Upper Hutt Must Turn To Face The Pack

Round 7 Preview Upper Hutt have been the star attraction of the 2005 Swindale Shield so far. And rightly so, last year?s Hardham Cup champions have yet to lose this year. But things could get a whole lot more intriguing at Maidstone Park after this weekend?s sets of matches.

Heading into round seven, Upper Hutt heads Northern United by one point, with Western Suburbs and Marist St. Pats only three points further back and Avalon well within striking distance in fifth.

On form, Norths, Wests and MSP should win their games. Norths play Oriental-Rongotai (at the Polo Ground), Wests play Old Boys-University (Basin Reserve) and MSP vie with Hutt Old Boys Marist (Rugby League Park). But Upper Hutt?s neighbourly clash at home against Avalon might not be as clear-cut. Avalon is sure to push them hard and if Avalon prevails, and these other games go as expected, there will be a log-jam at the top of the table. Norths would take the lead, and both Wests and MSP could overtake Upper Hutt, depending on bonus points.

There are two important mid-table encounters this week too. Sixth placed Johnsonville travels to Kilbirnie Park to play ninth placed Poneke, and seventh placed Petone hosts eighth placed Tawa.

Norths and Ories, who meet in this week?s feature match, couldn?t have had more contrasting fortunes since this time two years ago, when after seven rounds of the 2003 Swindale Shield, Ories were leading Norths by three points at the top of the table. In a precursor to a fantastic season last year Norths then went on to win the Shield and Ories finished second. Since then Ories have faded and they are destined for a second successive year in the Hardham Cup.

Ories have competed well at times this year, but their first round victory against OBU has been their only success. Losing their front row in the off-season was a blow. The Pale brothers, John and Ma?afu, and Eddie Leiataua are all missing this year. They possess enough dangerous players to push Norths, including No. 8 Fale Seve, fullback Justin Wilson, wing Lote Raikabula and first five-eighth Miah Nikora, but they will struggle in the open exchanges and in the midfield, where Norths are devastating even against the best teams.