The newly formed Melville-Hautapu combined women’s squad played at Island Reserve, Ōtorohanga. Photo: Melville Rugby
Southland Stags stalwart Joe Walsh was welcomed to Te Awamutu Sports with a 26-15 debut win against Hamilton Old Boys on Good Friday.
The former Blues prop has made the move to Sports after Melville pulled the pin on their premier side for the season.
Tairoa Crean, Jonan Heke-Heays, Bronson van der Heyden and Rameriz Viane crossed the chalk at Albert Park. Leo Scott converted three of the tries.
Ōhaupō co-captain Bronson Willson-Beech makes a break against Frankton. Photo: Jesse Wood
Te Awamutu’s Daniel Tickelpenny led from the front in the green machine 10 jersey.
Fellow premier club Hautapu lost 33-26 to Hamilton Marist at Cambridge Memorial Park.
Fullback Dallas Rata-Makene grabbed two tries for Hautapu, Rui Farrant scored one and Nathan Stephens was the other scorer.
New recruit Patrick Hedley kicked three conversions.
Former Te Awamutu midfielder Dre Liebenberg scored one of Marist’s five tries.
The Te Awamutu Sports and Hautapu premier development sides were at different ends of the scale.
Old Boys B dealt to Te Awamutu 67-0, while Hautapu B beat their Marist counterparts 28-17.
Fullback Dillon Martin converted all four of the Cambridge team’s tries.
Melville-Hautapu combined women, “Mel-Tap”, also got their premiership season underway
Mel-Tap claimed a 22-15 win against Ōtorohanga at Island Reserve.
The visitors scored four tries to three.
This weekend Mel-Tap face Putāruru.
Pirongia vice-captain Callum Hall scores against Suburbs. Photo: Julie Gibson
In division 1A rugby, Ōhaupō and Pirongia both claimed wins at home – 29-27 against Frankton and 34-14 versus Suburbs respectively.
Ōhaupō winger Caleb Kennedy helped himself to a double, as did Pirongia outside back Daniel Belk.
The Ōhaupō division 1B team lost 26-19 to Frankton B while Pirongia B beat 24-22 under the mountain.
Dane Murphy (Ōhaupō) and Pirongia B fullback Mitch Zeuren also registered two tries each.
Tokoroa-based Southern United will host the Ōhaupō games this weekend, while Pirongia venture to Hamilton’s Swarbrick Park to face Frankton.
Both Leamington sides had the bye week and host Putāruru next.
Hautapu, Pirongia, Leamington and Te Awamutu Sports will all feature when the colts competition gets underway this Saturday.
