Hutt Old Boys Marists’ Michael Pihi and Petone’s Tana Umaga were the two star attractions in round two of Wellington premier rugby. Pehi’s try-scoring feats and Umaga’s on-field presence helped their respective sides to second successive Swindale Shield wins.

Umaga’s rare club rugby appearance, off the bench at second five-eighth, helped Petone to a 31-5 win against Old Boys-University at Nairnville Park. Left wing Pehi scored four tries and helped create another as HOBM defeated Upper Hutt 32-29 in the match of the round at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

Northern United join HOBM and Upper Hutt as the other unbeaten team after two rounds, after trouncing Johnsonville 46-0 at Helston Park. At near full strength with Hurricane Tamati Ellison at first five eighth, Norths were too strong for the young Johnsonville side. Norths ran in seven tries, with halfback Lua Vaoloaloa collecting a brace.

At Fraser Park, Avalon broke a scoreless deadlock just before halftime with a controversial try, before going on to beat Oriental-Ronogtai 20-5. Centre Finau Hopoi re-entered play to score after seemingly lying injured on the ground off the ball. Second five-eighth Matt Hill and fullback Andrew Turner also crossed for Avalon in an otherwise forward dominated struggle.

Elsewhere, the return of playmaker Willie Lafaele wasn’t enough to prevent Tawa suffering its second close loss, going down 23-17 to Poneke at Lyndhurst Park, and Marist St. Pats made easy pickings of Western Suburbs, winning 28-11 at Ian Galloway Park.

Fans at the Hutt Recreation Ground were treated to an exciting finish, as first HOBM pulled back a 12-point deficit to get themselves in front, then Upper Hutt came back to lead again before HOBM won in the final moments with a try out wide, after previously missing a match winning penalty.

In all, 45 points and seven tries were scored by both sides in a high drama second half, all created by a combination of great teamwork and brilliant individual play. But it was Pehi who stole the show, scoring four of HOBM’s five second half tries, including the clincher on full time.

Upper Hutt halfback Alby Mathewson also scored two tries, including the try of the match, when he wove his way through HOBM’s defence in a 40-metre run to the line from broken play.

Upper Hutt first five-eighth Ben Aoina did what his counterparts couldn’t, kicking 19 points, including four penalties and a dropped goal. In contrast, HOBM kickers, fullback Mike Kingsbeer and first five-eighth Jonathon Bentley missed all six second half attempts between them, almost proving costly - if not for Pehi’s exploits.

HOBM, with more attacking endeavour from the outset, were the deserved winners. Upper Hutt were bereft of attacking options, instead playing for field position and using their big forwards as one-off runners to try and wear HOBM down. A rash of ill discipline that yielded 20 first half penalties against both sides also prevented Upper Hutt from establishing any continuity.

Upper Hutt led 9-7 at halftime, with three Aoina penalties in response to HOBM’s opening try, when a poor Upper Hutt clearing kick saw Pehi race up the sideline and pass infield to veteran centre Phillipe Raiasi, to score untouched.

An intercept by Upper Hutt hooker Joe Ritchie and good support play by Mathewson saw Upper Hutt score soon after the break. This was followed by an Aoina dropped goal and, at 19-7 ahead, Upper Hutt appeared on top.

But HOBM came back with an explosive three-try burst to lead 22-19. First Pehi scored on the end of the chain from an attacking scrum near the right hand corner, then from the same spot halfback Nick Risdon exploited poor shortside defence to dart to the line and feed blindside Polonga Pedro a try. Three minutes later, Pedro combined with Kingsbeer and Pehi, who appeared on the other wing, breaking open Upper Hutt’s defence to score.

Aoina then replied with his fourth penalty to make it 22-22, before Upper Hutt were in trouble in front of their goal line again. HOBM won a turnover and Risdon passed left to Pehi, who stormed over for his hat trick.