Big win for Johnsonville

By Frank Neill

The Johnsonville Hawks scored a massive 42-7 victory over Hutt Old Boys Marist in Wellington Rugby’s Swindale Shield competition on 17 April.

Outstanding on defence and with a dominant forward pack, Johnsonville gave their opponents very few opportunities in the match, played a Helston Park.

A number of Hawks players were prominent in the match, including the captain Andy Ellis, who plays at centre, and the two loose forwards Tyler Hall at number 7 and Sean Rankin at number 6.

Sean moved from his usual position of prop to play on the side of the scrum for the encounter with HOBM.

Johnsonville’s next match is against Marist St Pat’s on 22 April.

The reigning Wellington Rugby champions Northern United did not have such a good day on 17 April, however.

Marist St Pat’s defeated Norths 67-25 at Evans Bay to win the Maurice Standish Trophy. MSP were celebrating not just the victory but also their Old Timers’ Day.

It was Northern United’s day in the premier women’s match on 17 April, however.

They completely overwhelmed the combined Hutt Old Boys Marist-Wainuiomata team 67-5.

Northern United’s Badley Chrichton has been selected in the 2023

Johnsonville players celebrate scoring one of their tries in their big win over Hutt Old Boys Marist. Photo: Natural Light Photography.

New Zealand Under 20 wider squad of 30 players.

The under 20 head coach Chris Laidlaw says he is pleased with the squad that had been selected and is looking forward to them challenging themsevles to book a pot in the final squad to head to the Under 20 Rugby World Championships.

This tournament will be held in Cape Town, South Africa from 24