Several big clashes in penultimate round tomorrow as semi-finals loom

So here we go; the penultimate round of the year. For some sides, their hopes of making the semi-finals might be over when full-time is blown tomorrow, others will survive to for another week, and some will know that they’re already bound for the cauldron of playoff footy. Every one of the Bucqui Jubilee and Hardham Cup matches tomorrow still counts.

Tomorrow’s radio coverage will come from the top-of-the-table clash at Evans Bay Park between Marist St Pat’s and Wainuiomata, with Adam Julian joined for the call on RadioSport (1503AM) by MSP stalwart and current WRFU President Murray Tocker.

Elsewhere there’s more crunch matches across the grades, starting with two Colts Division 1 matches under lights tonight.

Premier Bucqi Jubilee Cup

Marist St Pat's – 16 points

Remaining: Wainuiomata (H), Wellington (H)

Wainuiomata – 15 points

Remaining: MSP (A), Poneke (H)

The two at the top of the leaderboard meet in what shapes as the feature clash of the weekend. The winner will assure themselves a semi-final place and a high chance of that game being at home, while the loser won’t drop out of contention, but will likely find themselves needing to win next weekend to make certain of their place.

MSP’s side for tomorrow has few changes. Frank Fa’atau swaps in for Ivan Fepuleai in the front row, Frankie Bryant comes into midfield for Isaia Petelo, and Ryan Saunders makes his return from a lengthy absence on the wing. Wainuiomata won the sides Swindale Shield match back in April, stunning MSP with a comeback from 22-points down to win 38-34. They have named an unchanged forward pack, with the returns of Josh Robertson-Weepu – which should help their goalkicking woes - and Tau Mamea on the wings the only differences to last week’s side.

The Bill Brien Challenge Cup is also at stake tomorrow, with MSP looking to make their sixth defence since taking it from Norths earlier this year.

Oriental-Rongotai – 15 points

Remaining: Wellington (A), OBU (H)

The Magpies find themselves in something of a rut having lost their last two games but despite that, and without several players due to injury and otherwise unavailable, they’re still well in contention. They too can wrap up a semifinals place with a win in this weekend’s short trip around Evans Bay to Hataitai, but will face a Wellington side that will be fighting to not only keep their own hopes alive, but looking to overturn the 52-15 mauling they suffered at the Polo Ground in the Swindale Shield.

They get a timely boost to their ranks, with Kane Le’aupepe, Luke Taualupe, and Hayden Whelan all back in the side with coach Roy Kinikinilau also strapping the boots on tomorrow.

Old Boys-University – 15 points

Remaining: Tawa (A), Ories (A)

After their rampant form throughout most of the Swindale Shield, the Goats’ defence of the Swindale Shield has been anything but smooth with wins over Wainuiomata, Wellington, and Poneke offset by losses to Upper Hutt and MSP. Another side that could, results depending, secure a semifinal place with a win this weekend, they do face two tricky trips to close the round; away to a resurgent Tawa at Lyndhurst, and depending on results a possible do-or-die trip to Ories the following week.

It’s a much-changed Goats lineup, Wes Goosen is on the Hurricanes bench and unavailable with Jack Cooke moving to centre to cover and James Williams onto the wing. Tomasi Palu shifts out to first-five, Sam Dawson and Antony Fox come into the loose trio with Will Mangos pushing into lock. Cult heroes Finnbarr Kerr-Newell and Jonathan Fuimaono again provide the front-row grunt.

Poneke – 12 points

Remaining: Upper Hutt (H), Wainuiomata (A)

Upper Hutt Rams – 11 points

Remaining: Poneke (A), Tawa (H)

These two directly oppose each other this weekend, with each coming off of losses last weekend; Poneke to OBU and Upper Hutt to MSP. The winner would still be very much alive going into next week while the loser may find themselves reliant on results other than their own. Poneke have won two of their three home games in the Jubilee Cup so far with their opening loss to Ories followed by wins over Tawa and then neighbours MSP. Despite making the haul down and into the eastern suburbs for the third week in succession, away trips hold few fears for the Rams having won a remarkable eight (and drawn another) of their eleven matches played away from Maidstone this year. That total includes their last match with Poneke which they won 21-15 that while ostensibly listed as a home game, was played at Westpac Stadium.

A couple of match-ups to watch involve a pair of the Best and Fairest frontrunners. Poneke’s Greg Foe and the Rams’ Josh Hunt ran at each other all night in that match at Westpac, while Mitchell Markov made some crucial turnovers in that game and will renew his contest with another skilled pilferer in Joe Scheres. Both sides make a handful of changes from last week’s lineups.

Tawa – 10 points

Remaining: OBU (H), Upper Hutt (A)

Notwithstanding last week’s success over Wellington, Tawa are still a win outside of the top 4. The fact they are still a contender despite dropping their opening three games is a testament to not just their own resiliency, but also an indication of just how tight and topsy-turvy the round-robin is. The likelihood is that they need to win both their remaining games, and they can directly help their own cause this weekend when taking on one of the current top-four, OBU, at home at Lyndhurst. Their only changes are in the outside backs; Faraimo Nofoaiga and Pepesana Patafilo drop out, with Elijah Vaa-Brooking moving into centre and the wings filled by Sharn Robinson and veteran Junior Togia.

Wellington – 9 points

Remaining: Ories (H), MSP (A)

Like Tawa, the Axemen are adrift of the top four, but their situation is even more perilous despite being just one further point behind the team the lost to last weekend. That result has pushed them to the brink and they simply must win against Ories to stay in the hunt; otherwise they face the possibility of having nothing to play for next weekend. Victory however will see them remain in the contest, even if they might still need results elsewhere to go their way. The first order of business is tomorrows clash with the Magpies at home at Hataitai, and their side for that has Adam Deck in at halfback and a reshuffled pack with Alex Dazell returning to the back, but will be without the hardworking Sam Gard’ner.

