Wellington Rugby League Newsletter-”Pass It On” 2014 Edition 24 Thursday 17th July 2014 In this issue: Important dates, Women’s Grand Final, Premier ladder, NZRL Camp Rotorua, Get your Four Nations tickets-on sale now, Upper Hutt v Petone, Kingfishers v Eels, Dirtyman player of the week, Labour weekend battle..... Upper Hutt v Petone Panthers game review Image by T’vita Mafi: Upper Hutt Tigers coach, Tyrone Paikea and his two sons. The Upper Hutt Tigers also gained an addition to its trophy cabinet this season by beating the Petone Panthers 48-20 at Upper Hutt and in doing so claimed the Hughie Paul Memorial Shield. In what was the battle of the wooden spoon between the two bottom placed sides, Upper Hutt began the game determined to prove that Tigers have the bigger bite and at halftime that proved to be the case as they went into the break with a big 36-6 lead. Upper Hutt centre Denzel Guth relished some open gaps out wide by scoring four tries for the home side and was complimented well by his second row Aaron Taylor, who went over the line twice. The second half saw Petone bounce back with some good tries, but fell well short in the end as time became their enemy. - Carey Clements Visit us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wellington-Rugby-League/149807975039915 NZRL Camp-Rotorua Ten of our boys travelled to Tui Ridge, Rotorua for the Kiwis 16’s & 18’s High Performance Camp and competed against the best of the players in the country to vie for a black jersey. The boys were put through some tough testing and were given great coaching sessions and workshops from some of the game’s best including former Manly, Blues and Kangaroos legend and current Bulldogs head coach Des Hasler. Also there to give the boys some tips was Kiwis only World Cup winning captain and Parramatta Eels star Nathan Cayless, and other former NRL and Kiwis players like Andy Patmore (Bulldogs) , Duane Mann, Daryl Halligan, Tony Iro, Nigel Vagana, Jerry Seuseu and recently retired Warriors star Jerome Ropati. All our boys performed well and it showed in the presentations after the trial with Enoch Tautolo picking up the “Integrity” values award and Fruen picking up the “Passion” award. Congratulations to all our boys that trialed and all the best with selection. 18’s trials Joe Apikotoa, Dre Melvin, David Saumolia, Des Fa’afoa, Ignatius Fiso, Mose Skipworth. 16’s trials Our 16s boys Enoch Tautolo, Tarquinn Alatipi, Emani Vaovasa, Fruen Samoa Premiership Ladder after round 14 POS TEAM POINTS 1 RANDWICK KINGFISHERS PREMS 2014 25 2 TE AROHA EELS PREMS 2014 22 3 UNIVERSITY HUNTERS PREMS 2014 21 4 WAINUIOMATA LIONS PREMS 2014 18 5 PORIRUA VIKINGS PREMS 2014 14 6 ST GEORGE DRAGONS PREMS 2014 5 7 UPPER HUTT TIGERS PREMS 2014 5 8 PETONE PANTHERS PREMS 2014 2 NZRL Camp-Rotorua Premier player profile-Sheldon Akavi Date of birth- 4th March Position-Hooker Rep Honors-WRL, NJC 15’s, 16’s 17’s, WRL Orcas, U20’s Premiers, Wellington Tag U21’s, National Titla, Cook Island Tag Open Mixed, 2012 World Cup, New Zealand Tag Football, U17 Mixed, U20, U21 Junior Clubs-Porirua Vikings 2008, Randwick Kingfishers 2010. Senior Clubs-Porirua Vikings Current Club-Porirua Vikings (also trainer for U13 Maroon & U17 Maroon 2014) What do you like outside football? Tag Football, going T20 Flag, computer, music What’s the best advice you’ve recieved from someone? Just stand there and think..I’m going to stop this. What was your first job? Merchandising Favourite song/album on your playlist It would take a strong man-Rick Astley, Lay me down-Sam Smith, Knocks me off my feet-Donnell Jones Earliest football memory Getting forced to play league in U15’s by my rugby coach What is your favourite football moment? Underdogs and U17 grade losing twice in round play season but beating them in the grand final. Awesome! Premiership Ladder after round 14 Photos kindly supplied by Daryl New Kingfishers slip the Eels grip to win the minor championships In a game that had it all from start to finish, the Randwick Kingfishers came out on top on Saturday by beating the Te Aroha Eels 26-14 at Naenae Park to deservedly secure the Mulqueen Shield as Wellington premier rugby league minor championship winners. THE WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND Played initially in clear overhead conditions before sleety cold rain took over, the first and second placed side went into the game with the knowing realisation that whoever won the fixture would win the coveted 60 year-old shield. FIJIANS JOIN FORCES TO BRING YOU THE Although they went into the game one championship flag point behind the home side,Te Aroha started off the game 5.30PM like champions when from the first kick off the game, they scored after the Randwick second row Paul Lemana had POST MATCH FUNCTION knocked the ball on deep inside his half. A few minutes later the Eels had a setback when its wily utility Denzil Hokianga received a hand injury and as a THE BULL & BEER, PLIMMER result was unable to make his customary breaks which so often inspired the rest of his side to follow. LABOUR WEEKEND BATTLESTEPS OFF LAMBTON QUAY Randwick as a result regained ascendancy and after equalising and then taking the lead from a penalty ten minutes later, it played nip and tuck for the remainder of the first half before a late try sealed them a close 16-14 lead at halftime. Interested players within the Wellington The third quarter saw the Eels bounce back with an abundance of possession due to better handling and through and Auckland regions as well as those the Kingfishers being penalised on two separate occasions for shepherding, which led to further turnovers in outside, please get in touch through possession. details below. Sponsors and players Kingfishers are however resilient birds and in the last 20 minutes the blue and golds ended their opposition hopes RUGBY LEAGUE PARK with two late tries to take deserved, if somewhat flattering win. wanting to help can contact Saimon. Randwick prop Chance Tauri-Haua shone out for the home side with some outstanding committed play and was backed up well by his fellow prop Pahi Vulu and fullback Axton Daniels, while centre Ray Lesoa did his bit with two NEWTOWN,FOR MOREWGTN INFO tries to ensure his remains the top premier try scorer this season with 19 touch downs. Te Aroha second row Talima Kaleopa, substitute Keelan Akavi and props Mike Nathan and Tyson Foesther were the pick of the Eels. [email protected] | WGTN [email protected] | AKLD - Carey Clements SATURDAY 25 www.grassroots360.co.nz OCT @WLGFIJIANS NZ FIJIAN RUGBY LEAGUE ASS WGTN AKLD FIJIANS FIJIANS THANK YOU TO ALL OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS THE WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND FIJIANS JOIN FORCES TO BRING YOU THE LABOUR WEEKEND BATTLE Interested players within the Wellington POST MATCH FUNCTION and Auckland regions as well as those outside, please get in touch through 5.30PM details below. Sponsors and players THE BULL & BEER, PLIMMER wanting to help can contact Saimon. STEPS OFF LAMBTON QUAY SATURDAY RUGBY LEAGUE PARK OCT 25 NEWTOWN, WGTN [email protected] MORE | INFOWGTN @ WLGFIJIANS [email protected] | AKLD NZ FIJIAN RUGBY LEAGUE ASS WGTN FIJIANS THANK YOU TO ALL GENEROUS SPONSORS AKLD OUR FIJIANS Important dates 19th July Premiers, Reserves & Senior 1st playoffs begin 20th July Women’s Premiership Grand Final 14’s Playoffs begin 27th July 13’s & 15’s Playoffs begin 3rd August Junior Grand Final Day Whakatiki Street 10th August Senior Grand Final Day Fraser Park.