Big Wins Order Of The Day In Third Round

Big wins to Old Boys-University, Poneke and Marist St. Pat’s overshadowed a second loss in a row for champions Northern United and a disappointing draw for Petone, leaving the Villagers winless after three rounds of the Swindale Shield.

OBU, Poneke and MSP all registered comfortable bonus point victories against Wainuiomata, Oriental-Rongotai and Avalon respectively at the weekend. But Norths lost for the second week in a row, going down to Hutt Old Boys Marist, and Petone could only draw with Tawa, continuing their poor start to 2007.

Leaders OBU earned their third bonus point win in demolishing Wainui 58-7 at the Basin Reserve, their backs running in eight of their nine tries scored in a powerful display of running rugby.

At Kilbirnie Park, Poneke were no less impressive on their Old Timer’s Day, thumping neighbours Ories 48-0 and retaining the Jim Grbich Memorial Shield. Poneke scored four first half tries to lead 24-0 at halftime, doubling their tally in the second half on the back of two tries each to hooker Dane Coles and left wing Ambrose Plaister.

It was also straightforward for MSP across the road at Evans Bay Park in their 48-12 win against a lacklustre Avalon, also scoring eight tries, including braces for Victor Vito and Chris Slade plus a penalty try.

HOBM held on to beat Norths 19-17 at Porirua Park. In a tough encounter, the Hutt side held a slender 9-0-halftime lead courtesy of three penalties to first five-eighth Jon Bentley, with centre Malakai Kisina crossing soon after the break. Norths came back with two converted tries, but it was too late to avert another defeat.

At Maidstone Park, Western Suburbs kept Upper Hutt winless, prevailing 25-15 in a three tries to two victory.

Petone were left lamenting a disappointing 21-21 draw with Tawa at the end of this week’s Club Weekly feature match, Tawa centre Willie Lafaele crossing out wide for a try on fulltime with his side’s last throw of the dice to snatch a draw at Lyndhurst Park.

For Petone it was a game they let slip from their grasp after they had seemingly taken control of the contest late in the first half, after weathering Tawa’s free-wheeling style of play and establishing a clear up-front advantage. Reeling in a 13-0 deficit, the Villagers seemed likely winners when they took a 21-16 lead 15 minutes out from fulltime.

But there was a sense of inevitability about Tawa’s late rally, when they reverted to what they do best by throwing caution to the wind and duly coming up with the match-saving score.

In a movement fittingly sparked at the back by New Zealand Seven's playmaker Nigel Hunt, having dropped to fullback from halfback, with exciting young wing Shaun Treeby, Tawa stretched Petone’s defence, presenting the prince of Wellington club rugby centres, Lafaele, a clear run to the corner flag. First five-eighth Gene Johnston’s conversion landed in front of the uprights and a seesaw encounter ended in a stalemate.

Earlier, a repeat of Tawa’s eight-try demolition a year ago was in the offering when their dangerous backs showed their hand early on. Led by Hunt and Lafaele and big hitting second five-eighth TJ Taotua, inroads were quickly made with Johnston kicking two easy penalties.

The excitement grew when Treeby helped himself to a Petone dropped ball in midfield and sprinted 65 metres for the opening try.

But Tawa's ill discipline and an increasingly dominant Petone pack soon heralded a momentum shift towards Petone, one that should have seen them home. Halfback Cam Incledon ominously scored from a lineout drive, making it 13-5.

Johnston slotted another penalty to make it 16-5, but Petone maintained the pressure after the break, fullback Simeon James running in a try from an attacking scrum platform and first five-eighth Sam Rasch adding three penalties, as they went to an 21-16 lead after 65 minutes. But a late Tawa resurgence put paid to all Petone’s good work in coming back into the match.