All Jubilee Cup matches kickoff at 2.45pm.

Premier 2 Hardham Cup

Hutt Old Boys Marist – 24 points

Remaining: MSP B (H), Johnsonville (H)

Northern United – 21 points

Remaining: Avalon (A), Petone (A)

Petone – 20 points

Remaining: OBU B (H), Norths (H)

These three are already assured of being semifinalists. It would take an enormous upset for HOBM to not finish top even without the advantage of being at home for both contests, while it also seem likely that Norths’ and Petone’s last round meeting at the Petone Rec will serve to decide who would get home advantage for their likely semifinal match-up the next week.
The question is though, who will join them?

Avalon – 10 points

Remaining: Norths (H), OBU B (A)

Marist St Pat’s B – 9 points

Remaining: HOBM (A), Pare-Plim (H)

Paremata-Plimmerton – 9 points

Remaining: Johnsonville (A), MSP B (A)

Johnsonville – 8 points

Remaining: Pare-Plim (H), HOBM (A)

Old Boys-University B – 6 points

Remaining: Petone (A), Avalon (H)

For any of the other five sides, the remaining semi-final place is still within reach. Wins in both games they have left would be ideal, and could well prove enough.

However, each of the five contenders – bar Paremata-Plimmerton – have one of their remaining games against the current top three, and with their own little contest going on for home field it’s unlikely they will show much mercy. Pare-Plim however face away trips both weekends, so nothing seems straightforward.

Two contests loom as pivotal this weekend. At Fraser Park Avalon can put themselves in the box seat if they were to take down Norths, while Johnsonville or Pare-Plim could do the same if they win their head-to-head clash at Helston and the Wolves lose; but with HOBM still to play a win for Johnsonville would seem imperative, with Avalon and Pare-Plim facing the ‘B’ teams in the last round.

Speaking of the ‘B’ teams they both face tough road assignments. MSP’s hopes don’t necessarily hinge on getting a result away at the Hutt Rec, but more so on whether Avalon wins. Either way competition points, either in the form of an upset win or bonus points. Bonus points and an Avalon loss are the minimum requirements for OBU for the weekend visit to Petone, otherwise they will be eliminated.

All Hardham Cup matches kickoff at 2.45pm his week.

Premier Reserve Ed Chaney and HD Morgan Cups

The highlight match in the second-tier is at Kilbirnie Park, where second-placed Poneke welcome leaders the Upper Hutt Rams. Both sides won last week away from home against top-division opponents (Poneke over Norths, Upper Hutt over HOBM), so on form this should be a cracking game. The other match between Ed Chaney sides is at Lyndhurst between Tawa and Hutt Old Boys Marist with both looking to stay in touch.

There is also a pair of contests in the HD Morgan division with Wellington looking to keep in touch with the top end of the ladder when they host winless Oriental-Rongotai at Hataitai, while two other winless sides – Johnsonville and Paremata-Plimmerton – clash at Helston. Division leaders Wainuiomata head over the hill for a crossover game against Petone, with the remaining game another crossover one between Avalon and Norths at Fraser Park.

All Premier Reserve matches kickoff at 1pm

Colts John E Kelly Memorial

If you’re at a loose end tonight there’s a pair of Division 1 Colts games on, including the feature match of the round at Te Whaea between leaders Old Boys-University Green and third-placed Marist St Pat’s. The two met in the final game of the first-round Paris Memorial which OBU won 16-3 to take the silverware, so MSP should have little need for extra motivation. In the other two matches. In the other game on the Upper Hutt Rams will look to get back into the semifinal picture when they face winless Johnsonville at Alex Moore, with both matches kicking off at 7.30pm.

Tomorrow two more sides looking to get back in contention – Oriental-Rongotai and Norths – meet at Polo, while on form Tawa should have few problems in claiming the full five points against bottom-side Hutt Old Boys Marist at Redwood Park, both at 1pm. Poneke will look to remain in the top four when they take on Wellington at Te Whaea at the slightly earlier time of 12.45pm.

First Grade Johnsonville Centennium Cup

The Petone Brotherhood have skipped nine points clear at the top of the table with a perfect 6-from-6 record and a try-scoring bonus in each. Even though they are yet to have the bye, they have already claimed one of the semifinal places and could make certain of that being at home when they travel across the bridge to take on Hutt Old Boys Marist at the Hutt Rec at 1pm.

In two other 1pm games Old Boys-University will look to keep themselves in the semifinal picture when they face the winless Petone Saxons at Nairnville, while at Kilbirnie Park Poneke and Marist St Pats clash in a meeting of mid-table sides who each need to win and results elsewhere to go their way. The remaining game is at 2.45pm at Redwood Park, where Norths should have little difficulty in getting the five competition points against bottom-side Tawa. Avalon has this week’s bye.

Under 85kg Paul Potiki Shield

Despite losing to Wellington for the second time this season last weekend, Tawa remain top of the table ahead of their game this weekend with Poneke at the neutral venue of Newlands Park at 2.45pm in a rematch of last year’s final. Poneke sit fifth, just outside the playoff places, and a win here would be a boon to their semifinal hopes.

Newlands Park will also be the venue for Johnsonville’s clash with the OBU Bunnies at 1pm, with Wellington heading up the coast to take on Kapiti at Waikanae Park and the crunch midtable match between Avalon and Eastbourne at Fraser Park both on at the same time.