Significant Round Six In Store For Swindale Strugglers

Round 6 Preview It?s crunch time for Old Boys-University, Hutt Old Boys Marist and Oriental-Rongotai in round six of the Swindale Shield. As the competition reaches the halfway stage these teams must win this weekend if they want to finish the first round inside the top eight.

Only two can though, as winless HOBM and OBU play each other at the Hutt Recreation Ground, while Ories, who beat OBU in round one for their only win so far, will need to overcome an inform Western Suburbs at Ian Galloway Park or they will slide further into the relegation zone, especially if HOBM beats OBU.

Ninth placed Poneke are still searching for consistency this year, but find themselves up against Northern United at Porirua Park in a rematch of last year?s Jubilee Cup final.

The Club Weekly will be at Lyndhurst Park where eighth placed Tawa will tackle third placed Marist St. Pats. MSP, whose only loss has been to Norths, when they succumbed 18-6 in round three, have otherwise been playing well in 2005. They are organised and committed in the forwards and were impressive in shutting down Poneke, Ories, Johnsonville and Avalon.

Tawa come off back-to-back wins against HOBM and OBU, but neither were convincing. These followed losses to Johnsonville, Avalon and Wests. However with players such as centre Willie Lafaele, New Zealand Sevens Star Nigel Hunt at halfback and fullback Hirini Robin they will be a handful for MSP. Lafaele?s midfield clash with MSP second five-eighth Joe Wright will be one to watch in particular.

While MSP have beaten Tawa on each of the last four times these sides have met, only 2002?s 44-20 victory was convincing. MSP won 20-15 in 2003 and 16-10 and 14-13 in their two encounters last year. Hunt scored tries in each of these most recent clashes.

Elsewhere, the Avalon-Petone clash at Fraser Park looms as an important game for both sides. Whoever triumphs here will cement themselves near the top of the table. Petone were sharp last week against Johnsonville, especially in their set-piece play, while Avalon stumbled against Marist St. Pats. Home ground advantage will be in Johnsonville?s favour when they tackle high-flyers Upper Hutt and seek out four wins from six in their remaining clash.