Anzac Day thrillers as Swindale Shield remains tight

Above: HOBM's Glen Walters attempts to break free in his side's 29-22 win over Poneke today.

There was a pair of Anzac Day Swindale Shield thrillers and other close results in the seventh round set of matches played today around the region in glorious sunshine.

In two classic club rugby finishes, Tawa beat Old Boys University 42-38 at Nairnville Park and the Upper Hutt Rams tipped over Oriental-Rongotai 36-34 at Maidstone Park.

Tawa centre Ryan Preston scored a last-gasp converted try to the left of the uprights to give Tawa their win and the Bill Brien Challenge Shield.

With time all but up on the clock, Upper Hutt Rams second five-eighth Tyler Tane kicked a penalty from a similar angle to give his side an Old Timers’ Day and Bob Lendrum Cup win over Ories.

At the Hutt Recreation Ground, the Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles kept their winning record alive by beating Poneke 29-22 for the Roy John Trophy, only sealing victory in the last few minutes of a tight contest. 

Over the hill at William Jones Park, Wainuiomata came from behind to power past Paremata-Plimmerton 41-27 after Pare-Plim had led by one point at the halftime break.

In the one match in town today, the Wellington Axemen grabed their first win since Gala Day by beating the Avalon Wolves 28-19 at Hataitai Park.

At the Petone Recreation Ground, Marist St Pat’s bounced back from Saturday’s defeat to OBU by beating Petone 50-22 to claim the Bill Elvy Memorial Trophy.

At Helston Park, Northern United kept the Johnsonville Hawks winless with a 36-12 for the Barlow Trophy.

The Upper Hutt Rams were fast out of the gates against Ories. An early kick into the corner led to a penalty and lineout drive and a try to lock Sio Luamanu. Another penalty and lineout on the 22 saw Tane pop a pass to flying centre Tom Grimes and he flew in to make it 14-0.

Ories regrouped and hit back with the next two tries to equalise at 14-14, before the Rams scored their third try of the first half from a lineout, blindside Jack Wright securing good ball 5 metres out from the right-hand corner and openside flanker Dan Schrijvers driving off him to score to put the Rams ahead 19-14 at the break.

Ories drew level again at 19-19 with a sweet try from a scrum 60 metres out to centre Malachai Unasa and they then went ahead 26-19 when right wing Andrew Ellis scored.

Ories hit right back when centre Grimes reeled in a cross kick on the fly and offloaded to flying wing Todd Svenson on his inside to go through to make it 26-26.

Tane then scored a popular chip and chase try from broken play and converted it himself to put the Rams up 33-26. Ories No. 8 Luca Rees made a barnstorming run up the far touchline and scored his second try of the afternoon. First five-eighth Trent Renata’s conversion hit the poles and the Rams held on 33-31.

With only a few minutes to play, Ories had their tails up and were repelled twice, the second saw Schrijvers concede a penalty and Renata nailed the penalty to put them ahead 34-33.

Now in the shadows of fulltime, the Rams made a desperate last effort to score. They swung the ball from side to side inside the Ories 22 but the defence held. But a penalty was given and Tane stepped up under pressure to slot a penalty with the final act of the game to give them a 36-34 win.

The MSP-Petone clash was an arm-wrestle for the first 30 minutes. MSP barged over to score the first try of the contest just before the interval to take a 10-0 lead.

MSP then struck with two consecutive tries in barely a couple of minutes right after the break, second five-eighth Isaia Petelo darting through almost immediately after the kick-off and fullback Andrew Wells making a burst and handing a try to hooker Joe Walding-Karaitiana and suddenly it was 24-0.

Petone came back to score their first try, but MSP laid on two more tries and at 38-7 up it was game over. Petone scored some consolation points at the end. Of note, MSP had three players sin-binned in the second spell – Petelo, Wells and prop Jacob Dunn. No. 8 Matt Peni had a top game, as did tyro lock Naitoa ah Kuoi. Captain for the day for Petone, Jarrod Adams was full of industry on the wing throughout.

Hutt Old Boys Marist preserved their unbeaten record toppling Poneke 29-22. In an entertaining and even affair the turning point occurred with about 15 minutes remaining.

Poneke seized a 22-17 lead when impressive fullback Michael Sage dashed 40-metres untouched.

Poneke regained the kickoff, but a charge down by Eagles halfback Nick Risdon sparked a HOBM attack which resulted in a converted try to robust flanker Tamatasi Fidow. HOBM didn’t lose the lead thereafter, adding a fourth try when reserve winger Jack Talapa capitalised on an overlap.

On Monday veteran Risdon returned from an international holiday to be summoned out of retirement. Playing his first game since the 2017 Jubilee Cup final he typified the ANZAC spirit with a composed and tough performance. HOBM lost two front rowers reducing the scrums to “golden oldies,” but found a way to win their third consecutive game by a converted try or less. Risdon’s leadership was vital.

The halftime score was 14-12 in favour of HOBM. Glen Walters and Fereti Soloa crossed the chalk for the hosts and Ivan Vaisagote and Daly Meikeljohn responded for the visitors.

Poneke hammered the Eagles goal line for a sustained period in the second-half, but only Sage from thrilling counter attack found the try line.

HOBM loose forwards Fidow and Lise Soloa were huge with ball in hand for HOBM. Galu Taufale and Greg Foe were equally impressive in that regard for Poneke. This was a quality spectacle with no poorly performed players on the field. Both sides on today’s display will feature in the Jubilee Cup.

Harper Lock Shield

There were also close matches in the Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield in today’s seventh round set of contests, including a 31-31 draw at Hataitai Park between Wellington and Avalon.

Old Boys University pipped Tawa’s second XV 25-24, while Paremata-Plimmerton defeated Wainuiomata 33-27 to register their first victory of their campaign.

Northern United and Marist St Pat’s remain the two unbeaten teams through seven rounds, Norths secured their seventh straight bonus point win by toppling Johnsonville 50-0 and MSP beat Petone 37-22.

Petone will see this one against MSP as the one that got away, after leading 15-7 at halftime and then 22-7 early in the second half. The floodgates opened in the second spell and MSP scored six unconverted tries to sail past them.

Poneke are third after beating HOBM 32-7, while Ories defeated the Upper Hutt Rams 45-14 in the early encounter at Maidstone Park.

Ories outscored the Upper Hutt Rams two tries to one to lead 10-7 at the end of 40 minutes, the Rams’ try off the back of an attacking scrum coming on the stroke of halftime.

Ories scored five converted tries in the second half, three in quick succession whilst a Rams back was in the sin-bin. The hooker and the fullback, Tuga Mativa, scored two tries each.

In a First XV game today in Christchurch, St Bede’s retained the Father Paul Kane Cup by beating St Pat’s College 33-19.

The rugby continues tomorrow evening in Levin with the Hurricanes Development side hosting the Japanese Sunwolves Development team, followed by Friday night with the OBU Colts and the Upper Hutt Rams Colts meeting at Te Whaea. A full slate of club rugby matches is scheduled for Saturday.