All Blacks Weepu And Masoe Help Ignite Hardham Cup

For the second time in three weeks, All Blacks Piri Weepu and Chris Masoe stamped their marks on the Hardham Cup, helping to guide their respective clubs to emphatic fifth round upset wins. Their timely influence will no doubt not be lost on the other contenders either, as Weepu scored 16 points and played a key role in Wainuiomata's 21-8 top-of-the-table victory over Oriental-Rongotai at the Polo Ground. Masoe chimed in with a double to help Johnsonville beat Upper Hutt 41-7 at Helston Park and stay alive in a dramatic form reversal for them.
Meanwhile, Western Suburbs enjoyed a 17-0 win over Hutt Old Boys Marist at Ian Galloway Park and Northern United pipped Poneke 6-5 at Porirua Park, as more wintry weather dominated play, as well as creating headaches for the various ground administrators in Wellington and Porirua.

These results give Wainuiomata a remarkable five-point buffer at the top of the table, and confirm their place in the 2007 Swindale Shield - as well as giving Johnsonville a giant reprieve from the immediate threat of relegation, after a loss to Upper Hutt would have seen them lose their premier status next year to Wainuiomata. For Johnsonville, this bonus point win also earns them five valuable competition points, while Ories and Upper Hutt gained no points from their respective losses in a potentially crucial set of results. Coaches and administrators alike will be feverishly crunching their numbers to see how these results affect the chances of Ories, Upper Hutt and Wests as well as Johnsonville in the now fever-pitch tussle to stave off relegation over the final two weeks.

This week's feature match between Wainui and Ories was played in awful conditions at the Polo Ground, after the Polo Ground had been underwater on Saturday morning, causing a short-lived shift in venue to Cobham Park at Evans Bay. It started in a very physical manner, with both forward packs taking each other on in trying to gain an edge. Ories had the stiff southerly behind them in the first half, but were kept under control through Wainui's strong defence led by No. 8 Sape Misa.

First points came through a penalty to Weepu, but Ories hit straight back with a charge down try to second five-eighth Mau Lolo. Ories' first five-eighth Luke Mears could have increased the lead for his team, but missed three vital kicks at goal. Wainui's forwards were starting to gain more control, and midway through the half Weepu scored their first try, running down the blindside after another probing break. Ories were unable to gain any rhythm with the wind and were down 10-8 at halftime.

The first ten minutes after the break were the telling point of this match - with Wainui scoring ten points in as many minutes through a penalty to Weepu and a try to second five-eighth Wayne Gurdler. With the wind behind Wainui and their veteran first five-eighth Earl Va'a showing his class, Ories were always going to find it difficult to get back into the match. The weather and ground conditions were getting worse, making ball control for both teams almost impossible. Ories had one late surge in the match but Wainui's defence was again too strong.

Wainui are now five from five after this match and have a real chance of going through unbeaten in the round robin phase. For Ories, after their form in recent weeks, they would have been disappointed not to get anything out of this game.