Poneke topple Old Boys University; scramble on for top eight places

Above: Poneke first five-eighth Greg Mullany scores his second try, to the delight of Sheryl on the sideline, to help set up Poneke's 23-20 win over Old Boys University for the Beet Algar Rosebowl. 

There’s plenty of life left in Wellington’s Premier first round Swindale Shield competition.

Two close wins in town to Poneke and Northern United and a 24-24 draw at the Hutt Recreation Ground between the HOBM Eagles and the Upper Hutt Rams and some other key results breathed fire into the 11th round played in fine, cool conditions today.

With two rounds to play, the race to win the first round title is still alive, between Old Boys University and Oriental-Rongotai, while a group of up to four teams could be fighting it out for one Jubilee Cup over a predicted frantic final fortnight of play.

The big result of the day was Poneke’s 23-20 win over leaders and previously unbeaten Old Boys University at Kilbirnie Park for the Beethoven Algar Rosebowl interclub trophy. Poneke ended the Billy Goats’ winning streak on 19 and probably propelled themselves into the 2016 Jubilee Cup after two recent seasons in Premier 2.

Poneke first five-eighth Greg Mullany sliced through to score a converted try under the posts, his second of the match, and fullback Pakai Turia added a penalty with just a few minutes to go to put the red and blacks ahead.

OBU, who have already won two close games this year on the death-knock, launched a final furious assault at Poneke’s line in the dying minutes and crossed in front of the swimming pool for what they thought was the winning try. The try wasn't awarded, however, and Poneke held on to win the match.

OBU’s loss also gives Oriental-Rongotai a sniff of winning the first round Swindale Shield. Ories held off Tawa 25-12 at home at the Polo Ground, leaving them two competition points adrift of the Billygoats.

Tawa were constantly attacking Ories' goal line for the last 15 minutes of the match but they failed to part the Magpies' line, with the hosts causing several turnovers in crucial moments. Tawa led the match at halftime 12-3 after Shaun Treeby received an offload from wing Faraimo Nofoaiga to crash over in the right corner, before flanker TJ Fermanis burrowed over under the posts to put Tawa up nine points.

The second 40 belonged to Ories wing Andrew Ellis who bagged a hat-trick, putting on a finishing masterclass as he bustled over for two tries, and then killed off Tawa's hope of victory with an intercept try.

The loss for Tawa pushes them back into the pack, and they need to win at least one of their last two matches to make sure of qualifying for the Jubilee Cup.

At the Hutt Recreation Ground, the Upper Hutt Rams and the HOBM Eagles drew 24-24, to keep alive both teams’ chances of making the main event.

HOBM scored the only tries of the first-half.  Fullback Blake McGregor was on the end of an overlap and Ope Peleseuma crossed untouched from a scrum set-move. The Rams took the lead midway through the second half when three fine tries were scored. Centre Dan Aunese busted 25-metres and carried a defender over the line. Salesi Rayasi made it four tries in two weeks when he outpaced the cover defence and Tynan Barrett collected a fumble and dashed 30-metres.

The Rams struggled to suppress the HOBM driving maul and when the Rams defence was enveloped in tight the space appeared out wide. Rams flanker Mitchell Markov was a pest at the breakdown and his deceptive pace with ball in hand caught the Eagles napping. Peleseuma was a powerful force in the midfield and broke the line often. McGregor finished nicely and scored a hat-trick.

At Hataitai Park, Northern United spoiled Wellington’s Old Timers’ Day with a comeback 26-25 win, leaving both teams wanting to win at least one of their remaining two matches to control their fate for the championships round.

This match was a tight affair from the get-go. Playing into the wind, Wellington took an early lead when Paddy Hughes latched on to a James So’oialo cross-kick. Norths hit back through Jackson Garden-Bachop and went out to a 13-5 lead. Wellington second five-eighth Pene Nabainivalu scored in the corner on halftime. The Axemen pulled ahead to 25-16 in the second spell, but Norths came back and Garden-Bachop kicked the winning penalty with a couple of minutes remaining.

Petone retained the Ken Gray Cup over Paremata-Plimmerton, but they had to fight hard for their victory. The home side Petone, on their Old Timers’ Day, found themselves behind 17-10 at halftime and turning to play into a gathering wind. Paremata-Plimmerton had scored tries through No. 8 Grant Robson and fullback Matthew de Terte.

But Petone hit the ground running after the break with tries to second five-eighth Losi Filipo, who subsequently scored again, and No. 8 James Bowen to take a 22-17 lead. Petone went on to win 36-24 and keep their Jubilee Cup hopes alive.

There were two big wins for city teams in the other two Hutt Valley matches.

Marist St Pat’s all but booked their place in the Jubilee Cup round with a 48-14 win over the Avalon Wolves on Avalon’s Old Timers’ Day at Fraser Park.

MSP retained the Joe Aspell try, with wing Mike Buckley scoring a brace in the 6 tries to 2 victory. First five-eighth Tyler Tane slotted in for Fa’atonu Fili well by kicking all the conversions and scoring 23 points. MSP led 34-0 at halftime.

