Stakes Running High for Swindale Protagonists

There's still everything to play for in this week's ninth round of Swindale Shield matches. Three teams can still stop new leaders Norths from back to back title victories, while the race to finish eighth or higher for a Jubilee Cup spot is still wide open.

At the top of the table, Northern United are now firmly in the box seat for repeat success after their emphatic runaway win against Poneke last week. On form and with the lower opposition yet to play, their supporters will be excused from thinking that the Swindale Shield is theirs to lose from here on in. They will be favoured to defeat already Hardham Cup bound Oriental-Rongotai at the Polo Ground this week and then go on to defeat Avalon and the Wests Roosters over the final fortnight.

Added to their optimism is that the number of teams chasing them will diminish by one after this round, with second placed Poneke and third placed Old Boys-University clashing at Kilbrinie Park in the heavyweight match of the round. Despite just losing to Norths, Poneke will still be eyeing the prize should Norths slip up. However the students will be smarting after their narrow defeat at the hands of Marist St. Pats last week and could still surprise.

Hot on their heels is Hutt Old Boys Marist, who will be favoured to get past bottom placed Upper Hutt at Maidstone Park. MSP will be playing to consolidate their top five position against Tawa on their Old Timers' Day at Evans Bay Park in the first of three key mid-table clashes this week.

If seventh placed Tawa can beat MSP in this week's Club Weekly feature match they will be able to breath easy over the final fortnight, but a loss could see them in a tussle with Wests, Avalon and possibly Wainuiomata for the eighth position. To that end, eighth placed Wests will be desperate to beat sixth placed Petone at Ian Galloway Park and avoid such complications at the finish. It's crunch time at Fraser Park, where either hosts Avalon or Wainuiomata will be joining Ories and Upper Hutt in the Hardham Cup on the 16th of June.

Waiting for them in the second round will be Johnsonville, who have a chance to wrap up the Harper Lock Shield with two rounds to spare against fourth placed MSP in the early game at Evans Bay Park. Currently 11 points clear at the top of the Senior One standings, Johnsonville have already started to plot their course back to the Premier level in round two.

Congratulations to the Avalon Women's team for taking out the first round Fleurs Trophy last week. Avalon wrapped up the title by beating Tawa 48-3, ahead of a fast finishing Norths who demolished OBU 53-5 to finish second.

?