Key Round Six Clash For Avalon And MSP

Two of the closest performing sides in Wellington club rugby clash in this week's feature match. There could be nothing in it at Fraser Park when Avalon host Marist St. Pats in round six of the Swindale Shield. Both sides will be desparate to win and climb out of their mid table positions at the halfway mark of the competition.

Both find themselves on the wrong side of the win-loss ledger and in the same spot on the points table after five rounds. With two wins each, Avalon and MSP are level pegging with Upper Hutt in a three-way tie for sixth with 11 points. Both are coming off losses last week, with Avalon going down to Petone 15-32 and MSP to Tawa 9-19.

Both will look to their relatively safe defences as the key to victory. Avalon, with 72 points scored against them in five games and MSP with 77, have the second and third best defensive records of the 12 teams so far. Northern United are well out in front, having conceded only 34 points, as well as averaging 31 points per game.

Avalon and MSP have let in only seven tries each in five games played. In the try-scoring department, MSP have an edge, having scored 15 tries to Avalon's nine in 2006, but Avalon have won five of their previous six home games, going back to last year's Jubilee Cup, where MSP finished fifth and Avalon sixth. Avalon also won 28-26 the last time they met.

Meanwhile, on form it should be a different story at Ian Galloway Park when top meets bottom. Hutt Old Boys Marist have won three of their last four games with last-minute clinchers, and their supporters would be glad for a more comfortable means of victory against Western Suburbs. But they could find themselves in for another tough one, against a Wests side on their home patch and on the improve from a mini crisis of injury and despair.

Northern United are also back on home territory this week against Upper Hutt. Norths have rarely lost twice in a row in recent seasons, but Upper Hutt's close-quarter, patient style of attack will ensure it's no walkover. The last time Upper Hutt and Norths met was in last year's Jubilee Cup semi-final at Porirua Park, with Norths prevailing 26-21.

In other games Tawa, Poneke and Petone all have a chance to consolidate themselves in the top half of the table. In-form Tawa face the improving Old Boys-University at home, Poneke will be in for another physical encounter in their local derby against Oriental-Rongotai at the Polo Grounds. Meanwhile, Petone (with Crusaders lock Ross Filipo on board) travel to Helston Park to meet Johnsonville.

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