Northern Regions Rep Rugby 2023
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The draw isn't out yet but the preliminary points table shows three groups
U18 Boys Representative (NR Kahurangi U18 Boys)
Northland Rugby Union: U18
Auckland 1A
Auckland Divisional
North Harbour Men's Under 18 Cardinal18 Boys Representative (NR Rangatira U18 Boys)
Bay of Plenty U18
Counties Manukau RFU: U18
Auckland Gulls
Waikato U18 BoysU18 Boys Representative (NR Tama Ora U18 Boys)
Northland Rugby Union: Vikings U17
Thames Valley U19
KCRU U18 men
Waikato Rugby Union: U18 Boys Harlequins -
Some more info in this article:
Northern Region U19 Competition – Chiefs Region Super Round
Round 1: Saturday 12 August, Albert Park, Te Awamutu
Waikato U19 v Counties Manukau U19 - 12pm kick-off
Bay of Plenty U19 v Taranaki U19 - 1.30pm kick-offNorthern Region U18 Finals Day - Saturday 23 September
Northern Region U19 Finals Day - Saturday 30 SeptemberUniversity of Waikato Chiefs U18 Development Camp
Squad Announced - Monday 25 September
U18 Camp – Tuesday 3 October to Sunday 8 October, St Pauls Collegiate, HamiltonThe SR U18 teams are always interesting as you get to see which franchise 1st XV players are moving to.
https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/chiefs-region-age-group-teams-kick-off-saturday
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Some Sub-Union rugby happening as well. Peace Cup/Stan Meads
Te MaraWhero represents three Southern Counties country clubs (Te Kauwhata, Maramarua and Onewhero). The first time in over 60 years that a Franklin/Counties team has played for the Peace Cup.
Week 1
12 th August
Hamilton RU v TeMarawhero
Piako v WBOPWeek 2
19 th August
TeMarawhero v Piako
WBOP v Hamilton RUWeek 3
26 th August
Piako v Hamilton RU
TeMarawhero v WBOPWeek 4
2 August
Finals -
Went along to the Northland - Auckland game.
As is always the case in age group rugby, Auckland just a bit bigger and more physical than thier Northland counterparts, although the gap not as huge as it usually is.
Auckland opened the scoring through FB Tito-Harris, after dominating the opening exchanges and getting over in the corner.
They would continue to dominate territory and most of the posession but stout Northland defence kept knocking them back and forcing errors.
Northland were to score next after a deep clearance by 1st 5 Tamatea Winiana and a superb chase by Nathan Salmon who burnt most of the auckland backs for pace and pressured Auckland into an error in thier 22.
After a penalty and maul, Northland prop Pont-Bellamy rumbled over and the successful conversion saw Northland take the lead after a very rare visit into the Auckland 22.
The final 10 minutes of the half Northland spent defending thier line, including 3 mauls, but kept knocking Auckland back.
Then, with the half almost up, Auckland won a penalty and opted for a scrum in front of thier posts, but a strong Northland scrum pushed them back and the Auckland 8 Blair Tagi-Fuimaono fumbled the ball at the back, missed by the ref, 2 phases later excellent Auckland hooker Nathaniel Pole (plays alot like Mealamu) scored under the posts to nab the lead going into the break.
Auckland picked up where they left off, camped in the Northland half, but was about 15 mins into the 2nd spell before they managed a score, which was a fortunate one as the ref raised his arm as if he was to penalise Auckland for holding with Northland all over the ball, but didnt and Auckland spun it wide for Auckland replacement lock Christian Vui to score in the corner.
Then less than 5 minutes later poor ruck defence by Northland saw Auckland halfback Riley Williams snipe from the base into open space before offloading to reserve loosie, Charles Gemmell to race in the last 25m to score under the posts to stretch the lead.
Northland were again forced to defend thier line at maul and multiple phases, doing well and forcing an error, but as is the case when chasing the game, made a poor decision to try a dinky little kick from inside the 22, only for Auckland to regather and then after multiple phases loosie, Ofa Topeni scored in the corner, which would be the final score taking the score to 29-7 (12-7 at HT)
For Auckland, hooker Nathaniel Pole was very good, #8 Tagi-Fuimaono was string on the carry, the inside backs of Williams and Whiu both looked good, while wing Star Sami had some strong runs.
For Northland, it was more about defence, as I reckon Auckland had probably 70% possession, and probably similar territory, but hooker Cody Aull was very busy, as were loosies Chapman and Sangster.
10 Tamatea Winiana has a decent kicking game, but looks a handy runner too, 12 Henare Leef carried hard into contact all day, but neither sides backs really got to show thier wares in terms of pace or any slick moves.
Scrum battle was mixed, Auckland had the egde at most, and thier lineout was better with Northland losing a couple of crucial throws on rare forays into Auckland territory, Auckland also edged thier counterparts at the break down too with constant pressure.
FT - Auckland 29 (12) Northland 7 (7)
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@taniwharugby was always going to be a tough ask against a team featuring 2 NZ U20 players ,Xavi Taele and Rilley Williams , throw in NZ sevens rep Xavier Tito Harris , along with few others that were part of the Blues Under 20 its always going to be a tough ask
Games like this in the past ,Auckland usually put up 50 plus .
The key is for Northland rugby to make sure they totally identify the talent that can be promoted to Blues U20 level -
@Steven-Harris we were always in the fight, but the weight of possession was always going to tell, but I thought we did well to knock them back so often.
Auckland blew at least 1 good scoring chance, but we also let at least a couple of half chances go, may not have lead to scores but would have relieved some territorial pressure.
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@Bovidae this had him at FB.
https://www.sporty.co.nz/northernregionrep/matchcentre/3891548
