Five Teams Chasing three Playoff Spots In Last Round

Five teams will be chasing three playoff spots in this week's final Jubilee Cup round-robin sets of matches, with Hutt Old Boys Marist, Petone, Northern United, Old Boys-University and Avalon all still hoping to make the semi-finals. Such has been the remarkably close nature of this year's competition that three out of four of this week's games will have a direct influence on the playoff fortunes of the other contenders, with just five points separating second placed HOBM and sixth placed Avalon.

Only new leaders Poneke head into round seven having already claimed their playoff spot, after both their comfortable 20-point win over Marist St. Pats and Petone's surprise 16-8 defeat over Norths last week put the red and blacks on top. Poneke also have the comparative luxury of having their fate in their own hands in the last round, with their game against bottom placed Tawa the one that won't affect the other games. Poneke's reward for beating Tawa is clear - home ground advantage at Kilbirnie Park, where they will be hard to beat.

Much interest will centre on the Norths - HOBM clash at the Hutt Recreation Ground, where Swindale Shield champions and previous frontrunners Norths find themselves in a must-win situation to avoid being leapfrogged by any two of Petone, OBU or Avalon, and shut out of the top four. Second placed HOBM with 18 points should be safe and like Poneke they will have a home semi-final in focus, but Norths sit on a precarious 17 points, with Petone (15), OBU (14) and Avalon (13) hot on their heels. Of this trio, Petone and OBU face each other in another key clash at the Prime Finance Basin Reserve, in what is a virtual quarterfinal for them with the loser certain to be eliminated.

A loss for HOBM could make for some nervous supporters at several clubs as potentially both Avalon and OBU could join HOBM on 18 points. This would create the unusual scenario of a three way circular tie for third and fourth due to OBU beating HOBM (5-3), Avalon beating OBU (20-12) and HOBM beating Avalon (17-6). The order of ranking would then be decided by points differential as opposed to the 'who beat who' scenario for two teams tied on points.

Norths will also be relying on MSP beating Avalon in their clash at Evans Bay Park. If Norths lose to HOBM and collect no points and Avalon win with a bonus point then Norths will finish fifth. A possibility on form at least, with Avalon coming off two wins against Petone (19-10) and OBU (20-12), while Norths' form has cooled somewhat lately with two losses and a draw in the last three weeks. A 10-17 upset loss to MSP in round four was followed by a 13-13 draw with Poneke and then an 8-16 defeat to a mercurial Petone last week. Their opponents HOBM are backing up from a polished seven tries to two 46-10 win against Tawa and have been hard to topple at home all season. Head to head, Norths beat the Eagles 26-24 in a tight struggle at Porirua Park when they last met in round ten of the Shield round.