Wests Walk The Wire As Hardham Cup Tightrope Continues

A default and a draw were the two key outcomes in round six, meaning the Hardham Cup will go down to the wire in next week's final round, with two playoff berths still up for grabs, as well as the small matter of relegation on the line in round seven. There will be sleepless nights again this week, after Johnsonville were gifted five competition points without even needing to don their blue stripes after being defaulted to by a prop-less Hutt Old Boys Marist, and Western Suburbs could only collect two points in drawing 13-13 with Wainuiomata, setting up a must win encounter with Oriental-Rongotai for them next week.

It was bonus point wins as expected for the other two premier sides, with Ories striding out to a 64-0 win against Northern United and Upper Hutt trouncing Poneke 54-5. Going into the last round, Wainuiomata and Ories have qualified for the semi-finals, with three teams fighting for the remaining two playoff berths. But for Upper Hutt, Wests and Johnsonville round seven is still about avoiding relegation, with top four spots the relieving consequence of escaping that prospect.

Wests' and Wainuiomata's drawn result reflected a tight contest at Mary Crowther Park Number 2 in this week's feature game, with missed opportunities and ill-discipline costing both teams. Neither side was able to grasp their chances in a scrappy, stop-start contest, dominated by a high penalty count. Referee Michael Best was obliged to blow his whistle for 29 penalties and free kicks, including 17 in the first half, as well as two yellow cards. With both teams scoring tries with a one man advantage while Wests blindside and captain Justin Purdie (1^st half) and ball running Wainuiomata openside Lani Tuita (2^nd half) were in the sin bin.

Wests' woes aside, Wainuiomata played with enough confidence and enterprise to see why they deserve to be contenders for this year's Hardham Cup title and why their presence in next year's Swindale Shield will trip up the unwary and complacent. Playing into a cool Northerly wind in bright sunshine, they made much of the running in the first half, putting pressure on Wests' set-piece ball and making inroads with some committed ball running and support play. No. 8 Sape Misa, hooker Andy Courtier and crowd favourite prop Alec Leala looked likely, and they were backed up by halfback Cory Draper and fullback Kurt Samuels with their penchants for a gap.

However constant infringing let them down, but Wests first five-eighth Scott Mudgway was only successful with just one from his three first half shots at goal, giving the Roosters a 3-0 lead late in the half. A sublime counterattack from deep within their own territory involving Samuels and left wing Te Aonui Ririnui was followed by Purdie shown yellow at a subsequent ruck, and a try to Wainuiomata lock Jared Beyer soon followed. Beyer toed ahead an untidy ball behind the advantage line and crashed over for a converted try and a 7-3 halftime lead for his team.

Wests' pack increased their aggresiveness after the break, but instead it was Wainuiomata first five-eighth Earl Va'a who struck first, landing a penalty for a 10-3 lead. Wests were now much in need of a reply and it came soon after against the run of play, with fullback Jack Stark producing the spark, fielding a poor Wainuiomata attacking kick on his 22, taking off and linking up with left wing Watisoni Naqelevuli for a key try. Wainuiomata had just forced a ruck turnover in prime attacking position, but a misguided Va'a wipers kick was aimed directly at the waiting Stark and Naqelevuli out wide raced up field to close the deficit to 10-8.

Va'a landed his second penalty and the home team inched ahead 13-8, with Wests now as anxious as ever to score again. With Tuita behind his uprights for ten minutes for an unwarranted indiscretion and scrums depowered as a consequence, Wests leveled the scoreline with a slick backline try to right wing Iafeta Faapusa off an attacking scrum platform. However replacement first five-eighth Scott Leighton's conversion went across the face of the sticks, giving Rooster fans a tense seven days before their last round showdown with Ories.

Photo by Jeffrey Gaskin.