Collins Inspires Norths to Emphatic Shield Win

Congratulations to Northern United, 2006 Swindale Shield winners. Norths showed their class and confirmed their hot favouritism for the Jubilee Cup with a dominant 47-0 last round walloping of Tawa at Lyndhurst Park. Captained and inspired by Jerry Collins, Norths were too passionate and too powerful for Tawa, running in six unanswered tries in front of a bumper crowd, who were quick to congratulate them at the end.

Title rivals Hutt Old Boys Marist needed a win against Oriental-Rongotai and a Norths loss to capture the Shield in the final round. In the end it didn’t matter, but they still finished their first round campaign in style by beating Ories 45-9 at the Hutt Recreation Ground. First five-eighth Jonathon Bentley carried his fine form from last week against Norths into this match, scoring a hat trick of tries and kicking 15 points for an impressive 30-point haul. Blindside flanker Polonga Pedro also scored one of their six tries, his fifth try of the season and the most by a forward.

In the battle for the minor placings, Old Boys-University got up to finish third with a hard fought 15-9 two tries to nil win over Poneke at the Prime Finance Basin Reserve. Third place represents a memorable transformation for OBU after finishing last in 2005 and starting this year poorly. Poneke’s third loss in succession sees them slip from third to fifth, with Avalon finishing strongly to grab fourth with a six tries to one 38-7 victory over Johnsonville at Fraser Park.

Also finding form heading into the Jubilee Cup round is Marist St. Pats, who won for the third week in succession, against Upper Hutt at Evans Bay Park. In a high scoring encounter MSP prevailed 43-28, with Wellington U19 hooker Dane Coles scoring a hat trick and fullback Julian Tupai crossing for his ninth try of the season. Heading into the Cup round Tupai is the equal leading try scorer with HOBM’s Michael Pehi. For Upper Hutt, Ben Aoina reached 100 points for the season in the last round, as did Poneke first five-eighth Brad Cooper.

Meanwhile, Western Suburbs enjoyed an excellent consolation win over Petone at Ian Galloway Park, with Petone having a chance to win with a last gasp penalty before pushing it astray. The win to Wests sees them finish ninth, ahead of Upper Hutt, Ories and Johnsonville, who will be joining them in the Hardham Cup round.

There have been several high profile All Black appearances in Wellington club rugby in recent seasons, with Jonah Lomu’s turnout for Wainuiomata a few seasons ago attracting a 5000 strong crowd. Other examples have been Christian Cullen for Norths against Ories in the rain and sleet in 2003, and Tana Umaga’s second half for Petone against OBU earlier this year. In 2004 Jerry Collins assisted Norths to an 11-9 Jubilee Cup round-robin win against Tawa at Lyndhurst Park on their way to winning the Cup title. On Saturday he returned there to help Norths to a comprehensive win.

In this week’s feature match, there was full appreciation for Norths after they had comfortably beaten Tawa to secure their second Swindale Shield in three years. Captain for the day Collins brought an extra level of intensity that was evident right from the opening moments, when they looked committed and composed. They were always in control, scoring two tries in the first half and four in the second, with right wing Peato Lafaele also on fire with his kicking boot. Leading 13-0 after 15 minutes, 23-0 at halftime and 30-0 early in the second half, it was Norths’ day.

Tawa, at less than full strength, competed well, and contributed to a hard fought battle up front and an open game in broken play, but they let themselves down with too many mistakes at key moments. In contrast Norths capitalised on most of their opportunities.

Norths fullback Adam Beganovich hit the line at pace on the end of a four-man chain to open the try scoring in the 6^th minute. Three well struck Lafaele penalties later and Collins fittingly scored Norths’ next try just before halftime. Collins emerged from the chalk after an excellent lineout drive near the line.

Halfback Lua Vaoloaloa spun around the defence to crash over off more solid driving play from his forwards for Norths’ third try soon after halftime. From there on the game and the title was safely wrapped up, with Norths running in three further tries to first five-eighth Rob Aloe with a searing break up the blindside, hard working prop and regular captain Anthony Perenise and to replacement pocket-rocket centre Daley Harper.

In Senior One, Poneke took out the Harper Lock Shield with 47 points, ahead of Norths and Hutt Old Boys Marist, tied on 43, with Wainuiomata a point back in fourth. These teams will be contesting the Hardham Cup.