Spotlight On Avalon-Jville Clash In Hardham Cup

The pressure falls right back on Johnsonville against Avalon at Fraser Park in the key Hardham Cup clash of round five. With their promotion-relegation chances for 2008 on a precipice, Johnsonville fans know it could be too greater a mountain to climb to make the playoffs if they lose to Avalon this weekend. Awaiting them in the last round will be runaway leaders Oriental-Rongotai whose hot run of form is showing no signs of abating, while rivals Wainuiomata and Upper Hutt appear to have an easier run-in to the playoffs over the final three weeks.

In booking their Hardham Cup semi-finals berth with their fourth straight win over Poneke last weekend, Oriental Rongotai also cleared out to an eight-point lead on the points ladder to second placed Avalon who head a five-way logjam of contenders going all out to secure the remaining three spots up for grabs.

Hot on Avalon's heals and all within three points of each other are Upper Hutt, Johnsonville, Wainuiomata, and Northern United, with only Marist St. Pat's and Poneke the only sides out of top four reckoning. Ironically, Poneke's only win so far was their giant-killing one over Johnsonville in the first round, a result that will certainly haunt the Harper Lock Shield champions should they lose and both Upper Hutt and Wainuiomata win their matches as expected this weekend.

Wainuiomata will be missing their champion playmaker Piri Weepu to All Blacks duty, but should be too strong for MSP at Evans Bay Park at 1 pm in the first of three games against Senior One opposition to end their round robin phase. It should be a similar story at Maidstone Park where Upper Hutt host Poneke with an eye to their week six opponent Ories, away at the Polo Ground.

Having already sewn up their playoff spot, Ories' next objective will be securing a home semi-final, starting with Norths at Porirua Park at 1 pm. They too will be missing their star player Ma' Nonu, to the Vodafone Wellington Lions squad, but their in-form pack and hard running backs should ensure their winning streak continues.

Meanwhile it's a similar story in the Jubilee Cup this week, where MSP became the first team to qualify for the top four last weekend, leaving the six remaining sides in contention fighting out the remaining three spots over the final three weeks. MSP hosts Hutt Old Boys Marist at Evans Bay Park in the top of the table clash, third placed Norths welcome the winless Wests Roosters to Porirua Park, while for Poneke and Old Boys-University the knockout stages have already started. Poneke must beat Petone at Kilbirnie Park and OBU need to overcome Tawa at Lyndhurst Park to stay alive in this year's Jubilee Cup.

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