Jubilee Hopefuls Lift Their Intensity

Hutt Old Boys Marist remain unbeaten and lead the Swindale Shield after six rounds. Their fairytale season continued with an emphatic flogging of Upper Hutt and shows little sign of slowing down.

Such is the importance of finishing the Swindale Shield round amongst the top eight teams and securing a berth in the Jubilee Cup later in the season that several teams noticeably lifted their intensity in round six. Old Boys-University, Northern United and Petone had important wins over Marist St. Pats, Oriental-Rongotai and Johnsonville respectively, effectively giving these clubs a two-win buffer, with five games to play, between them and an assignment with the Hardham Cup.

And with Johnsonville and Ories effectively dropping out of Jubilee Cup contention, and Western Suburbs teetering towards a similar fate after losing to Tawa, the onus will now be on Tawa and Upper Hutt to keep in touch with an otherwise crammed points ladder and on those chasers, ominously led by Poneke, to reel in HOBM in the coming weeks.

This week?s feature game was between the previously rejuvenated MSP and OBU at the Basin Reserve. A win to MSP would have put them firmly in contention to close in on HOBM, but instead their campaign was halted in its tracks by the dogged determination of a committed OBU outfit. The students were much more urgent than MSP and right from the fourth minute when tireless lock Justin Cullen scored their opening try they looked the hungrier side.

In contrast, MSP seemed flat up-front. Promising phases were too often halted by silly errors or ill discipline. Even with the presence of veteran Trent Eagle and pocket-rocket Joe Wright in the midfield their back play was disjointed and uninspiring. Despite this, MSP kept in touch, mainly with solid, organised defence and trailed only 10-3 at halftime.

OBU?S continuity and confidence improved markedly as the game wore on though, and their playmakers, first five eighth Jimmy Gopperth and centre Conrad Smith, were the benefactors. Both had outstanding games, running the ball hard and creating numerous holes in the MSP line. This pressure paid off early in the second spell, when left wing Mike Seabrook finished off a strong team build-up with a try and then the match-winner came when Gopperth regathered a chip-kick and ran 45 metres to score unopposed. At this stage OBU led 28-11 and despite a late charge by MSP, including a sharp try to Wright, OBU held on for a deserved win.

Meanwhile, HOBM?s remarkable season continued in sublime fashion when they ran in seven tries, including three to promising wing Jonathon Manu, to crush Upper Hutt. HOBM had the game won and had earned a bonus point by halftime when they led 24-3. However, waiting for HOBM to stumble is Poneke who also got serious, edging out an Avalon side that has now had two narrow losses on the trot. Elsewhere, Tawa outperformed a woeful Wests on their old timers day. With the services of both Lafaele brothers, Hayden and Willie, Tawa looked sharp out-wide, creating plenty of opportunities.