HOBM Out In Front As Norths Fall To Poneke

Hutt Old Boys Marist have grabbed the lead in the Swindale Shield after previous leaders Northern United lost to Poneke, leaving HOBM the only unbeaten side after five rounds.

HOBM lead the standings by two points to second placed Norths after a streaky come from behind win against unfavoured Old Boys-University at the Prime Finance Basin Reserve. A converted try to HOBM late in the game broke a 17-17 deadlock and they held on to win 24-17.

Over the hill at Kilbirnie Park Poneke’s gallant forwards paved the way for an 11-7 victory over Norths in an old fashioned rugby battle of attrition. Poneke had fought hard to hold the 11-7 lead at the halftime break, which was enough to hold off the title favourites in a scoreless, torrid second half.

Both sides scored a try each inside the first 40 minutes, with Norths’ agile lock Api Naikatini crossing early, before Poneke wing Tupu Saena completed a sweeping 75-metre team movement. Saena’s try was also the 100^th try of the premier season, following an earlier try at another venue. Poneke first five-eighth Brad Cooper also added a penalty and a dropped goal.

Poneke’s epic win over the competition favourites lifted them to 16 points on the log, third equal with Tawa, who broke a six-game losing streak against Marist St. Pats at Evans Bay Park, beating them 19-9. In another titanic struggle, Tawa eventually pulled away from a 3-3 halftime scoreline with two tries in the second spell.

Elsewhere, Petone bounced back from their shock thrashing to Tawa in round four with a comfortable 32-13 bonus point win over Avalon at the Petone Recreation Ground, while Upper Hutt also earned a four-try bonus point with their timely 42-15 victory over Johnsonville at Maidstone Park. Following a rash of double and triple individual try scorers last week, Upper Hutt centre Ollie O’Leary was the only two-try scorer of the round with a try in each half.

At the Polo Grounds Western Suburbs fought back to capture a 20-20 all draw with Oriental-Rongotai, after trailing 12-0 at halftime and 20-10 late in the game.

Old Boys-University, who inflicted a heavy defeat on Wests in round four, for their first win of the season, were disappointed not to emerge with a credible draw against the table-topping HOBM in this week’s feature match.

The keen Southerly at all the round five venues was always going to be a determining factor, none more so than at the Basin Reserve. With it favouring the home side, OBU were able to establish a 17-3 lead by halftime - only for HOBM to quickly whittle it away and draw level to 17-17 barely seven minutes into the second spell.

But an expected HOBM walkover from that point on never came, as a determined OBU fought the elements and a rearranged inside backline combination to deny HOBM any further points for the next 30 minutes of play. Mainly through their hard working forward pack, led by locks Ross Kennedy and Sam Green, hooker Darryl Gore and No. 8 David Taumopeau, OBU held on to the ball for long periods and hardly missed a tackle.

However, during this time HOBM maintained a dominant territorial advantage and finally created the try to put them ahead in the 77^th minute. Weight of numbers out wide told and barnstorming HOBM No. 8 Leo Auva’a cracked the defence and crossed for a seven pointer. OBU rallied hard throughout a long injury time, but were unable to score a converted try to draw level again.

OBU were also left to rue poor kicking in the first half, with their first four kicks at goal, including an opening penalty from almost in front, all missing their mark. Nevertheless they played well to score three tries inside 30 minutes.

A turnover from 40 metres out started an attacking movement that led to the opening try to OBU captain and hooker Darryl Gore. This was also Gore’s third try of the season, the most by a forward so far. Then a cleverly weighted chip kick behind the HOBM line from halfback Tomasi Palu allowed fullback Nathan Sweetman to regather and score for a 10-0 lead.

A sweetly timed backline injection by left wing Sheldon Goodin undid both lines of HOBM’s defence, and he wrestled his way over in the tackle. The conversion to Goodin’s try was successful giving OBU a 17-0 lead.

HOBM fullback Mike Kingsbeer struck a penalty just prior to halftime, before two lightning converted tries after the break immediately put them back on level footing. The first saw halfback Nick Risdon charge down and score off a clearing kick by replacement OBU first five-eighth Ian Tulloch, while Kingsbeer showed good pace and strength to burst through and score the second.

But that was all they could manage until Auva’a secured their fifth straight win late in the game.