Johnsonville Relegated As Wests Hold On Against Ories In Final Round Thriller

It was huge relief for Western Suburbs and disappointment for Johnsonville, after Wests avoided relegation from premier rugby in 2007 by the skin of their teeth after producing a mammoth defensive effort to defeat Oriental-Rongotai 12-8 in their last round match at Ian Galloway Park. In the early game Johnsonville had already beaten Poneke 31-24 at Kilbirnie Park and grabbed a bonus point, meaning Wests and Johnsonville finished fourth equal on 23 points. But it was Johnsonville who were the unlucky team and will drop out of the Swindale Shield on the basis of who beat who when they played each other in round one, won by Wests by a solitary point, 27-26.

The Hardham Cup news wire was directed on the Roosters after Johnsonville had beaten Poneke in the early game to temporarily move ahead of both Wests and Upper Hutt. Johnsonville's win thus left both Wests and Upper Hutt needing to win their games that followed, with Wests the most desperate, as a loss for them would still see Upper Hutt qualify ahead of Wests if they lost too. But Upper Hutt won their fixture against Wainuiomata at Maidstone Park handsomely, 35-12, running in four tries to two, with first five-eighth Ben Aoina kicking 15 points and bringing up his 200th point of the season.

In so doing, Upper Hutt also ended up as top qualifier, finishing one point ahead of second placed Wainuiomata, with Ories another point back in third ahead of Wests. Next week's semi-finals see Upper Hutt host Wests in one match, while William Jones Park in Wainuiomata is the scene for second playoff, with Wainuiomata hosting Ories for the right to contest the final at Westpac Stadium.

In this week's feature game between Wests and Ories, Ories started with a stiff Northerly behind them and looked to gain early control with field position, using their kicking game through first-five Mau Lolo. Wests' defence started strong, and that proved to be their key throughout the match. Veteran first five-eighth Scott Leighton was also on hand for the home side, with his leadership and steadying influence playing an important role throughout.

The first points came through a Leighton penalty, after Wests moved the ball nicely through their backs, and second five-eighth Richard Cooney was prominent through mid-field. With Wests having the better of the half, Ories started to get frustrated around the rucks and close exchanges, leading to 10 minutes in the sin bin for their blindside flanker, Henry Ma'alo. Wests ended the half with a 6-3 advantage on the scoreboard, with a further Leighton penalty and a penalty to Lolo the difference.

Both sides knew what was at stake at the end of this match, and the intensity began to pick up throughout the second half. Heavy defence from both sides forced errors, Wests' number eight Natano Tiatia and captain and blindside Justin Purdie were at the front of it. With the wind now behind him, Leighton's steady boot kept Wests just in front with his third penalty soon after the break, then again mid-way through the half, when he extended their lead to 12-3 with his fourth penalty.

Ories, still keen as ever, produced the play of the game with a try to fullback Saint Misa after coming into the line off a class move through their backs, scoring from 25 metres out. Lolo was unable to convert Misa's try, but at 12-8 down Ories were now a try away from pipping the desperate Roosters. Momentum had swung in favour of Ories, and with a gripping final 10 minutes left and Ories deep in Wests' half, Ories threw everything at them but the home team hung on through some strong defence and the home crowd willing them on. The final score sat at 12-8 and Wests survived to fight another day at the Cage.

Meanwhile, in the remaining Hardham Cup fixture Hutt Old Boys Marist were too strong for Northern United, beating Norths 73-0 at the Hutt Recreation Ground, with the pair sharing the Hardham Cup wooden spoon together, with one win each.