Then There Were Two: Upper Hutt And Norths Left In Chase For The Shield

Round 9 Review Upper Hutt holds a two-point lead over Northen United after nine rounds of the Swindale Shield. Both frontrunners enjoyed easy wins over Hutt Old Boys Marist and Johnsonville, while Western Suburbs effectively ended Marist St. Pats? challenge by winning their match. MSP is still third, but ten points adrift of Upper Hutt. In other results Petone accounted for Old Boys-University, Poneke beat Tawa and Avalon used their escape card to beat Oriental-Rongotai.

This week?s feature game saw fourth placed Wests take on third placed MSP at Rugby League Park. It was a penalty fest for most of the game, with Wests first five-eighth Scott Leighton kicking seven goals from seven, including five second half penalties, and MSP first five-eighth Sam Rasch managing two penalties in each half. A try on fulltime to Wests wing Tristan Meo sealed the win for the Roosters.

There?s no shortage of midfield depth in Wellington at present. There are several talented operators around and any such list will include Wests? second five-eighth Jack Tarrant. In a close game Tarrant was clearly the most threatening player on the field. His ability to create opportunities for the Wests backs proved the defining difference between the sides.

MSP held a 6-3 lead at halftime, but this should have been more. Their forwards established the upper hand, particularly in the set pieces. However their execution was poor, and in contrast to their Wests? counterparts, MSP?s backs were bereft of ideas and they relied on the boot of Rasch too much to force mistakes and create scoring chances. Wests prop Willie Leota was sinbinned in the 30th minute for a high tackle - an act that marked a key point in the game. MSP were unable to capitalise, while Wests dug deep till halftime and with the first of Leighton?s penalties on the 40-minute mark they found themselves only three points behind at the break.

Back with fifteen players and with the slight wind advantage now behind them, Wests moved ahead of MSP with four further Leighton penalties to lead 15-6 after 60 minutes. MSP went close to scoring a try soon after with an urgent period of attack near the Wests line, but were thwarted by staunch defence. Both kickers traded penalties again and Wests were ahead 18-9 heading towards fulltime. Rasch then kicked a fourth penalty with the intention of securing a bonus point for his side - but Tarrant saved his best till last with the last act of the game, slicing through a hole and linking with fullback Toby Robson and Meo.

Meanwhile, the match of the round was between Avalon and Ories at the Polo Grounds. Ories made the running early on and went to a 22-0 lead late in the first half. Avalon fought back to trail 28-30, before first five-eighth Cameron Cross kicked a late penalty to give Avalon a one-point win.

It was largely one-way traffic at the other four venues. Norths had their four-try bonus point wrapped up inside 35 minutes against Johnsonville at Porirua Park. Norths scored eight tries in total, but only managed to convert one. Poneke?s forwards outmuscled their Tawa counterparts and won easily at Kilbirnie Park, while Upper Hutt enjoyed a stroll in the sunshine at Maidstone Park against HOBM and Petone pulled away from OBU at the Petone Recreation Ground with three second half tries.

Swindale Shield top points scorers (after nine rounds):

Scott Leighton (Wests) 115
Brad Cooper (Poneke) 100
Sam Rasch (MSP) 85
Riki Flutey (Petone) 74
Jonathon Bentley (HOBM) 63
Cameron Cross (Avalon) 63
Cory Aporo (Upper Hutt) 57
Corey Burt (Jville) 57
Rob Aloe (Norths) 56
Willie Lafaele (Tawa) 49
Fa'atonu Fili (MSP) 42
Steve McColl (MSP) 38

Swindale Shield top try scorers (after nine rounds):

Evan Belford (Poneke) 7
Rob Aloe (Norths) 5
Brad Baker (Upper Hutt) 5
Siaosi Anamani (Norths) 5
Tristan Meo (Wests) 5
Steve McColl (Poneke) 5
Vila Apu?ula (Avalon) 4
Shaun O'Conner (Poneke) 4
Malakai Kisina (HOBM) 4
Willie Moala (Petone) 4
Junior Togia (Tawa) 4
Dan Stemp (MSP) 4
Roy Kinikinilau (Ories) 4
Thomas Waldrom (Avalon) 4
Patolo Patelesio (Norths) 4