Jubilee Cup comes alive with three one-point wins

A trio of one-point wins around the region marked today’s fourth round set of Jubilee Cup matches, with narrow wins to Northern United, Old Boys University and Tawa.

Northern United beat Hutt Old Boys Marist 35-34 at Jerry Collins Stadium, Old Boys University pipped Oriental-Rongotai 18-17 at Nairnville Park and Tawa edged Marist St Pat’s 15-14 at Evans Bay Park.

With their wins, Norths and OBU kept their unbeaten records intact, while Tawa have kept their semi-final chances alive at the likely expense of Marist St Pat’s who have yet to have their bye.

The Hardham Cup was more clear-cut today, with Wainuiomata beating Petone 29-15 in a resounding bonus point win at William Jones Park, Johnsonville continuing their second round resurgence in beating the Avalon Wolves 33-15 and the Upper Hutt Rams coming from behind to shade the Wellington Axemen 29-22.

At Jerry Collins Stadium, Norths fans thought they had left their run too late in coming back from 6-20 at halftime and later 11-34 behind when their attacking lineout in the shadows of fulltime was ruled not straight and HOBM won a relieving scrum. But Norths turned the ball over from the next play and went wide to rookie right wing Junior Time-Taotua who scored in the corner to seal victory.

HOBM were seemingly in control of the match barely 20 minutes earlier after hard working pair, blindside flanker Tamatasi Fidow and lock David Filipo, had both scored tries to give the Eagles a 23-point lead. Attacking the breakdowns, putting pressure on Time-Taotua’s 2017 Porirua College teammate Eli Moata’a on starting debut at first five-eighth and turning Norths around with their kicking game they were in control.

But Norths suddenly fired up. They made a couple of changes and their forwards went into beast mode and they launched a comeback. Faifili Levave scored to make it 34-18, he scored again to make it 34-25 and then captain Parekura Lalaga crossed after a sweeping build-up to close the gap to 34-30. The drums were beating and Norths marched downtown again and eventually scored the winner.

Earlier, the Eagles scored two converted tries in the first half to lead by 14 points at the break. Fullback Chase Tiatia burst away from a ruck in midfield and set up the game’s first try to halfback Sheridan Rangihuna and then flanker Jordan Gillies finished off a sweeping movement that crisscrossed the field.

At Nairnville Park, OBU scored their third one-point victory in the last six matches against Ories, pipping the Magpies 18-17.

It took the Goats an hour to crack the visitor’s defence, but when flanker turned centre Will Mangos muscled over under the posts to make it 11-10, the Billy Goats gained a lead they never lost.

It was a tight arm wrestle which saw OBU slowly gain a telling edge in possession and territory. Ories lineout misfired and when wing Nathan Blundell scored, following a big charge from Teariki Ben-Nicholas, the game appeared safe at 18-10.

Ories mounted a dramatic comeback though. Fullback Trent Renata narrowly missed a penalty with three minutes to go and then Paulo Aukuso busted and Alex Ropeti finished to set up the chance of an improbable Ories win.

The last play was a 60-metre break by Andrew Ellis which ended with the Ories winger being bumped into touch.

Earlier Ories lineout was on target and captain Tuakana Metuarau mauled over for the first try. Dale Sabbagh responded with two penalties, but on the brink of halftime Ellis poached an intercept and dashed 55-metres.

OBU’s bench provided greater impact with hooker Wirangi Parata and halfback Matt Fowler making pivotal contributions.

Others to stand out were OBU prop Alex Barendregt, locks Paddy Carter and Augustin Escalona along with flanker Sam Coventry. Prop Whetu Henry, No.8 Luca Ress and Metuarau were powerful for Ories.

At Evans Bay Park, Marist St Pat’s fullback Andrew Wells missed an 80th-minute penalty to win the game against Tawa.

The game came alive in the second half after scores had been locked up at 0-0 at halftime. Tawa crossed for two tries in the first 15 minutes of the second spell, to wing Elijah Vaa-Brooking and lock Telea Seumanutafa.

MSP then hit back with a try to second five-eighth Isaiah Petelo in the 60th minute to close the score to 7-12, and then a runaway converted try fullback Wells moments later to put MSP ahead 14-12. Tawa slotted a penalty to re-take the lead and the rest of the match remained scoreless as Tawa held on to win.

At William Jones Park, it was also 0-0 well into the first half, before Wainuiomata scored the opening try to No. 8 Greg Lealofi and Petone soon replied to make it 7-5 to the home side.

