Te Awamutu Sports and Hautapu picked up convincing home victories in the Waikato club rugby premiership played on Good Friday.
Hautapu co-captain Quintony Ngatai slots one of three conversions against Hamilton Old Boys. Photo: Matt Gould.
Hautapu beat old foes Hamilton Old Boys 31-14 at Cambridge Memorial Park while Te Awamutu beat United Matamata Sports 49-19 at Albert Park.
Elijah Corbett opened the scoring with a try for Hautapu which Quintony Ngatai converted. Tries also came from Jason Thomasen, Quentin Hill, David Morris and Ngatai who converted two of them to notch up 11 of the home team’s points.
Hautapu is now second equal in Waikato Rugby Premier A behind Hamilton Marist who travelled away, thrashing Morrinsville Sports 62-5 at Campbell Park and with Fraser Tech who went down 47-22 to Ōtorohanga at Island Reserve.
Te Awamutu notched up its first win of the season scoring seven tries to three against Matamata.
Lachie Finch and Jake Russ scored doubles, while Leo Scott added all seven conversions.
In the premier B matches, Te Awamutu beat Matamata’s development squad 27-22 and Old Boys B grabbed a 29-12 win against Hautapu.
A level below in division 1A saw Ōhaupō pick up a 20-17 win against Taupiri on Thursday night, while Pirongia fell short 40-19 to Southern United in Tokoroa on Saturday.
Leamington was dominant against Frankton, walking away from Swarbrick Park in Hamilton with a 36-5 victory.
The division 1B sides lost 17-3, won 22-12 and lost 29-26 respectively against the same counterparts.
The women’s teams had a long weekend break, as did the under-21 division and under-85kg.
Hautapu women will play Ōtorohanga Sports on Friday, while Kihikihi take on Melville women the following day.
Championship grade Pirongia hosts Matamata women tonight.
The colts’ battle of the bridge – Hautapu v Leamington – will play out at Cambridge Memorial Park tomorrow.
Te Awamutu Sports and Pirongia under-21 sides have home clashes.
Kio Kio United Cattle Dogs will face Drury on Saturday in the under-85kg competition.
As Anzac Day commemorations approach, it’s a great time to remember those who the district lost at war.
Many Waipā representative players never returned from war. Jim Wynyard, George Terry and Bert Wilkes were among the list of World War II casualties.
Te Awamutu-born Hautapu co-captain Mitch Jacobson (back) prepares for scrum time during their clash with Hamilton Old Boys. Photo: Matt Gould.
