Last play wins mark fourth round thrillers in Jubilee Cup

Above: Marist St Pat's second five-eighth Ryan Setefano makes a break against Hutt Old Boys Marist this afternoon. Two late tries to fullback Andrew Wells saw MSP come back to snatch a 33-27 win over the Eagles.

The 2017 Jubilee Cup came alive with three of the four matches this afternoon decided on the last play in cloudy, breezy conditions.

Marist St Pat’s, Tawa and Northern United all had death-knock victories to help keep the race for this year’s playoffs alive with just three weeks remaining until the semi-finals.

At the Hutt Recreation Ground, Marist St Pat’s fullback Andrew Wells was the hero with two minutes to play, finishing off a sweeping counter attack in broken play started inside MSP's own 22. Centre Billy Proctor shot clear from 50 metres out and passed inside to Wells to dive in and score under the posts and convert himself to give MSP a 33-27 win. This was Wells’ second try late in the match, following him regathering a Fa’atonu kick and chase and scoring in similar fashion under the poles after Hutt Old Boys Marist had scored their fifth try to lead 27-19 after 65 minutes. Playing into the wind, HOBM had out-scored MSP three tries to one in the first half but trailed 15-16 at the turnaround. The Eagles crossed the chalk again to put them in front 20-16, but MSP ultimately left their best to last.

At the Petone Recreation Ground, visiting Northern United fullback Cameron Craig slotted a last-gasp penalty to see his side beat home side Petone 28-25. In a thrilling finish, Petone had come back to score a try through wing Jarrod Adams to draw level with Norths at 25-25, but outside half Piri Paraone had missed the winning conversion attempt. Norths had won last chance on attack and were awarded the penalty from which Craig slotted from a handy position but into the wind. Previously, the game came alive in the second half after Northern United had scored the only try of the first half to lead 8-3 at halftime. Norths hit back in the second spell and the match ebbed and flowed to the final whistle.

At leafy Lyndhurst Park, it was a last play dropped goal that decided the outcome in the home team Tawa’s favour against visitors and competition leaders Old Boys University. Inside centre James So’oialo, in his 50th match for Tawa, potted the goal at the end to see Tawa beat OBU 16-15 and get back in the playoff race after being stripped 5 competition points for a registration breach during the week. The game unravelled at the end, with Tawa leading 13-12, then OBU kicked a penalty to take a 15-13 lead. A kick deep into OBU’s territory and two minutes of pick and go play set up So’oialo under the poles to kick the winner.

At the Polo Ground, it was less dramatic but the result was just as important for home team Oriental-Rongotai who defended well in defeating Wainuiomata 13-3. On a heavy field, the game started brightly when centre Malo Tuitama broke 40-metre and set up a try for wing Malachai Unasa inside the opening five minutes. Wainuiomata, deprived of a least three regular starting tight forwards, looked to play with width initially, but except for sporadic breaks this approach was largely fruitless. Both sides traded penalties and it was 8-3 at halftime. Wainuiomata hammered away inside the Ories 22 for two-thirds of the secondhalf, but poor handling and an inability to greatly vary their play meantt Ories’ tight defence held firm. When fullback Alex Ropeti scored in the corner with less than 10 minutes left, Ories had done enough to win the game.

In the Premier 2 Hardham Cup, there wins for the Upper Hutt Rams, Poneke and Johnsonville.

At the Maidstone Park Artificial, visitors the Upper Hutt Rams were fast out of the blocks against Avalon. Openside flanker scored under the posts almost from the opening kick-off and then lock Vern Sosefo crossed after a 40 metre run from halfback Hayden Schrijvers. The Rams ran in two more tries to lead 26-0, before Avalon got one back through hooker Leauro Ah Wong. But the Rams scored their fifth try to 12 Tyler Tane and it was game over at 33-5 at halftime. The tries kept coming in the second spell from both side, but the Rams held on to record their fourth straight win with a 45-22 scoreline.

