Penultimate round pressure-cooker in the Swindale Shield

Things couldn’t be tighter in the Swindale Shield, both at the top and the race for the title but also in the fight just to make the top 8 and with it the Jubilee Cup, and every match tomorrow has a bearing on those two situations.

Elsewhere there’s a titanic clash in the Premier Reserve grade as the joint leaders meet, the possibility that the first-round Colts silverware will be decided, and the two perennial powerhouses of the Women’s game meet yet again.

It’s also Old Timers’ Day at both Norths and Johnsonville.

Premier Swindale Shield

Last weekend’s results greatly altered the make-up of the sharp end of the table, meaning that any one of five teams could get their hands on the Swindale Shield next weekend but with four of those teams in matches against another in that group, those aspirations might end for a few of them this week.

Despite losing for the first time last weekend Oriental-Rongotai (45) held on to top spot, but saw their margin evaporate. They’ll be concerned not only at the margin, but also by the fact their resources were so stretched. They make the journey out to Porirua Park where they’ll face Northern United (41), who are themselves coming off a big loss to Marist St Pat’s, but are unbeaten at the JCS this year and with the pressure of making the Jubilee Cup gone, they might unleash the shackles on their Old Timers’ Day. Ories have never won the Swindale Shield and after having come close before – including last year’s valiant chase of OBU – that will be one hurdle they will be looking to finally get over. Goal kicking could prove vital; Ories have one of the best this season in Adam Deck, while Norths have tried a variety with a poor overall rate.

Fala Tuala, Parekura Lalaga, and Tom Finai all missed the MSP game and all start tomorrow for Norths, with Esi Komaisavai moving out to #10 and Takehiro Nakazawa into midfield; but a notable absentee will be openside Antony Fox. For Ories Ola Va’ai and Fiu Gibbons come into the pack for Karl Dumelow and Luke Taua’lupe and in the backs Hayden Whelan moves into #10, Malo Tuitama comes back into centre moving his brother Aukuso to the wing, and Ambrose Curtis starts at fullback.

The pair also have an interclub trophy at stake; the To’omaga Alex Iona Memorial Cup. First played for in 2011, Alex played for Ories after arriving from Samoa, then moved north and played for the old Porirua club. The Magpies hold this after winning 19-3 in their only meeting last year on a cold Wednesday night under lights at Alex Moore Park.

Across in the Hutt Valley two others will battle it out at the Hutt Rec. Home side Hutt Old Boys Marist (40) rebounded from their McBain loss to put a depleted Ories to the sword while Old Boys-University (44) did likewise against the Upper Hutt Rams after going down to Wainuiomata the week before. Of the five teams the Eagles are the longest shots to win the Swindale (and in their case reclaim it having won it in 2015), but it’s not an impossibility that they can. The Goats would naturally prefer that they retain it, and a win here would not only end HOBM’s hopes, but put them in the box seat if Norths beat Ories.

HOBM make just two changes with Francis Tanuvasa and Jordan Gillies replacing Fereti and Lise Soloa respectively, while some heavily artillery in Simon Malaeulu, Izzy Foai, and the oft-injured Lui Okeamoa-Luamanu is on the bench. OBU have a few more; fresh off his Hurricanes debut Hugh Renton is at openside, with Junior Makepelu, Sam Coventry, and Agustin Escalona all starting in the pack, while long-time Colts and Premier Reserve halfback Matt ‘Unit’ Fowler gets his first Premier start with Tomasi Palu out injured.

The two sides will also play for their interclub Wood Cup. Ron Wood was a founding member of the Woburn club – which became High School Old Boys before merging in 1967 with Hutt – and had also played for Wellington College Old Boys. OBU won this 45-38 at the same venue last year, but only after withstanding a furious HOBM comeback after leading 40-7 at halftime.

Conversely, Wainuiomata (42) have a somewhat different road tomorrow, as they head into the city to face Wellington at the bog otherwise known as Hataitai Park. If Ories and OBU both lose a win for the visitors could see them climb to the top of the ladder, and it’s a largely unchanged side from that that beat Johnsonville last weekend, with veteran Henry Smith at hooker, Ben Tupuola back at No.8, and Waiariki Koia at halfback.

