Norths And Upper Hutt Lead Race for Jubilee Playoffs After Third Round Thriller

Round 3 Review It was a set of thrilling games in the Jubilee Cup, but Northern United and Upper Hutt emerged as the two unbeaten teams after round three. The match of the round saw the remarkable Upper Hutt absorb all sorts of pressure before edging out Petone. At the other end of the table Tawa beat Western Suburbs by the same three-point margin to realistically end Wests? hopes of a playoff berth, and Avalon pipped Marist St. Pats to register their first win of their Cup campaign. Meanwhile, Norths continued their recent dominance over Poneke, despite the red-and-blacks pushing them close all the way.

In this week?s feature match Tawa deservedly squeezed past Wests at Ian Galloway Park. It was an indifferent performance by Wests; they lacked direction for large periods, allowed Tawa first five-eighth Gene Johnston to put them on the back foot with his tactical kicking, and for Tawa?s forwards to get on top of them. The Tawa tight-five, and midfield in particular, harried Wests and helped set up the win.

Nevertheless, it was a close game that could have gone either way right up to the final whistle. The Roosters netted a penalty and a try for an 8-0 lead after 15 minutes. Their first try was an encouraging sign; from a turnover in midfield they went wide on an overlap to right wing Junior Ese, who scampered up the sideline and linked with centre Richard Cooney.

But Tawa warmed to the task and came back well with a penalty and try to lead 10-8 at halftime. Their opening try, when it came on the half hour mark, followed a moment of sideline confusion. Centre Vice Saletele had crossed the line for a clear try but it went unrewarded. Instead Tawa won a 5-metre scrum, from which right wing Jon Masaga injected himself into the midfield and ran in under the posts.

The lead changed three times in the second half, with both sides scoring a further try each and trading penalties. Tawa went ahead 18-11 through explosive second five-eighth Willie Lafaele who scored in the corner, after a Tawa lineout steal on Wests? line. But the Roosters rallied and a second try to Cooney locked it up to 18-18 with just minutes remaining. However Johnston won the game with a late penalty.

It was all guts and determination from the home team at Maidstone Park as Petone made all the early running against Upper Hutt and threatened to become the first side all season to break the Swindale champions open, but the Upper Hutt defence was up to the task and second half tries to first five-eighth Cory Aporo and hooker Joe Ritchie won the day.

At Kilbirnie Park, Poneke try-scoring maestro Evan Belford?s tenth touchdown of the season was not enough to stop Norths? three tries. Avalon also scraped past MSP at Fraser Park. MSP managed to outscore Avalon four tries to three, but three penalties to Avalon first five-eighth Stephen Cross were ultimately the difference.

Steven White

Jubilee Cup leading point scorers (after three rounds):

Scott Leighton (Wests) 153
Brad Cooper (Poneke) 142
Sam Rasch (MSP) 130
Cameron Cross (Avalon) 87
Ben Aoina (Upper Hutt) 85
Gene Johnston (Tawa) 81
Riki Flutey (Petone) 74
Cory Aporo (Upper Hutt) 62
Willie Lafaele (Tawa) 62
Rob Aloe (Norths) 58
Evan Belford (poneke) 50
Fa'atonu Fili (MSP) 42
Steve McColl (Poneke) 41
Junior Togia (Tawa) 40
Peato Lafaele (Norths) 35

Jubilee Cup leading try scorers (after three rounds):

Evan Belford (Poneke) 10
Junior Togia (Tawa) 8
Willie Moala (Petone) 7
Vila Apu?ula (Avalon) 7
Siaosi Anamani (Norths) 6
Thomas Waldrom (Avalon) 6
Dan Stemp (MSP) 6
Tristan Meo (Wests) 5
T Umaga-Marshall (Petone) 5
Steve McColl (Poneke) 5
Rob Aloe (Norths) 5
Patolo Patelesio (Norths) 5
Chris Puketapu (Upper Hutt) 5
Brad Baker (Upper Hutt) 5
Willie Lafaele (Tawa) 5