Wainui win to start season

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata kicked off the 2023 rugby season with a victory, albeit a narrow one, on 1 April.

Playing in the premier Swindale Shield competition, Wainuiomata defeated Hutt Old Boys Marist 16-15 in a hard-fought encounter, after the scores were tied 5-5 at half time.

“You couldn’t ask for a better start to the season,” Wainuiomata’s coach Daniel Smith says.

Thanks to its dominant forward pack, the Hutt team scored early in the match, giving it a 5-0 lead.

Wainuiomata levelled the scores however when they created a try off a scrum and Mikade Fono dotted down.

The second half began with an arm wrestle between the two teams before Wainuiomata went ahead 8-5 when Tyler Tane kicked a penalty.

Playing into the wind, Wainuiomata was beginning to create opportunities and that saw Hutt Old Boys concede two red cards.

Wainuiomata capitalised on the advantage, with Kitiona Leitufia scoring a try to give them a 13-5 lead. Hutt Old Boys came right back into the match, however, scoring two tries to go up 15-13 with 13 minutes to play.

Wainuiomata snatched back the lead with about 90 seconds left of the clock when Jacob Renor kicked a penalty.

They gave away a penalty from the kick off, however, giving Hutt an opportunity to win the match. Their penalty kick missed, however, allowing Wainuiomata to take out the one-point victory. Playing his debut match for Wainuiomata Mikade Fono was outstanding at first five eight, and was named player of the day. “Mikade has a great future in the game,” Daniel predicts.

Community awards nominations open

By Frank Neill

Nominations are now open for the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards.

The awards recognise the work carried out by volunteer groups in the wider Wellington region.

The nominations for this year’s awards opened on 1 April and close on 31 May. People can submit nominations online at https:// www.wellingtonairport.co.nz/ community/wellington-airportcommunity-awards/communityawards/form/.

Nominations can be submitted under one of the following categories: during the past 1-2 years). manage to emulate that performance on 1 April however, losing a fast paced and tightly contested match against Te Aroha Eels 28-22.

Once the nominations are in, each of the five councils in the greater Wellington region select five category runners-up, five category winners, one rising star winner and one supreme winner.

John Tahana Wharepapa-Rawiri was the standout Lions player for his energy and tenacity on attack and defence.

His efforts were followed closely by co-captain and loose forward Ulai Oti-Lahood whose workload in the middle was impressive.

Others who played well were wingers Anaru Waihape and youngster Aethan Tuisila, who both scored long range tries.

Herman Hall, Edward Albright also dotted down and Regan Hauwaho kicked three conversions.