Despite one-point wins in each of the past two weekends the Axemen can’t make the Jubilee Cup, but getting a win here over a team that is headed there would be a boost to their fortunes. Also a boost is the return of a number of backs who have been absent in recent times in Paddy Hughes, Olly Sapsford, and Connor Fuli, though Hilton Mexted is unavailable and Eremia Tapsell moves into the #10 jersey.

As with the games above these two will also play for an interclub trophy – the Bill Jones Cup named for the late Wainuiomata Life Member and namesake of their home ground. Wellington won this clash 33-26 there last year, but Wainuiomata turned the tables the very next weekend in the Jubilee Cup winning 15-14 at Hataitai.

At the other end of the top-eight fight there’s five teams battling it out for the last three places. The feature clash amongst this group is at Maidstone Park when the Upper Hutt Rams (28) host Tawa (34) in what shapes as a desperate match for both sides. The Rams’ cause is the most tenuous as if Petone and Poneke both win (and in the case of the latter with a try-scoring bonus as well) and they wind up empty handed tomorrow they’ll be eliminated from the Jubilee Cup. They’ve named an unchanged backline, while up front tighthead prop Vaughan Koopu makes his starting debut. Mitchell Markov returns at openside, but the big loss for them is the man he replaces Daniel Schrijvers who has been amongst their more impressive this season.

Despite being six points ahead Tawa aren’t safe themselves, which harks back to last years must-win final round game against Norths just to make the Jubilee Cup; if they win they should be safe, but a loss could put in back in the same situation once again. They have restored several players that were on the bench against Pare-Plim to the starting side, including James So’oialo, Pepesana Patafilo, and Sitiveni Paongo. Folau Vea is at No8 with Peniasi Tokakece reverting to the bench, where Kalim Kelemete is in line to make his first appearance for the year after a stint playing in Wales. Aside from the obvious Jubilee Cup motivation they’ll also be playing for the family of Pati Gaualofa, whose mother passed away this week.

Complicating matters for these two is that their three direct rivals for the last places face the bottom sides, and would be favoured to bank not just the win, but the bonus point as well.

Petone (30) suffered something of a let-down in losing to Poneke after the highs of their McBain triumph a week before. They head to Helston Park to face Johnsonville on the Hawks’ Old Timers Day, something that will surely fire up the home side, and something the Villagers will have to be wary of. A win will only secure Petone a return to the Jubilee Cup this weekend if both Upper Hutt and Poneke lose.

Long-serving utility back Dane Robertson starts at centre for the Hawks as he chalks 100 games for the senior side. Veterans Jeff Makepelu and Matt Mullany are also in their starting side; Makepelu back from a broken thumb and Mullany making his first appearance for the year. For Petone prop Tyral Vigne and first-five Piri Paraone makes their first starts of the year and No.8 Viliami Vake makes his starting debut with Jack Ross moving back to lock. Veteran Eugene Smith will come off the bench with Luke Flett starting.

The second game in the city’s eastern suburbs is at Kilbirnie Park where Poneke (28) take on Avalon. Poneke will be buoyed at having kept their hopes alive in beating Petone last Saturday, and have the comparative luxury of only having the two winless sides to play.However the Wolves pushed Wellington all the way, and with a bit of luck the sideline conversion to win the game would have seen them take their first success of the year, and Poneke shouldn’t take them lightly. That said however nothing less than the five competition points will suffice for the home team.

The home team are taken the opportunity to start several of the players who have come off the bench for them in recent weeks, with Kelvin Harper, Sam Ready, Jamie Hargreaves, Nick Robertson, and Saimoa Siale all getting an opportunity. Pakai Turia moves into first-five and Best & Fairest joint-leader Cole Stewart moves to the blindside. Avalon have again reshuffled their deck, with Ale Peni switching from hooker to number 8 and Damien Madsen back at halfback.

The fifth side in that mix is Marist St Pat’s (35). While they’re only a point ahead of Tawa on the ladder their assignment tomorrow is somewhat more straightforward as they head out to Ngati Toa Domain to face Paremata-Plimmerton where a win would safely see them through. The hosts will be out to throw a spanner into those plans and show what they’re capable of in their last game of the first round in front of their home fans.

