Upper Hutt Stay In Front, While Petone, Poneke Have Important Wins

Round 7 Review Upper Hutt maintained their grip on the 2005 Swindale Shield, making it seven wins from seven on Saturday. With three teams breathing down their neck going into the round Upper Hutt responded with an emphatic home win over Avalon. Northern United thrashed Oriental-Rongotai at the Polo Grounds, Western Suburbs prevailed over Old Boys-University at the Basin Reserve and Marist St. Pats held off Hutt Old Boys Marist at Rugby League Park in the fight for the top spots.

Elsewhere, both Poneke and Petone had important wins to consolidate their mid table positions and keep them firmly in the hunt for the top eight after the first round. Poneke especially will breath a sigh of relief after round seven. They were ninth heading into their clash with Johnsonville and a loss would have seen them slip further. However the red and blacks led from start to finish and three tries to experienced wing Evan Belford helped them collect maximum points and move to seventh.

Petone?s win against Tawa was a nail-biter. Tawa established a 26-5 lead at halftime, and then the Villagers mounted a comeback. Trailing 26-20 with only minutes remaining, prop Thomas Tupuivao scored the winning try, which rookie first five-eighth Sam Wimsett converted.

Norths have got the ability to turn a game their way in the blink of an eye, and that?s exactly what they did against Ories in this week?s feature game. Ories were in the contest for large periods, particularly throughout the first half, but as soon as Norths stepped up a gear they couldn?t respond. The 48-0 scoreline didn?t entirely represent the run of the game, but Norths went from slugging out a tough challenge to running away with the fixture in a 20-minute period before and just after halftime.

In the end Norths combined patience with power and aggression and scored eight tries. Ories had the better of the opening 25 minutes, taking Norths on up-front and creating enough territory to score points. But they lacked the firepower to do so and were also thwarted by strong North?s defence. The blustery conditions didn?t help them either and the run of play soon swung Norths? way.

It wasn?t until the 25-minute mark that Norths had a real attacking opportunity inside the Ories 22 and they made the most of it. A quick tap penalty from halfback Lua Vaoloaloa gave captain and prop John Schwalger the opening try. This proved a catalyst for Norths and they were quickly back down the field. A persistent build-up saw first five-eighth Rob Aloe cross for a second try. They scored again through left wing Sinoti To?omaga on halftime and led 19-0 at the break.

The first seven minutes of the second spell sealed the deal for Norths. Almost immediately centre Patolo Patelesio split the midfield in a lovely back movement, passed to No.8 Bryan Saolele, who scored the bonus point try. Then two further tries came in identical fashion in the 44th and 47th minutes. Both were scored following lineout drives, with first replacement prop Petelo Tupua and then lock Toni Leota crashing over. At 34-0 now a rout was on, but as quickly as Norths had struck the onslaught abated and Ories were able to regain some impetus of their own. But they rarely threatened and Norths finished strongly with late tries to blindside Fono Salu and replacement forward Ollie Sosene.

Steven White

Swindale Shield top Points scorers (after seven rounds):

Scott Leighton (Wests) 95
Sam Rasch (MSP) 65
Brad Cooper (Poneke) 64
Riki Flutey (Petone) 59
Cory Aporo (Upper Hutt) 57
Rob Aloe (Norths) 56
Willie Lafaele (Tawa) 49
Corey Burt (Jville) 48
Fa'atonu Fili (MSP) 42
Cameron Cross (Avalon) 41
Jonathon Bentley (HOBM) 36
Peato Lafaele (Norths) 33
Randell Walker (OBU) 33
Gene Johnston (Tawa) 32
Mano Flutey (Avalon) 25

Swindale Shield top try scorers (after seven rounds):

Rob Aloe (Norths) 5
Evan Belford (Poneke) 5
Brad Baker(Upper Hutt) 5
Vila Apu?ula (Avalon) 4
Shaun O'Conner (Poneke) 4
Siaosi Anamani (Norths) 4
Malakai Kisina (HOBM) 4
Tristian Meo (Wests) 4
Misiluni Moananu (Poneke) 3
Roy Kinikinilau (Ories) 3
Willie Moala (Petone) 3
Peato Lafaele (Norths) 3
Fraser Tane (Upper Hutt) 3
Hirini Robin (Tawa) 3
Jonathon Manu (HOBM) 3

Six other players with three tries

26 players with two tries

Note - Points scorers and try scorers for Hutt Old Boys Marist in round seven not available.