Champions Norths Impressive In Shield Opener

Defending champions Northern United opened their Swindale Shield title defence with an impressive four tries to two victory over Upper Hutt at Porirua Park. In a largely scrappy season opener Norths, who were missing five players away at the New Zealand Colts trials, showed enough to suggest that the Swindale Shield could well be staying right where it is in 2004.

Elsewhere Avalon ran through Johnsonville, Old Boys-University strolled past Tawa and Poneke and Marist St. Pats beat Wests and Petone respectively. Meanwhile the upset of the round came with Hutt Old Boys Marist’s win over fancied Oriental-Rongotai.

In the feature game Norths overcame a tenacious Upper Hutt tight five to win easily in the end. Upper Hutt, with a young, well-organised team who will feature prominently in 2004, couldn’t match Norths in the open field exchanges and they were run ragged for large periods of the second half. For their part Norths can thank an outstanding loose forward trio of Tui Maovao, Iliki Naikatini and Anare Koliavu for providing the impetus to kick-start their season on a winning note.

Upper Hutt, playing into the wind in the first spell, outplayed Norths early on. Their Scrum was dominant and they played smart into-the-wind rugby. Despite this, Norths scored two entertaining first half tries to Maovao and first five Peato Lafaele, both against the run of play and then Lafaele kicked two penalties in quick succession to give his side a 16-0 lead at the break. The second of these tries, in the 30th minute was a crucial point in the game. An attacking Upper Hutt scrum on Norths’ goalline saw them cough up the ball to Norths, who ran 95 metres to score at the other end.

Upper Hutt had their chances early in the second half, but first five Chris Puketapu could only covert one of three penalty chances and a shambolic lineout eased what pressure they could create. The home team then put the game out of Upper Hutt’s reach with two further tries, securing a bonus point in the process. Second five Patolo Patelesio and lock Jacob Ellison both finished off entertaining attacking movements. Two late tries to Upper Hutt were of consolation value only.

Hutt Old Boys Marist’s upset of Ories was close run in the end. Aided by a strong wind, Hutt lead 10-0 at halftime and should have led by more had Michael Kingsbeer not missed four penalties. An unorganised Ories side finally got into gear and prop John Pale’s try late in the game narrowed the score to 7-10. Ories then missed an opportunity to win, spilling a try over the line in the final moments. Scott Waldrom had no trouble finding the line however as he scored a sensational four tries for Avalon in their win over hapless Johnsonville. Marist St. Pats had an unconvincing victory over Petone, while Wests pushed Jubilee Cup champions Poneke hard and centre Tim Molenaar collected two tries in Old Boys’ win against Tawa.

Steven White