Three teams to decide Swindale Shield with one spot open for championship round

Three teams can win the Swindale Shield.

The stage is set for a titanic climax to this year’s Premier competition first round with current joint leaders Northern United and Old Boys University (both on 50 points) and Hutt Old Boys Marist (49) all seeking glory next weekend.

Tawa and Poneke clinched the fifth and sixth Jubilee Cup berths today - leaving one spot still to be decided next weekend. This will either be Petone or Oriental-Rongotai, with Petone just needing a bonus point from their match with Old Boys University and Ories requiring a bonus point win over Johnsonville and a Petone shutout.

In a hectic penultimate round of matches today, Northern United defeated Old Boys University 50-45 in a top-of –the-table barnburner at Jerry Collins Stadium and Hutt Old Boys Marist defeated Johnsonville 52-24, in two matches involving this year’s title contenders.

Tawa beat the Upper Hutt Rams 55-24 and Poneke overcame Petone 36-19 to both clinch their Jubilee Cup spots.

Ories kept their slim hopes of making the top 7 alive by beating already confirmed Marist St Pat’s 41-32, while the Wellington Axemen defeated Wainuiomata 27-24 and Avalon overcame Paremata-Plimmerton 37-25 for an Old Timers’ Day win.

At Jerry Collins Stadium, Norths led all the way in a wild win against Old Boys University. It was match which produced 13 tries and drastic shifts in momentum. Initially, Norths made a stunning start racing to a 19-0 lead in as many minutes.

The scoring then reads like the announcement of Lotto results. From 19-0 it became 19-14 to Norths. The halftime score was 33-21 to the hosts and then the scoring went as follows: 36-21, 36-28, 50-28 and finally 50-45.

The game ended with Norths lock Chris Middleton poaching an inspirational lineout steal five-metres short of his own line with OBU pressing hard for a match-winning score.

Norths wing Junior Time-Taotua opened Norths account after two minutes collecting a cross-kick from Jackson Garden-Bachop. Norths forwards were rampant and halfback Esi Komaisavai profited with two tires - an easy dive over from close range and then a 30-meter dash supporting a breakout from Garden-Bachop.

OBU’s first try was a clinical finish to wing Sam Reid from a scrum at halfway and then Will Mangos (arguably the best player in the Swindale Shield this year) stormed across the chalk after Tai Neli slipped through weak tackling.

Kienan Higgins wriggled past his marker to make it 26-14, before both teams exchanged intercepts. Komaisavai went coast to coast to complete his hat-trick only for Dale Sabbagh to respond with a 40-metre solo for OBU.

Garden-Bachop commenced the even crazier second-half with a penalty before OBU secured a four try bonus point courtesy of Greg Mullany winning a three-man race to the ball after a Neli inspired chip and chase.

North’s lost their cool conceding seven penalties on the trot, but OBU failed to capitalize and with 15 minutes remaining Norths had a half century when Higgins reclaimed a precise grubber kick from Garden-Bachop.

OBU refused to surrender and on the back of a vastly superior scrum closed the gap to 50-42 when Mangos bullied over to complete a double.

With two minutes left Sabbagh kicked a 35-metre penalty from in front creating the chance of an improbable victory which was denied by Middleton.

After a slow start, Poneke finally capitalised on early momentum by scoring two tries and taking a 10-0 lead over Petone in their FJ Tilyard Shield encounter.

Left wing Tyson Fukatsu crossed soon after the break to put Poneke up 17-0. Petone crossed through replacement prop Jordan he's a Gogo but Poneke scored twice more and when Alex Morrissey found the line it was 29-7 and all but over.

At the Hutt Recreation Ground, the Eagles had the game in the bag at halftime, when leading 40-0. Second five-eighth Chase Tiatia played a leading hand in helping the Eagles pounce on opportunities and run in several first half tries.

Johnsonville’s pack produced an honest performance and the Hawks had a much better second half once Tiatia has crossed again to take a 47-0 lead. Johnsonville were to score four second half tries and earn their second bonus point of the season.

Avalon Wolves centre Chris Aumua scored two tries including an intercept try as his side went out to a 17-0 lead against Paremata-Plimmerton.

Paremata-Plimmerton came back to score three tries, to flanker Shane Hedges, No. 8 Peni Taupau and outside back Evan Leali'ifano, to close to 15-22. Blake Neve then kicked a penalty to tighten proceedings right up, before the Wolves dug deep for their Old Timers and pulled clear to win.