At Hataitai Park, the muddy underfoot conditions at that ground dictated the style of play, as the Johnsonville Hawks ground out their fourth consecutive Hardham Cup win, beating the Wellington Axemen 17-5. Johnsonville kicked an early penalty and then scored their first try to take a 10-0 lead into halftime. They crossed for a second bonus point try to take a 17-0 lead, before Axemen prop Jason Bird scored his side’s sole try of the contest.

At Kilbirnie Park, a large contingent of British and Irish Lions supporters were on hand to watch home team Poneke beat Paremata-Plimmerton 53-7. Poneke scored three converted tries and led 21-0 at halftime. Captain and first five-eighth Pakai Turia scored two tries, while six different players also found the chalk. Fullback Blake Neve was Paremata-Plimmerton’s try-scorer.

There were more close matches in the Premier Reserve Ed Chaney Cup competition, with Oriental-Rongotai’s second XV coming back to beat Wainuiomata’s second side 32-26. Ories had established a 22-7 lead, but Wainuiomata fought back to lead 26-22 late in the game. But a third try to Paulo Aukuso put them in front, followed by the match-clincher to evergreen Fa’avae Tumaii.

In the other two Ed Chaney Cup matches, Petone earned a bonus point 29-20 win over Norths and the Tawa and Old Boys University match was a 12-12 draw but was called off early after a serious injury.

The Upper Hutt Rams are on the maximum 20 competition points through four rounds of the Premier Reserve Division 2 HD Morgan Memorial Trophy. The Rams beat the Avalon Wolves 50-0 today. In the other two matches, Poneke posted a 41-14 win over Paremata-Plimmerton and the Wellington – Johnsonville affair was a 5-5 draw in the Hataitai Park mud.

The curtain-raiser at the Hutt Rec also came down to the final act of the game, with HOBM missing a penalty at the end that would have seen them win the game. MSP held on to beat them 25-23. In a game of two halves, MSP scored two converted tries and led 20-3 at halftime with the wind at their backs. HOBM came back in the second spell with the wind in their favour - centre Tupeni Kamakorewa scoring two tries in quick succession - to hit the front at 23-18. But MSP crossed for the winning try in the 75th minute.

There were four closely fought Division 1 John E Kelly Colts fourth round matches played today. Tawa are the outright leaders, registering their fourth straight bonus point in beating OBU Green 27-25 this afternoon. First round winners Petone are a point back and also unbeaten after their 29-20 victory over Norths. HOBM had a 28-24 win over MSP and Ories beat first round division 2 winners Paremata-Plimmerton 19-12. In Division 2, the Kapiti Colts defeated Wellington 48-5 to take their fourth straight second round victory.

The Hutt Old Boys Marist Howlers and the Wellington Light Axemen are the two unbeaten teams after two rounds of the championship U85kg Division 1 Paul Potiki Shield competition. Kapiti beat HOBM 18-13 this afternoon, while the Axemen beat the Avalon Wolves by the same score, 18-13. Elsewhere, the Tawa Titans beat Eastbourne 31-18 and the Poneke Caves defeated Johnsonville 327-20. In Division 2, the OBU Bunnies beat the Wests Roosters 50-12, the Upper Hutt Rams beat MSP Green 27-24 and Stokes Valley defeated Petone 25-7.

Oriental-Rongotai took their fifth straight win of the Women's Championship Fleurs Trophy competition without leaving Miramar, beating Wainuiomata by default. Northern United beat the Old Boys University Impalas 38-7, with left wing Lyric Faleafaga scoring a hat-trick of tries. Prop Mau Tavita scored a try in her 200th match for Norths.

In Women's Division 2 , Hutt Old Boys Marist beat Tawa 60-0. First five-eighth Agnes Faraimo scored three tries and kcked five conversions for a haul of 25 points. Right wing Danica Tavite scored two tries. Petone beat Poneke 27-5 in the other match.

In the WelTec Premiership First XV competition, St Pat's Silverstream and Scots College are the two unbeaten teams after six rounds. Silverstream defeated minnows Hutt Valley High School 84-6 today, while Scots College beat Rongotai College 29-7. St Pat's Town are third, after beating Wairarapa College 46-22, just ahead of Wellington College defeated Kapiti College 50-15. Tawa College and Porirua College complete the sixth round of contests when they meet on Wednesday.