James Corcoran returns to captain the home side after missing the past two weeks, with Danny Herewini, Kalib Martin, and Matt de Terte also back in the starting lineup. The visitors make just three changes with Joe Walding-Karaitiana and Steve Moli starting up front, and Jack Taulapapa again swaps halfback roles with Peter Sciascia. Isaac O’Connor assumes the captaincy in Valentine Meachen’s absence.

All seven matches get underway at 2.45pm.

Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield

Without doubt the big game in the second-tier is at the Hutt Rec where joint-leaders Hutt Old Boys Marist and Old Boys-University (both 50 points) clash. They are only two sides that can claim the Shield outright and the likelihood is that the winner of this match will be that side. Even if HOBM are the winners tomorrow they still have to face Norths in the last round, while OBU’s final match is against minnows Avalon.

Norths (44) are the only side that can still win the trophy, but that requires a series of results to go their way, and the only way they can still remain a factor themselves is to take a bonus point win when they host Ories at the JCS.

In the remaining matches the Upper Hutt Rams host Tawa at Maidstone, Petone are at Helston to face Johnsonville, Paremata-Plimmerton welcome MSP to Ngati Toa, Poneke host Avalon at Kilbirnie, and Wainuiomata visit winless Wellington at Hataitai.

All Premier Reserve matches kickoff at 1pm.

Women’s

The two Victoria Tavern Trophy matches tomorrow should both be crackers. At Porirua Park Norths will look for a measure of vengeance against Oriental-Rongotai after the Lady Magpies simply blew them away in their Fleurs Trophy match at Polo three weeks ago, while Ories will be looking to maintain their impressive season so far. The second match is at Kilbirnie Park where Marist St Pat’s will be aiming to notch their first win since their mid-season elevation when they face Old Boys-University who have a win and a loss on their slate in this competition. Wainuiomata has the bye.

In Division 2 the two unbeaten sides – Paremata-Plimmerton and Petone – clash at Ngati Toa, while winless pair Tawa and Poneke meet at Redwood. HOBM has this week’s bye.

All four matches kickoff at 11.35am.

First Grade Div 1 Thompson Memorial

Unusually the First Grade round starts tonight as the two Norths teams – the Uso’s and Red’s – get the club’s Old Timers festivities underway by meeting under lights at Porirua Park at 7.30pm. The pair come off contrasting results last week; the Uso’s lost for the first time this year when beaten by HOBM, while the Reds got their first win by hammering MSP.

The remaining three games are tomorrow. Leaders the HOBM Barbarians are at Delaney Park to take on Stokes Valley and OBU host Poneke at Nairnville with both games at 2.45pm. The third is at the St Pats artificial with MSP taking on the Petone Brotherhood at the slightly later time of 3.15pm.

Colts Div 1 Paris Memorial Trophy

Last weekend couldn’t have gone any better for Petone’s Colts side. Not only did they maintain their perfect record in beating Poneke, but their nearest pursuers – Oriental-Rongotai and OBU Green – both lost. That means that if they win tomorrow at home against Marist St Pats, they’ll claim the trophy with a week to spare.

Ories will be hoping for an MSP victory, but also need to beat an Upper Hutt Rams side buoyed by taking down OBU Green away at Maidstone. OBU Green are away at Lyndhurst against Tawa, while Norths welcome Poneke to Porirua Park with each side looking for just their second win of the campaign.

All four matches kick off at 1pm.

Under 85kg Div 1 JC Bowl

Tawa and Wellington maintained their perfect records, albeit in quite contrasting fashion. Tawa didn’t have to leave home, having been defaulted to by Wests, while Wellington slugged past HOBM in the Hataitai mud.

Tomorrow's round sees both sides hit the road. Tawa head into the Hutt Valley to take on HOBM at the Hutt Rec, while Wellington are in the cage at Ian Galloway Park against winless Wests. The other winless side – the OBU Bunnies – are away against Avalon at Fraser Park, with all three of these matches at 2.45pm. The fourth game of the round is in the early slot, with Johnsonville hosting Eastbourne in a midtable clash at Newlands Park.

College

All college grades are into competition-proper tomorrow, and we took a look at the WelTec Premiership season ahead yesterday here on Club Rugby.