Jubilee Cup Heats Up, Dispite Southerly Changes

Two competition points separate the top six teams after a hotly contested round three set of Jubilee Cup games that saw the two early pace-setters, Tawa and Marist St Pats, lose to Northern United and Poneke respectively. Despite losing their first game since early May, Tawa earned a bonus point in their clash with Norths, and still top the table alongside Poneke, while Avalon, Petone, MSP and Norths are right behind. However, Hutt Old Boys Marist and Old Boys-University appear to be already out of the running. HOBM lost narrowly to Petone and OBU were soundly beaten by Avalon.

A feature of round three was a cold southerly change, accompanied by lashings of rain and gusty winds that hit the Wellington region near or during the halftime intervals in all four encounters. The influence this created was none more evident than in this week?s feature game between 2003 Cup finalists Poneke and Marist St. Pats. Calm and mild conditions provided for a lively opening spell, which saw both teams prepared to move the ball to create opportunities. Early exchanges were keen, with MSP?s lineout flawless and Poneke?s cohesiveness at the breakdowns equally notable. Only the boot of Poneke pivot David Holwell separated the two sides as the red-and-blacks led 6-3 after half an hour.

Holwell then dived over in the corner to extend his side?s lead right on halftime. This also coincided with the arrival of the storm and MSP now found themselves having to play into it in the second spell. Poneke then suddenly added a penalty and two further tries in quick succession, the second, the decisive play of the game, to captain Eugene Morgan, after he had ripped the ball free from a defensive MSP maul and crashed over, to shoot out to 24-6 with less than 20 minutes remaining, and the game was won for Poneke. A bonus point try for Poneke was followed by a consolation touchdown to No. 8 Peniasi Tokakece on time.

Meanwhile, the hundreds of spectators who lined leafy Lyndhurst Park in Tawa saw Norths prevail over the home side in a gruelling, hard-fought clash. The hero for Norths, who also had the services of All Black enforcer Jerry Collins, was first five Peato Lafaele, whose 45-metre penalty kick into the wind in the dying stages secured his team victory by a solitary point. Earlier, Norths had led 8-6 at halftime, after fullback Daniel Bone had scored the game?s only try, despite Collins being sinbinned early on.

Petone also beat HOBM by a lone point in another equally abrasive fixture at the Hutt Recreation Ground. HOBM, led by blindside Polonga Pedro, who scored a brace of tries, were unlucky not to upset the Villagers, who also only escaped with a late penalty to first five Riki Flutey. In the round?s other game, Avalon did it easy in accounting for struggling OBU at Fraser Park, scoring five tries to one in the process, including one to returning loose forward Thomas Waldrom.