Wainuiomata’s Matt Jacobs kicked a penalty to extend this lead to 10-5 at halftime, before lock Bevan Clark crossed and Jacobs converted to put Wainuiomata up 17-5. Veteran fullback Uale Mai stole an intercept and set up a try for rising centre Peter Umaga-Jensen for a 24-5 lead and it was game over. Both sides scored again and the green and blacks took the win 29-15.

At Maidstone Park, the Wellington Axemen scored two tries and kicked a penalty to lead the Upper Hutt Rams 15-7 at halftime.

The Rams went into helter-skelter mode early in the second half and No. 8 Josh Houston-Tupou scored two consecutive tries to put the Rams ahead 19-15. Lock forward Sio Luamanu scored again to make it 26-15 to the Rams. The Axemen scored another try, but the Rams kicked a penalty and they won 29-22.

At Helston Park, home side Johnsonville opened the scoring against the Avalon Wolves through right wing Waisea Yabakivou after combining up the shortside with fullback Jacob Walmsley.

Johnsonville scored another try to tighthead prop Tietie Tuimauga and Avalon scored their first to right-wing Poata Tuisamoa after a length of the field intercept and the home side led 12-5 at halftime.

Johnsonville maintained their lead in the second half and went on to win five tries to three, 33-15.

In the Premier Reserve Ed Chaney Cup, Northern United enjoyed a big win over Hutt Old Boys Marist, winning 74-12, while Marist St Pat’s beat Tawa 32-10 and Ories beat OBU 27-17..

In the HD Morgan Memorial section, the Upper Hutt Rams beat Wellington 27-12 and Johnsonville defeated Avalon 57-17. Wainuiomata and Petone met in the other game.

The second round of Women's matches saw comfortable wins for frontrunners Norths and Oriental-Rongotai in the Division 1 Tia Paasi Memorial Cup.

At Porirua Park Norths scored nine tries as they beat an undermanned and injury-ravaged Marist St Pat’s 51-14; teenaged fullback Julie Tusa scored the first three tries and added another while veteran prop Patsy Schwalger grabbed a brace.

However, they were eclipsed by their rivals who racked up 12 tries at the Petone Rec as they beat Petone 72-17, with Ayesha Leti-l'iga scoring seven of those herself and taking her season tally to 29 in just 10 matches. 

In the two Division 2 Izzy Ford Cup Tyler Bentley scored a hat-trick to lead HOBM to a 34-20 win over OBU while Avalon got up 29-14 over Poneke.

Norths maintained their lead in the Les Mills Colts Division 1 John E Kelly Memorial but had to work hard to overcome neighbours Paremata-Plimmerton at Porirua Park after trailing the visitors at half-time, before getting home 34-28.

Norths scored the first try virtually from the opening kick-off, but Paremata-Plimmerton came back to score four well-constructed first-half tries to lead 22-19 at the break. Pare-Plim crossed the line beside the posts early in the second half but the referee was unsighted and came back for a penalty which they kicked to make it 25-19. However, Norths hit back straightaway and took the lead and held on to the end.

Elsewhere the Upper Hutt Rams and Petone were also kept winless after losing at home; the Rams dipped out 12-20 against Tawa and the defending champs were humbled 19-50 by cross-river rivals HOBM.

The fourth match between MSP and OBU Green was reportedly abandoned after 35 minutes and seems headed to WRFU HQ. 

In Division 2 Poneke brought up a century in thrashing Avalon 101-5 and Wainuiomata retained their lead beating Johnsonville 32-17. Oriental-Rongotai won by default, while the result of the Wellington vs OBU Black match is pending.

At the College level Silverstream and Scots remain neck and neck in the Premiership ahead of their clash next Saturday. Silverstream crushed neighbours HIBS 74-10 and Scots eased past Kapiti College 53-7. St Pats Town remain third after beating St Bernard's 53-10 and Rongotai were 43-7 winners over Porirua. The closest game of the day was at Wellington College where the home side got up 15-7 over Wairarapa College.

In Premier 2 Aotea retained the lead after seeing off Onslow 49-10; that result also sees them through to the Coed Cup final against Porirua on a date to be confirmed. In the other results Tawa beat Paraparaumu 38-15, Hutt Valley HS beat Taita 33-7, Upper Hutt got their second win after beating the Wellington College 2nds 17-10, and the Silverstream 2nds beat their Town counterparts 25-10.