Wainui retains Bill Jones Cup

those who can represent secondan emphasis on those who can

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By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata defeated the Wellington Axemen 31-16 in the second round of Wellington Rugby’s Swindale Shield competition on 6 April.

In doing so they retained the Bill Jones Cup – named after an early Wainuiomata Rugby Football Club stalwart – for the fifth consecutive year. Playing under lights at Hataitai Park, Wainuiomata started slowly, allowing Wellington to score the first 10 points early in the match.

Wainuiomata hit back, however, thanks to winger Niko Patelesio, who made a huge break and passed to Tyler Tane who ran in to score in the corner.

Most of the first half saw a lot of stop-start action, with both teams making numerous errors and giving away penalties.

Just before half time, however, Wainuiomata finally created a great opportunity, leading to captain Greg Lealofi scoring a try.

This saw the Axemen move into the half time break with a narrow 13-12 lead.

Wainuiomata dominated the second half of the match, ending up with a comfortable victory after they scored 19 points while the Axemen scored just three.

They began spell two by scoring two quick tries.

Markus McCarthy was the first to dot down, followed by Greg Lealofi, who scored his second try giving him a brace for the match.

The two tries gave the men in green and black a 24-13 lead. Wainuiomata continued to dominate the second half, although errors kept them from adding to their total until late in the game.

Campbell Cowie finally breached the Wellington defence and scored the final try of the encounter.

As well as scoring a try, Tyler Tane kicked two conversions, and Jacob Renor also got on the scoreboard when he kicked one conversion.

The victory saw Wainuiomata start its season with two wins. In their first match on 1 April they beat Hutt Old Boys Marist 16-15. Their third round match will be a home game against Oriental Rongotai on 15 April, with a 2:45pm kick off.

The combined Hutt Old Boys –Wainuiomata women’s team did not have such a good day in the women’s premier competition on 8 April, however.

Avalon took out a comfortable 48-12 win over the combined team.