Stalemate At The Village As Norths Roll On

Hutt Old Boys Marist rumble towards the Poneke tryline in this week's feature match

Another commanding win for Northern United and a thrilling draw between Petone and Marist St. Pats were features of the opening Jubilee Cup round. Norths continued their winning Swindale Shield form, sweeping past Avalon 48-15 and inflicting the first Fraser Park loss on Avalon this season, while Petone and MSP battled to a 25-25 stalemate at the Petone Recreation Ground.

Norths right wing Peato Lafaele continued his 2006 scoring bonanza with 18 points and Wellington Samoans lock-turned left wing Francis Seumanatafa scored a double in Norths’ 33 point win over Avalon. Avalon prop Errol Weston crashed over for one of his side’s two tries and his fifth of the season.

Elsewhere, Hutt Old Boys Marist held off Poneke’s challenge for a 20-13 win at the Hutt Recreation Ground and a slick Old Boys University backline and a staunch defensive effort was the basis in OBU’s 24-5 win over Tawa at the Prime Finance Basin Reserve. OBU had the game won by halftime after running in three unanswered tries for a 19-0 lead, including a sweeping 60-metre effort.

A Tana Umaga inspired second half comeback helped Petone scramble to a 25-25 draw over MSP after the visitors had opened up a sensational 25-13 lead at halftime with two quick tries. Long serving halfback Reece Poutawera was the catalyst for these MSP tries, scoring off his own chip and chase and then setting up flanker Dane Coles for his fourth try in a fortnight.

But Petone talisman Umaga, in his second appearance for the Villagers this season and on the back of Jerry Collins’ popular performance for Norths last week, helped put in motion a valiant fight back for the defending champions. The Hurricanes superstar set up two tries, for wing Junior Taumaoe and fullback Simeon James for Petone to draw level. MSP then had chances to grab the win, including a late assault at the line, but failed to score.

Meanwhile, the Club Weekly was on hand up the road at a muddy Hutt Recreation ground, where HOBM registered a first round win over an understrength Poneke. Despite missed opportunities and a late rally, which also gave the Red and Blacks an all-important bonus point. The heavy underfoot conditions helped to restrict HOBM who failed to fully capitalise on a healthy territorial advantage with a dominant pack.

For Poneke, this was their fourth loss in a row, but injuries and forced rearrangements are also taking their toll. Key players were missing for this clash, including regular first five-eighth and kicker Brad Cooper and No. 8 Neil Meyer, while they fielded a new look backline combination.

HOBM broke open a 3-3 deadlock with a try to right wing Denis Unasa after second five-eighth Tui Raeli had busted clean through the Poneke Midfield from an attacking lineout. Creating space, Raeli linked up with centre Phillipe Rayasi, who sent Unasa over the line. Fullback Mike Kingsbeer slotted the conversion for a 10-3 lead, after missing an earlier penalty from closer in.

Poneke replied five minutes before halftime when a quick tap penalty caught HOBM’s cover defence short and mobile prop Kwain Anelua, shrugged off the injury cloud he was under before the match and accelerated through a gap out wide to score.

This made it 10-8 at halftime, before good HOBM continuity allowed them to extend this to 17-8 on 43 minutes with hooker Steve Silva going over. The home side couldn’t turn opportunities into more points over the next 25 minutes. Chances went begging, including Raeli being pulled down a metre from the line after a searing break and Kingsbeer missing another penalty attempt from close range. However Kingsbeer was successful again, and at 20-8 with 20 minutes left the Eagles were still in control.

Poneke finished with much more intensity, but left their run too late. Left wing Ambrose Plaister scored in the corner on fulltime as consolation.Despite the opening round loss, Poneke will be a threat when they have their full complement of players back on board. With a strong ‘B’ squad playing in the Hardham Cup, depth is not a problem. Last year they lost 19-17 to Petone at the semi-final stage and be surprised if they are not there in 2006.