Title for local Rugby players

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata has a 2023 Rugby title to its credit.

The combined Wainuiomata/Hutt

Old Boys Marist team lifted the Izzy Ford Cup – contested by the women’s division 2 teams in the Wellington Rugby competition – when they defeated Paremata Plimmerton 22-17 on 17 June.

The combined team’s victory came despite an early blow when first five eight Mary-Ann Collins, who is also one of the team’s coaches and who has played more than 100 matches for Wainuiomata, had to leave the field after injuring her archilles tendon. In what provide a tightly contested final, the combined team led 12-5 at half time, only to see their rivals come back to level the scores at 17-17 with 10 minutes to play. That put the title on a knife edge.

Wainuiomata/Hutt Old Boys

Marist lock Kiri Gröenbeck scored the winning try, her second of the match to take the combined team to its victory.

Jessica Patea and Ruby Clark

Walking group

also scored tries for Wainuiomata/ Hutt Old Boys Marist, meaning all three of the try scorers were Wainuiomata players.

Agnes Faraimo kicked one conversion.

“The win was the icing on the cake,” one of the team’s coaches, Alice Soper, says.

“Our main aim was to make sure we had space for the younger Wainuiomata players to play the game.

“More than 10 players played for the first time this year.”

Jean Oti is the third coach of the combined team.

Wainuiomata did not have such

A new Wainui Walking Group has been set up by Nathan Wheoki.

The aim of the group is to get people in the community out and about, enjoying some fresh air together, meeting new people and creating new friendships. It is for people of all fitness levels.

To check out when the next walk will be visit the Wainui Walking Group page on Facebook.

Steady As You Go

The Wainuiomata Steady As You Go class has changed its location.

It is now held at the Wainuiomata Library and takes places at 11am every Tuesday.

There is also an online Steady As You Go class, held on Zoom. People need to register for this class and can do so at https://www.acwellington.org.nz/ saygoexercise/.

Emphatic win for Ulalei Aute

Ulalei’s premier 1 team Aute enjoyed their second win of the season beating Naenae Collegians United 2. The defensive duo of Alofa Aberdein-Tapu `i and Lusia Milovale were influential in turning over crucial ball to give Aute a slight lead at the end of the first quarter 13-11.

ter created turnover ball for Aute and a massive momentum swing, as Aute put the foot down to finally play their own game and dominate the final quarter winning it 20-10.

Sharp shooter Sina Tamaalii contributed to the emphatic 55-43 victory.

a good day in the men’s division 1, played for the Swindale Shield. Marist St Pats won a closely contested encounter 30-24.

Playing on their home ground, Wainuiomata won the first half, to lead 24-22 at the break.

The visitors came back, however, scoring two penalties – the only scoring of the final 40 minutes. Wainuiomata’s next match will see them face the high flying Johnsonville Hawks at home on 24 June.

Wainuiomata’s Harper Lock Shield team also lost on 17 June. Hutt Old Boys Marist won the match 27-12.

Aute were pleased to welcome back softball International Lace Tangianau, who returned from her United States university scholarship, to solidify the defensive unit making life difficult for NCU2 attackers to feed their shooters.

Aute were able to hold their lead 25-22 at half time.

In the third quarter Naenae applied pressure on the Aute attack, however Aute were able to sustain the pressure to hold onto their lead 35-33, at the end of the third quarter. It was still any team’s game.

The hard one-to-one defensive effort early in the final quar-

“It was a full team effort with some of our younger players stepping up to own their positions,” says manager Lahraine Sagaga.

“We were really pleased with how the new combinations were coming together, after losing two key players early in the season to injury.”

The win keeps Aute fourth on the table on nine points with two games left in the first round. Aute’s next match sees them face St Oran’s at 12:30pm on 24 June.

Ulalei Moso’oi remain in the top spot on the third division table after they defeated the Upper Hutt Tigers 38-31 on 17 June.