Norths On Top As Poneke Bounce Back In The Bog

Swindale Shield champions Northern United head the Jubilee Cup points table, after running out narrow winners over Old Boys-University in their second round fixture at Porirua Park. Norths edged out OBU 23-20, coming from behind for a hard fought victory and a seventh successful defence of the Bill Brien Challenge Cup.

Poneke emerged from a Kilbirnie Park quagmire to defeat Petone 17-6 and record their first Jubilee Cup win of 2006. In a typically gritty performance in dreadful conditions, Poneke were able to arrest a four-game losing streak to beat their old rivals. First five-eighth Brad Cooper returned after a week off with four crucial penalties, with left wing Ambrose Plaister also scoring an important first half try.

In other games, Avalon reversed their defeat to Tawa four weeks ago with a comfortable 28-5 win at Lyndhurst Park and Hutt Old Boys Marist won their fixture against Marist St. Pats 27-13, to join Norths as the other unbeaten team after two rounds. Avalon halfback Peter Sciascia continued his fine run of form with 18 points, including his seventh try of the season. HOBM were in front throughout in their game which was transferred from Evans Bay Park to Rugby League Park.

It was tight in this week's feature game between Norths and OBU. Two unyielding sides battled hard to gain the upper hand, with both often negating the other through committed forward play and strong attack in the backs, whose willingness to run the ball in slippery conditions contributed to an enthralling contest.

It was a runaway intercept try to Norths first five-eighth Rob Aloe early in the second half that proved the clincher for Norths. Trailing 13-20, with fullback Adam Beganovich in the sinbin and with OBU pressing hard on attack, Aloe reeled in a short pass close to the ruck from OBU halfback Adam Fleming and sprinted 70 metres to score a decisive converted try to make it 20-20. From this point the tide turned, with Norths snatching a noticeable shift in momentum away from OBU and keeping them scoreless for the rest of the match.

After two long-range misses, Right wing Peato Lafaele slotted the winning penalty five minutes from fulltime for his 150th point of the season, and to reverse the 21-27 defeat to OBU four weeks ago.

The first half had seen both sides score two tries each, with the driving play of both forward packs and the accurate goalkicking of OBU hooker Daryl Gore the features. OBU responded to an early Lafaele penalty in style, with Hurricanes lock Ross Kennedy peeling off an attacking lineout drive to score unmarked in the left hand corner, which Gore converted.

Norths hit back in similar fashion, with New Zealand U19 openside flanker Nathan Fotuali'i scoring from a lineout drive. Five minutes later OBU crossed again through right wing Danny Shaw who capitalised on a fumble by the Norths back three in regathering a kick through to collect an easy try. This time Gore converted from the right hand touchline, and the students went ahead 14-8. This was quickly followed by a textbook 15-metre lineout drive from Norths, and prop Anthony Perenise crashed over to close the gap to 14-13.

Then came the decisive period of the game, with Norths fullback Beganovich thwarting a near certain try to OBU in broken play and sent to the sinbin. In his absence, Gore kicked two penalties before halftime to give his side a 20-13 lead. After halftime they swung back on attack and were asking questions of Norths' defence, but Aloe answered, screaming through to intercept a pass on his own 22 and scoring under the bar at the other end.