Big Wins Dominate Round Two Of Swindale Shield

Swindale Shield Round 2 Review It was a day of high scoring in round two of the Swindale Shield. It was also largely one-way traffic for the round?s winners, the exception being Johnsonville, who only just pipped Hutt Old Boys Marist. Northern United, Avalon, Marist St. Pats and Poneke all sauntered to easy wins, while Upper Hutt?s victory over Western Suburbs was more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests.

It was a passionate encounter in this week?s feature match between Upper Hutt and Wests at Maidstone Park. Billed as a battle between two no-nonsense forward packs, it was the Upper Hutt eight that won the day. The Upper Hutt tight-five and loose forwards combined well in a clinical and powerful performance to outmuscle their Wests counterparts and win easily.

Wests were their own worst enemy though, conceding a barrage of unforced errors that allowed the home side to get in front on the scoreboard midway through the first half and then hold off Wests when the visitors finally managed to tidy up their execution in the second spell.

It was a torrid battle early on, but Wests soon played their hand for the wrong reasons, managing to kick the ball out on the full five times and creating constant trouble for themselves behind their advantage line. Not surprisingly Upper Hutt found themselves with a huge territorial advantage and proceeded to put points on the board. First five Cory Aporo got their account underway with two penalties, before a counterattack from a Wests chip-and-chase 60 metres out resulted in a try to left wing Fraser Tane. Aporo and Wests first five Scott Leighton then traded penalties and it was 14-3 to Upper Hutt at halftime.

Upper Hutt could have gone ahead to 21-3 soon after the break, but a forward pass ruled out a probable try. It didn?t matter though as Aporo kicked a further penalty to extend the lead to 17-3 and Wests were a frustrated team. Wests won their share of possession in the second half, but all they could manage was a Leighton dropped goal, before Upper Hutt put the game beyond their reach with a well-worked team try in the 72nd minute, scored by lock Clinton Whiu. Wests scored a consolation try on fulltime through centre Richard Cooney, but the day belonged to Upper Hutt?s unrelenting forwards.

Aside from Johnsonville?s one-point win over HOBM, their second nail biting win in two weeks, it was all one-way traffic at the other venues. Norths were the most impressive, as they ran rampant and thrashed OBU nine tries to none, including a five-try burst in the first 25 minutes of the second half. MSP first five Fa?atonu Fili was brilliant in his side?s cakewalk over Ories, orchestrating play and scoring 20 points with his boot, Avalon atoned for last week?s lacklustre loss against Wests, thrilling their home crowd by outscoring Tawa six tries to one, while Poneke cantered past Petone in a 22-point win.

Swindale Shield Leading Points Scorers

Fa'atonu Fili (MSP) 30
Peato Lafaele (Norths) 28
Scott Leighton (Wests) 22
Cory Aporo (Upper Hutt) 22
Riki Flutey (Petone) 20
Rob Aloe (Norths) 20
Cameron Cross (Avalon) 16
Shaun O'Conner (Poneke) 15
Misiluni Moananu (Poneke) 15
Jonathon Bentley (HOBM) 14
Corey Burt (Jville) 13
Patrick Maguire (OBU) 12

Swindale Shield Leading Try Scorers:

Shaun O'Conner (Poneke) 3
Misiluni Moananu (Poneke) 3
Roy Kinikinilau (Ories) 2
Rob Aloe (Norths) 2
Willie Moala (Petone )2
Fraser Tane (Upper Hutt) 2
Hirini Robin (Tawa) 2
JP Tocker (MSP) 2
Sene Ta'ala (Jville) 2
Clinton Whiu (Petone) 2
Nick Risdon (HOBM) 2
Peniasi Tokacece (MSP) 2