Avalon are now Hardham Cup-bound. The only way they can make into the top eight is if they end in a 3-way tie with Tawa and Petone - and points difference in those matches is well against them.

Over the hill at William Jones Park, Wainuiomata accounted for minnows Johnsonville 67-5. Fullback Peter Umaga-Jensen scored a hat-trick, while loose forwards Jalan Ferris and Ben Tupuola both bagged braces.

Wainuiomata could now be safe inside the top 8 for the second round, but the Hardham Cup can’t come quick enough for Johnsonville.

Fleurs Trophy Women’s

Oriental-Rongotai and Northern United will meet next week in the first round Women’s Fleurs Trophy decider, where Norths will require just a win or a draw to defend the title.

Ories defeated Hutt Old Boys Marist 60-0 today, while Northern United also earned maximum competition points after being defaulted to by the Avalon She-Wolves.

Ories had too much pace out wide for HOBM, with left wing Lilian Mapu scoring a hat-trick and left wing Diana Foliaki and fullback Ayesha Leti-i'iga both scoring two tries, in the nine tries to nil win.

Meanwhile, the OBU Impalas sailed to a 142-0 win over the Johnsonville-Tawa side today. OBU scored 22 tries, with fullback Charlotte Chivers converting 16 of these. Wing Te Aniwa Hurihanganui scored four tries and Hinerangi Temara and Georgia Daals each scored hat-tricks.

In the two other Women’s fixtures played today, Wainuiomata defeated Marist St Pat’s 67-0 and Poneke beat the Upper Hutt Rams 95-15.

Premier Reserve

In Premier Reserve, Marist St Pat’s have officially qualified for the Hardham Cup and are a point shy of wnning the Harper Lock Shield – having lost to second place Petone last week, the only other side that could mathematically beat them for the title.

The race for the second Hardham Cup position that is supplied by a team in this competition looks set to go down to the wire over the last two rounds.

Petone hold second after beating Paremata-Plimmerton 39-10 today, but won’t play in the Hardham Cup of their top team also ends up there, leaving Poneke, OBU and defending champions Tawa as likely contenders for this berth.

In a key result today, OBU defeated Poneke 41-18, while Tawa beat Ories 54-5. Meanwhile, HOBM defeated the Upper Hutt Rams 22-7, Wellington pipped Norths 21-19, MSP beat Avalon 57-21 and Wanuiomata accounted for Johnsonville 87-7.

Colts

Marist St Pat’s continue to lead the Paris Memorial Trophy Colts Division 1 grade after they beat Ories 43-23 today at Te Whaea.

With one round to play next weekend, MSP (on 34 points) lead OBU Green (33) and Tawa (31). OBU Green defeated Poneke 31-19 today, while Tawa beat Petone 56-26. In other matches HOBM beat the Upper Hutt Rams 17-15 and Norths beat Wellington 43-17.

In the Colts Division 2 competition, Johnsonville are unbeaten after six matches and won the round-robin, beating OBU White 30-12.

First Grade

OBU beat the Petone Saxons 18-10 today to all but wrap up the Thompson Memorial Trophy. OBU will just need a solitary point from their fixture next week to win the first round competition.

OBU defeated the Petone Saxons 18-10. Nearest rival Norths had beat Tawa 43-10 this afternoon, while the Petone Brotherhood defeated the HOBM Barbarians 35-26 in the clash of two rival teams. Poneke beat MSP 37-8 in the other fixture.

U85kg

The Tawa Titans beat Stokes Valley 24-7 to go back to the top of the table with a week to spare in the U85kg Division 1 JC Bowl.

Tawa are on 31 points, three ahead of the only other team that can win the JC Bowl, Wellington, who are on 28 and had their bye today. However, next week it’s the turn of Tawa to have their bye, meaning a win for the Light Axemen will give them the first round silverware.

Third placed Avalon needed a bonus point win today, but could only manage a 10-3 victory over the OBU Bunnies. Fourth placed Johnsonville beat struggling 45-14, while Eastbourne moved ahead of HOBM into a mid-table position with a 23-19 win over them.

The Kapiti Colts have also all but won the Division 2 Phillip Wiggins Trophy. They will need just a point from their final week clash to ensure victory next weekend, after edging past MSP Red 23-17 this afternoon.

Meanwhile in the Reserve Grade, Stokes Valley earned their seventh straight win today with a 29-22 win over MSP in their Division 1 competition.

College Rugby

Scots College got their first win in the Tranzit Coachlines First XV Festival, beating Napier BHS 17-10 in the third round of the series in Gisborne today.

The three other Wellington schools suffered losses to their Super 8 counterparts. St Pat’s Town lost 23-27 to Palmerston North BHS, Wellington College went down 12-30 to Gisborne BHS and St Pat’s Silverstream lost 0-52 to series winners and 2016 National contenders Hastings BHS.

Joining the four leading schools in the Weltec Premiership starting next weekend will be St Bernard’s College, Wairarapa College, Bishop Viard College and Rongotai College.