Tawa called upon a dominant scrum and their hard running backs to post a half-century on the Upper Hutt Rams. The Rams made a brisk start and flanker Daniel Schrijvers scored first and they soon went out to a 12-7 lead.

Tawa scored their second try and flyhalf James So’oialo landed a dropped goal to put them ahead 17-12. Flanker Telea Seumanutafa was to complete a hat-trick of tries and centre Pepesana Patafilo was dangerous as they pulled clear to win this one.

Wainuiomata finished with 14 players in their Bill Jones Cup loss to the Wellington Axemen who scored a late unconverted try to take victory.

In a tight contest, Wainuiomata scored the game’s first two tries, before the Axemen hit back with one of their own. The Axemen lost a lock to the sin-bin just before the break and Wainuiomata scored again to take a 17-8 lead into the oranges. Wellington scored next to close the gap to 15-17, before both sides scored converted tries to advance Wainuiomata’s lead to 24-22 with about 10 minutes to play. It wasn’t enough, however, the Axemen finishing strongly.

At Evans Bay Park, it was tit-for-tat between visitors Ories and MSP, with Ories leading 19-17 at halftime. Ories opened the second spell with their bonus point try to take a 24-17 lead before further tries advanced the score to 31-29 in favour of Ories. MSP fullback Andrew Wells slotted a penalty to see his side take a 32-31 lead, but Ories replied with a penalty and another try to take the win 41-32. No. 8 Luca finished with two tries for Ories to take his season tally to 13 in 12 games.

The Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield will come down to a ‘virtual final’ next weekend between Marist St Pat’s and Northern United, after both frontrunners won comfortably today.

MSP took their 12th straight win by beating Ories 66-38, while Norths won their 11th outing by beating Old Boys University 51-24.

Poneke held on to third by edging Petone 25-24, while Johnsonville exploded in the second half in beating Hutt Old Boys Marist 41-19, Avalon beat Paremata-Plimmerton 55-26, Tawa beat the Upper Hutt Rams 27-15 and Wainuiomata beat the Axemen 26-20.

The seventh round of Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy matches, both Ories and Petone leapfrogged Paremata-Plimmerton into second and third respectively behind leaders Norths with their wins and Pare-Plim's bye round.

Ories laid on six tries in beating MSP 36-22, including two each to Raylene Lolo and Evelyn Tea, while Petone outgunned Poneke 94-0 with Mary Lee-Sa’u and Jackie Fereti each scoring four tries.

Leaders Norths took a 43-34 win over Avalon, while Old Boys University and Hutt Old Boys Marist drew 12-12 at a heavy Nairnville Park.

OBU led 12-7 at halftime, following a long-range try finished off by centre Jess Offen and a try late in the half to livewire halfback Tawny Burgess off an attacking scrum. HOBM scored midway through the first half through first five-eighth Siteri Tabua who beat both OBU props close to the line.

The second half was an even affair as HOBM made changes off the bench. The game came down to a yellow card to an OBU player with about 15 minutes to play and HOBM subsequently locked it up with a try to centre Bertha Ruha.

The Les Mills Colts Paris Memorial Trophy Division 1 title was won today by Marist St Pat’s who beat HOBM Green 32-19, to register their seventh straight win.

OBU Green finished second after defeating Norths Blue 29-24 On Friday night. OBU Green made a fast start stand up, but only just. OBU led Norths 17-0 after as many minutes and 29-10 with 15 minutes to go, but Norths scored twice and had another ruled out before a last furious assault come up short, with the young Goats holding on.

The Upper Hutt Rams played well to beat Tawa 39-22 at Redwood Park this afternoon, while last year’s champions Petone ousted Ories 42-19, meaning Ories face relegation to division 2 for the second round (all to be confirmed during the week).

Paremata-Plimmerton won their seventh straight Colts JRD Cup clash, to take out the first round title and earn promotion to the top flight for the second round. They beat the Avalon Wolves Colts 51-11 today. OBU Black beat Johnsonville 34-12 to finish second.

The first round of the Wellington First XV Premiership saw five bonus point winners.

St Pat’s Silverstream beat St Bernard’s 49-17, Rongotai College edged Wairarapa College 24-22 in Masterton, Wellington College finished ahead of HIBS 24-7, St Pat’s Town beat Kapiti College 62-20 and Scots College blanked Porirua College 55-0.