Three-Way Tie In Cup Standings

Poneke, Avalon and Petone are in a three-way tie at the top of the Jubilee Cup points table, with Northern United fourth, just two points further adrift. In round four action Norths only just scraped past Hutt Old Boys Marist, but the leading trio all enjoyed surprisingly comfortable wins. Avalon brushed aside Tawa, Petone carved up Marist St. Pats, while Poneke shut down Old Boys-University. Look out for a pressure-cooker round five this week then. Fifth placed Tawa meet sixth placed MSP, in what will be a crucial match for these two sides, while Petone and Poneke clash and Avalon will do battle with Norths.

The Club Weekly was on hand at Fraser Park in this week?s feature game between Avalon and Tawa to see an entertaining, carnival-like first half of rugby. In it seven tries were scored, all through the backs, except one penalty try to Avalon ? which was created through a Mano Flutey intercept on halfway. Avalon went to the break leading 26-19 after outscoring the visitors four tries to three.

In still, sunny conditions, if boggy underfoot in places, Avalon shot out to a 19-0 lead after only 15 minutes. A tap penalty from livewire halfback Peter Sciascia put second five Finau Hopoi in, before first five Mano Flutey was dragged down just short, lock Hare Pupuke was impeded and a penalty try was awarded. Next centre Willie Collins out skirted the defence and found wing Geoff Packer inside him who scored.

Tawa then hit back straightaway with two great tries. Second five Willie Lafaele strolled through a hole to dot down on the back of a solid team build up and then wing Patolo Tupiola showed great finishing skills with a try up the left flank. With only a quarter of the game gone, five tries had been scored and there were still more to come. Hopoi for Avalon and Tupiola for Tawa both dotted down again for their respective teams before the break. The fireworks subsided in the second spell, with both teams trading early penalties.

But both outfits had already shown why they are Cup contenders, with some, at times, sublime attacking rugby. From establishing the early advantage on the scoreboard, Avalon was always in a better position to close the game when it finally settled. Fullback Cameron Cross scored their fifth try which again gave them a two-try buffer and Tawa found themselves having to play catch-up rugby with 20 minutes still to run. Avalon then sealed victory with a try to openside Thomas Waldrom on time.

Elsewhere, Petone reaped the rewards of a commanding second half performance, with a stiffening southerly at their backs to pull away from MSP and win easily. Flying wing Willie Moala scored another brace of tries for the Villagers, lifting his season tally to 13. while Tim Molenaars?s three tries were not enough to stop an in form Poneke and another hat trick to Norths centre Patolo Patelesio gave his team a hard fought win over strugglers HOBM.