Ories Roll On In Hardham Cup, Jville Grab First Win

Hardham Cup pacesetters Oriental-Rongotai made it three wins from three in their 27-10 second round win over Wainuiomata at the Polo Ground. With the services of their champion playmaker Ma'a Nonu at centre, Ories were too strong for Wainui, Nonu forming a dangerous midfield liaison with his brother Samson. Fullback Fa'avae Tuma'ai continued his great form of late, scoring two of Ories' five tries to notch up seven in his previous nine games and nine for the season.

Also making headlines in the third round were Johnsonville who registered a timely 26-20 victory over defending champions Upper Hutt, digging deep at Helston Park to record their first Hardham Cup win.

Johnsonville survived an Upper Hutt penalty with the first play of the game, two long-range Upper Hutt first half tries and a 20-16 halftime deficit to earn victory the hard way. Playing into the blustery Paparangi northerly wind they held the visitors out throughout most of the second stanza, before evergreen No. 8 and captain Paul Wharekura scored to make it 21-20. This was followed by a second try of the half, to flanker Shaun Tait, before Upper Hutt rallied over the final ten minutes in need of a converted try. But Johnsonville's defence remained intact and so did their season.

Avalon were impressive in dispatching Northern United 47-10 at Fraser park, Avalon running in seven tries to two, including two each to wingers Lemafa Tuluauau and Sione Tauailato and one to hard running fullback Andrew Turner, on the comeback after early season injuries. It was close early on, before Avalon pulled away from a 15-10 lead late in the first half to beat the Norths side who had previously beaten Marist St. Pat's and Poneke.

At Kilbirnie Park, MSP echoed the exploits of their Jubilee Cup side against Poneke opposition, edging them 15-0 in a close game and also keeping their near-neighbours scoreless. MSP scored two tries to nil, talented winger Julian Tupai continuing his penchant for the tryline. Tupai was Wellington club rugby's leading try scorer in 2006 with 12 touchdowns, and now scored two in two weeks coming back from a long injury layoff.