Anzac Day commemorated at Albert Park
Anzac Day was commemorated on and off the rugby pitch across the Waipā district on Saturday.
A small remembrance was run by Te Awamutu RSA representatives and Reverend Murray Olson prior to the Te Awamutu Sports v Fraser Tech clashes on Albert Park.
Leamington halfback Caleb Pollard looks to pass the ball in the win against Pirongia. Photo: Julie Gibson
The Tech premier side, containing Waikato and Manu Samoa number 10 D’Angelo Leuila, just got the better of the hosts 26-22.
Caleb Wright grabbed a double for Te Awamutu and fullback Leo Scott scored the other 12 points.
Former Te Awamutu sub-union prop Jonas Pomare was one of the four scorers for the victors.
Hautapu premiers had a win by default as they were named to face the withdrawn Melville team.
In the earlier match, Te Awamutu Sports premier development fell 51-19 to Fraser Tech B.
An increasingly common occurrence saw flanker Dylan Jeffries cross the chalk for Sports B.
Pirongia B and Leamington B line up for a moment of silence to remember the fallen on Anzac Day. Photo: Jule Gibson
Veteran Ben Mylchreest and midfielder Keiton MacDonald grabbed Sports’ other tries, with George Poolman adding two conversions.
Hautapu B dealt to their Melville counterparts in Hamilton, 43-7.
Wingers Vilimone Bainibure and Josh Brunger grabbed two tries apiece.
Hooker Rory Blyth, Ben Brown and Ihaka Harper-Dent rounded off the Hautapu five-pointers.
Number 15 Dillon Martin converted three of the tries and Ned Collins one.
Melville-Hautapu combined (Mel-tap) were beaten 43-24 by Fraser Tech in the women’s premiership match at Collins Road, Hamilton.
Front-rowers Kaden Moeke and Chyann Kaitapu crossed the chalk for the home side, as did Eden Early and Dawn Hohua.
Fullback Keira Russell added two conversions, but Tech were too classy.
Waikato back Hinemaringi Scott scored three of the visitors’ seven tries.
In the women’s championship, Kihikihi had their first match of the season.
United Matamata Sports beat them 17-7, three tries to one, at the Kihikihi Domain.
Dean Fullerton takes a shot at goal for Ōhaupō at Nola Block, Putāruru. Photo: Jesse Wood
The Pirongia women’s match was postponed due to the recent death of a popular Taupiri women’s representative. Courtney Johansen. She died after suffering a brain aneurysm while pregnant with her first child, days before her 30th birthday.
In division 1A, Leamington beat Pirongia 41-19 at Leamington – the visitors’ first loss of the 2026 season. Leamington are now the only unbeaten 1A side.
Vice-captain Hirini Murfitt scored a double for the home side while Jason Hill also grabbed two for the mountain men, adding two conversions to his tally.
Hooker Baxter Shaw, Cameron Collins and Yianni Hilder were the other Leamington try scorers with right wing Robert Day adding 16 points.
James Pakoti scored the third Pirongia try, with Hill converting two out of three.
Ōhaupō were pipped by Putāruru 28-25 in a tough clash at Nola Block.
Tries were scored by backs Bronson Wilson-Beech, Hateni Tafolo and Lance Elrick, while pivot Dean Fullerton added 10 points off the kicking tee.
Pirongia B dealt to Leamington B 69-10, keeping their impressive unbeaten run. They are the only 1B side yet to lose.
Kingston Grant scored 19 points including a hat-trick and Kirwyn Ellis registered 15 points.
Ōhaupō B were defeated by Putāruru B in South Waikato 68-25.
In the colts’ battle of the bridge clash, Hautapu beat Leamington’s under-21 side 52-5 at Leamington.
Speedy left winger Morgan Baker scored three of the visitors’ eight tries. Hennessy Campbell was the sole Leamington scorer.
Jack Mathis logged seven points, and pivot Johanson Tamala slotted five conversions for the Hautapu youngsters.
Under the mountain, Pirongia colts were deadlocked in a 27-all draw with Morrinsville Sports.
Mathew Henderson scored a double with Corbin Fleming grabbing 12 points – a try, two conversions and a penalty.
Paul Davey scored the fourth try for the young mountain men.
Down the road, Te Awamutu Sports colts were beaten 45-21 by Rugby United (Thames Valley) at Albert Park.
Captain Ryan Baillie, Jaoquin Burke and lock Dylan Harpur were Sports’ try scorers.
Impressive first five-eighth Burke converted all three tries.
Referees and Te Awamutu Sports players on Anzac Day. Photo: Justin Miezenbeek
Anzac Day commemorated at Albert Park on Saturday. Photo: Justin Miezenbeek
