Threat Of Relegation Sets Up Thrilling Final Fortnight For Hardham Cup

Normally at this stage of the season, discussion is centred on the likely make-up of the four semi-finalists and who might be considered the more fancied picks of making the final at Westpac Stadium in three weeks. But Wainuiomata's unabated winning streak and some dramatic results amongst the other teams makes the only talking point surrounding the Hardham Cup the scramble to avoid relegation next year.

The fate of all four current premier clubs, Johnsonville, Upper Hutt, Western Suburbs and Oriental-Rongotai, is hanging in the balance heading into the final fortnight of round-robin play, with Wainuiomata holding all the cards. Incredibly, the competition newcomers are unbeaten and lead the standings after five rounds, with their 21-8 victory over Oriental-Rongotai and Johnsonville's 41-8 bonus point win over Upper Hutt last week both serving to put the Hardham Cup firmly in the spotlight this week. For Wainuiomata, this has clinched their place in next year's Swindale Shield at the expense of any one of the four sides who will end up finishing below then, while for Johnsonville it earns them a giant reprieve from being that side and throws the other three premier clubs into the relegation mix.

Johnsonville, who lost three of their first four games, including an11-13 defeat to Wainuiomata in round two would have been gone if they had lost to Upper Hutt as well. But with their backs to the wall they met their predicament head on, with All Black No. 8 Chris Masoe guiding them home comfortably in the end - and perhaps out of danger completely as they should win their last two games against Hutt Old Boys Marist and Poneke. Wainuiomata also had the help of their All Black Piri Weepu in the second of last week's head-turning results to further escalate the fever pitch.

The relegation axe now looms over Upper Hutt, Western Suburbs and Oriental-Rongotai, with these three teams still ahead of Johnsonville, but with the trickier last two weeks. While second placed Ories won't be feeling the heat just yet, it is third placed Wests and fourth placed Upper Hutt who will be, as they are still to play the giant killing Wainuiomata, while for Wests they also have an encounter with Ories in the last round.

With Ories and Upper Hutt also playing B teams this week, with home dates against Northern United and Poneke respectively, all eyes will be on William Jones Park in Wainuiomata, where a loss by Wests to the home side would likely see them leapfrogged by Upper Hutt and Johnsonville into the dreaded fifth position. Conversely if they can beat the frontrunners then their position should be safe and they can look ahead to the playoffs in that round seven clash with Ories, leaving Upper Hutt under the hammer in the final round.