HOBM Suffer First Loss As Norths Surge To Three Point Lead

Hutt Old Boys Marist’s fantastic unbeaten run in the Swindale Shield came to an end on Saturday. The previously unbeaten HOBM were soundly beaten by Avalon 34-8 in their round eight clash at Fraser Park, with Hurricanes No. 8 Thomas Waldrom starring for Avalon with two tries.

HOBM’s loss sees them slip to second equal in the race to the title, three points behind new leaders Northern United and alongside Poneke, who both enjoyed bonus point wins at home. Norths made light work of Marist St. Pats at Porirua Park, winning 34-6, while veteran Poneke wing Evan Belford also scored two tries to help his side to a 29-11 victory against struggling Upper Hutt.

Elsewhere, a passionate second half effort from Western Suburbs earned them an upset 22-17 defeat over Tawa at Ian Galloway Park. Wests outscored Tawa four tries to two, with wayward Wests goal kicking flattering the hot and cold Tawa. The loss sees Tawa slip from fourth equal to sixth, ending their Shield challenge.

On the up still is Old Boys-University, who continued their path to the Jubilee Cup with their second 50-point outing of the season, dismantling bottom placed Johnsonville 52-7. OBU ran in seven tries, with second five-eighth Paula Kinikinilau, brother of Roy, crossing for a double and kicking two conversions, with hooker Darryl Gore, the radar rake-man, landing all five of the rest.

Meanwhile, the strong ball running of Oriental-Rongotai’s No. 8 Manu Leiataua and second five-eighth Mau Lolo failed to prevent their side losing 22-30 in their clash with Petone at the Polo Grounds. The pair broke the Petone defence wide open several times, with the duo’s double act reminiscent of another Ories pair of note, the Rongotai Rocket himself, Roy Kinikinilau, and Ma’a Nonu. Lolo also scored a popular 30 metre runaway try that was comparable to a Kinikinilau and Nonu special from 2002, when they scored 22 tries between them that season.

However, there was also a lot of loose rugby played in this week’s feature match for the Jim Brown Memorial Trophy, where lacklustre defence and too many unforced turnovers were a frequent pattern in a scrappy match.Both sides scored three tries each, but the accurate boot of first five-eighth Sam Rasch, who kicked 15 points, including three timely penalties, proved the difference.Petone also made fast starts to both halves of play, scoring converted tries in the 3^rd and 43^rd minutes, and while Ories led briefly midway through the first half, Petone won comfortably in the end.

From the start, a Rasch grubber kick forced Ories on to their goaline. Petone won the resulting lineout against the throw and two phases later blindside flanker Peni Punitia, playing in his debut game for the Villagers, shot through to score under the posts.

Rasch kicked the conversion and added a penalty ten minutes later, giving Petone a 10-0 lead.

Ories hit back with converted tries to go ahead 14-10 on the 25 minute mark. Lolo slipped a tackle in broken play and sprinted 30 metres to score, while lock Maehe Austin stormed through to the tryline after regathering another messy Ories lineout, that had been tipped back uncontrollably on the Petone side.

The Ories defence fell off Petone fullback Willie Moala, whose angled run to the line restored the lead for Petone, before Ories fullback Luke Mears and Rasch exchanged further penalties, and Petone went to the break 20-17 in front.

After halftime, a well-worked Petone lineout drive set up a breezy Petone attack, stretching the Ories defence out wide, with Moala crossing unopposed for his second try, and his fourth of the season, following on from his 10 tries last year and 15 in 2004. Rasch’s conversion of this try restored their earlier ten-point advantage.

Ories pressed hard for a comeback over the next 15 minutes, but failed to threaten, before another Rasch penalty put the result beyond doubt for Petone at 30-17. Ories kept trying until the end and left wing Johnny Sola bridged the gap with a consolation try.