Hautapu Sports will defend their first challenge for Waikato Rugby’s George Simpkin Shield when they host Te Awamutu at Memorial Park.
Under the shield rules, the holders have to accept challenges when playing at home against Premier country clubs.
The Premier A side will play Te Awamutu at 2.45pm on Saturday June 14, 2025, with the shield on the line.
Hautapu took the shield last weekend, beating holders Otorohanga 32-29.
Introduced in 2023, the shield honours the memory of legendary coach George Simpkin, who died in 2020.
Simpkin started his coaching as a young Matamata College PE teacher with the Waikato U-23 side, after an impressive 50-match winning streak with Matamata College First XV.
In 1980, he was the Waikato senior team selector-coach and it took a couple of seasons to embed his ingenious playing style in an under-pressure Waikato side trying to get out of NPC Second Division.
Simpkin took his Waikato team up State Highway 1 to take on a strong 1980’s Auckland side and upset the blue and whites 7 – 3 in the famous Ranfurly Shield victory at Eden Park.
He remained as the Waikato Coach until 1984, following their promotion back into Division 1 in 1981.
Meanwhile, Hautapu’s U-21 side and Women’s Premiership team won on the road last weekend.
The Development squad lost in a close encounter at Otorohanga.
Results
Game played on Saturday June 7, 2025
Waikato Premier A
Otorohanga 29
Hautapu Sports 32
Waikato Premier B
Otorohanga 29 (Tries: Hetet, Tuikubulau 2, Dobui. Penalty: Fox. Conversions: Fox 3)
Hautapu Sports 21 (Tries: Harper-Dent 2, Shergold. Conversions: Beckett 3)
Waikato U-21
Fraser Tech 15 (Tries: Jefferis, name withheld, Edge)
Hautapu Sports 17 (Tries: Blyth, Silich, Bourke. Conversion: Nepia)
Waikato Women’s Premiership
Kihikihi 15 (Tries: Cannon, Tevita, Payne)
Hautapua Sports 55 (Tries: Gallaher 3, Nairn 2, Falahati, Gordon 2, Brown. Conversions: Gordon 4, name withheld)
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday June 14, 2025
Waikato Premier A
Hautapu Sports v Te Awamutu
Memorial Park, Cambridge, 2.45pm
Waikato Premier B
Hautapu Sports v Te Awamutu
Memorial Park, Cambridge, 1pm
Waikato U-21
Hinuera v Hautapu Sports
Welleans Park, Matamata, 1pm
Waikato Women’s Premiership
HOB Huskiz v Hautapu Sports
Willoughby Park, Hamilton, 1pm
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