Swindale Shield Remains Tight Heading Into Round Eight

Round 8 Preview There are still five teams that can win this year?s Swindale Shield. Upper Hutt, Northern United, Western Suburbs, Marist. St Pats and Avalon are all in contention for the title with four rounds remaining. Unbeaten Upper Hutt holds a one point lead over Norths, with Wests and MSP four points back in joint third, while a win with a bonus point this week will see Avalon stay in the hunt.

However the pecking order at the top will change after this weekend?s action, with Norths and Wests squaring off at Ian Galloway Park in a crucial clash for both sides. Both have six wins from seven games, with both their losses coming against Upper Hutt at Maidstone Park. Upper Hutt beat Wests 22-13 in round two and prevailed over Norths 10-5 in round five.

If Wests can beat Norths, and Upper Hutt win as expected against ninth placed Tawa away at Lyndhurst Park, then Upper Hutt will extend their lead. However Norths are fresh from thrashing Oriental-Rongotai 48-0 and will be favoured to overcome Wests and keep the pressure right on Upper Hutt. MSP will also be expected to win against Old Boys-University at the Basin Reserve.

Of the other seven teams, Ories and OBU seem destined for the Hardham Cup, meaning the scramble is set to heat up this week for the middle five contenders in the struggle to finish the first round eighth or higher and make the Jubilee Cup round. Sixth placed Petone will fancy their chances against tenth placed Hutt Old Boys Marist at the Hutt Recreation Ground, while eighth placed Johnsonville will be targeting their clash with Ories as a must win fixture, with Norths, Wests and Avalon still to play.

Poneke travels to Fraser Park to play Avalon in this week?s feature game. It has not been a vintage season so far for Poneke. The red and blacks won well last week against Johnsonville and moved from ninth to seventh in the process. They have already played Upper Hutt, Norths, Wests and MSP and a win over Avalon will put them in good stead to make the top eight, especially with Tawa, HOBM and OBU to follow.

Perennial quiet achievers Avalon have only dropped two games so far and are unbeaten in three encounters at home. Their losses were to Wests (22-24) in round one and to MSP (7-29) in round five. Avalon will also be looking to avenge their disappointing 17-6 loss to Poneke when these two sides last met in the Jubilee Cup semi-finals last year.