Upper Hutt Still Unbeaten, While Norths and MSP Keep In Touch

Round 8 Review The highlights of round eight Swindale Shield play were Petone?s thrilling win over Hutt Old Boys Marist, Poneke?s midseason resurgence in dispatching Avalon and Northern United?s dogged win over Western Suburbs. Elsewhere, Upper Hutt disposed of Tawa, Marist St. Pats were too strong for Old Boys-University, while Oriental-Rongotai continued Johnsonville?s recent misery. What this means is Upper Hutt holds a two-point lead over Norths, with MSP a further three points back and a further gap back to fourth placed Wests, followed by the rest with just three rounds remaining.

Poneke continued their rise up the table with an impressive win over Avalon at Fraser Park in this week?s feature match. Poneke?s win was built around a super-committed effort from their forwards, who out-muscled Avalon with a vintage effort. Led by hooker Eugene Morgan in his 100th game and lock and captain Rob Turuwhenua, Poneke?s driving and mauling in particular was outstanding, and this was backed up by the cool head and sound kicking game of first five-eighth Steve McColl.

Poneke upset Avalon?s customary pattern of free-flowing attacking rugby, and this was reflected on the scoreboard as Poneke led comfortably from start to finish. Avalon created plenty of chances and were always threatening, but they let themselves down with poor discipline and regular unforced errors, and they struggled throughout for continuity. Poneke moved the ball more as the game wore on, but only after they had won the battle up front and their improved defence from earlier fixtures this year was also evident.

The game opened with a flurry of scoring and Poneke led 10-3 after 10 minutes. Poneke fullback Brad Cooper and Avalon first five-eighth Cameron Cross traded penalties, before McColl scored under the posts following an attacking scrum. Cooper kicked a second penalty almost straightaway and then added another on the half hour mark, after an aesthetically pleasing Poneke rolling maul was brought down by Avalon near their line.

It was 16-3 to Poneke at halftime and apart from a solitary penalty to Cross it was all Poneke in the second half. Inside the first 16 minutes of the second spell Cooper added two more penalties, McColl slotted a dropped goal and Turuwhenua scored in the corner after a sustained build up near the line. Avalon tried hard to peg back the 27-6 deadlock, but failed to penetrate, and when McColl plucked an Avalon pass out of the air and sprinted 20 metres to score his second try it was all over red and black rover.

Meanwhile, HOBM?s 5-year tenure of the Mcbain Shield was ended in the dying minutes of their clash with Petone at the Hutt Recreation Ground. Trailing 12-6 at halftime, HOBM, with the help of Piri Weepu who entered the fray soon after arriving in Wellington from Christchurch, got themselves ahead 23-22, but a late penalty from Riki Flutey gave the Villagers the win and catapulted them to fifth place on the log.

Wests were unlucky not to gain a bonus point in going down to Norths at home at Ian Galloway Park. In a scrappy encounter, dominated by Norths? ill discipline, it was tit-for-tat throughout, and only an extra penalty and a conversion to Norths? Bluesman Tamati Ellison separated the sides heading towards fulltime. But a late Norths try pushed the score out sufficiently to deny Wests any reward.

Ories collected their second win of the season with an emphatic five tries to nil drubbing of Johnsonville at Helston Park, while Upper Hutt quelled a spirited challenge from Tawa at Lyndhurst Park to continue their Peter Pan season and MSP dismissed OBU at the Basin Reserve.

Steven White

Swindale Shield leading points scorers after eight rounds:

Scott Leighton (Wests) 95
Brad Cooper (Poneke) 80
Riki Flutey (Petone) 74
Sam Rasch (MSP) 73
Jonathon Bentley (HOBM) 60
Cory Aporo (Upper Hutt) 57
Corey Burt (Jville) 57
Rob Aloe (Norths) 56
Willie Lafaele (Tawa) 49
Cameron Cross (Avalon) 47
Fa'atonu Fili (MSP) 42
Gene Johnston (Tawa) 35
Peato Lafaele (Norths) 33
Randell Walker (OBU) 33
Steve McColl (Poneke) 33

Swindale Shield leading try scorers after eight 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
Willie Moala (Petone) 4
Junior Togia (Tawa) 4
Dan Stemp (MSP) 4
Steve McColl (Poneke) 4
Misiluni Moananu (Poneke) 3
Roy Kinikinilau (Ories) 3
Peato Lafaele (Norths) 3

13 other players with three tries.

23 players with two tries.