the top of the table.

In other matches, Thames Valley United host Suburbs while Morrinsville Sports host University at Campbell Park.

Under 85kgs

A big one v two match up awaits in the Under 85kg competition and will feature as our Live Streamed match on the Waikato Rugby Facebook page. Top of the table Morrinsville Sports are seven from seven to start 2024, while Fraser Tech are in a battle for second place with Melville and Hamilton Marist.

Fraser Tech pushed Morrinsville Sports 27-8 in their week two match up in Morrinsville and will be keen to reverse that result come Saturday afternoon back in Hamilton.

Meanwhile Hamilton Marist host Leamington and Melville host Kio Kio at Collins Road. Likely wins for the home sides will see that battle for second place continue for another week while a win for Fraser Tech is even more important for them to keep tabs on Hamilton Marist & Melville.

Article added: Friday 07 June 2024