Classy MSP Capture Tenth Swindale Shield

Congratulations to Marist St. Pat's, 2008 Swindale Shield champions. MSP were all class in beating Upper Hutt 41-0 in their last round fixture at home at Evans Bay Park to comfortably capture their 10th Swindale Shield and their first since 2000.

MSP won 10 consecutive games on route to the first round title, after dropping their season opener to Old Boys-University on Gala Day in Porirua, the team they beat in the 2002 Jubilee Cup final to win their previous major Premier title.

On a blustery but fine afternoon, MSP produced a clinical performance of resolute defence and at times sublime attacking rugby to outplay the visiting Upper Hutt side across the park. Their backs and forwards combined especially well and they took all their chances in running in seven unanswered tries.

First five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili, fullback Brendan Watt, lock Bernie Upton and flankers Victor Vito and Sio Tuia were all among the standout players of the day, with Fili in particular a cut above the rest with some masterful touches, incisive running and a clever kicking game.

It was Fili who scored MSP's bonus point try late in the first half which all but confirmed them the Swindale Shield, when he showed a dummy to the Upper Hutt inside backs and skipped through to score under the bar untouched.

This try was the last of four brilliantly executed tries in the opening 35 minutes that were scored after weathering a sustained period of Upper Hutt pressure early on. The visitors made a promising start when they won a turnover from the kick off and swung immediately on attack and should have scored a try to the left of the uprights but failed to capitalise on an overlap.

MSP's handling was also scratchy in the first half and their discipline worse, with a mounting penalty count against them. But they soon warmed to the task and former Taranaki fullback and 2002 Jubilee Cup final try scorer Watt scored their opening try in the 10th minute on the end of an attacking chain that included Vito and No. 8 Alex Tulou.

Vito scored their second try up the shortside five minutes later after a promising lineout drive was stopped just short of the line, and the lineout turned provider for the third try on 30 minutes when left wing Jackson Martin scored out wide after a backline injection from right wing Julian Tupai and offload in the tackle to Watt to create the try.

WRFU President Colin Dallas' arrival at the ground with the Swindale Shield in tow coincided with Fili's try, which gave MSP an unassailable 24-0 halftime lead.

Led by 2007 Wellington Colts blindside flanker Blair Cowan, Upper Hutt hammered away admirably for a sustained period early in the second half, but were unable to breach MSP's defences.

A break out from deep inside their own territory set the tone for the first of three second half tries to MSP to right wing Julian Tupai, with Upper Hutt running out of numbers tracking back on defence. This was Tupai's ninth try of the season, to go with his 12 tries in the 2006 season after he missed most of 2007 through injury.

Jope Naubo, who had earlier scored a hat trick of tries for the MSP Senior 1sts, replaced Tupai and scored 30 seconds later with his first touch of the ball, again receiving the ball in space up the touchline with one man to beat.

MSP's forwards then rumbled over for the last try,?hooker Liu Taituave?coming up with five points to see them complete an excellent win.

With such talent and depth across all positions and the current form to match, MSP must be considered to start as favourites in the second round Jubilee Cup which starts next week.

Upper Hutt, missing some key players such as first five-eighth Ben Aoina (ill) and promising prop Pasifika Ieremia (away) will remain competitive throughout the rest of the season and will trouble most.

Elsewhere, defending champions Northern United did all they could to win an elusive third straight title last achieved by Petone in the mid-1970s, punishing Avalon 92-3 away at Fraser Park. Needing a bonus point to win the Shield outright in the event that MSP lost to Upper Hutt, Norths came out with attacking intent on their minds.

Three early tries were scored by blindside Anare Koliavu, centre Alapati Leiua and lock Chris Middleton as Norths went to a 24-0 lead after 15 minutes. Two more tries meant the bonus point was secure by halftime, before the floodgates opened in the second spell. Koliavu scored four tries in all, the first four-try bag in Premier rugby since Hutt Old Boys Marist outside back Michael Pehi in round two last year.

Petone were also in need of a bonus point victory in their final round match against Hutt Old Boys Marist, but with the McBain Shield at stake and All Black-in waiting Jeremy Thrush in to bolster their pack, the Eagles were out to deny them this opportunity.

The final score of 16-13 to Petone to claim back the Shield reflected a massive battle by the two committed teams, but not after a helter-skelter start to the contest that saw Hutt Old Boys Marist race to a 7-0 lead in the first minute with a try to fullback Mike Kingsbeer. This was then followed by a penalty and dropped goal to Petone first five-eighth Sam Rasch and a converted try to No. 8 Shaun Mahoney as the home side Petone held a 13-7 lead after 10 minutes.

But normal service then resumed with a second Rasch penalty giving Petone a 16-7 lead at halftime as they turned to play into the strong wind. A big effort by Petone only allowed HOBM two penalties in the second half, the Villagers clinging to the win and finish third on the points table, with HOBM in fifth.

OBU battled to a 20-6 win over Oriental Rongotai at the Polo Ground to see them finish fourth and Ories eighth, a first half try to debutante James Hansen and one in the second 40 minutes proving the difference as Ories' champion second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu and OBU's elusive centre Conrad Smith prepared to line-up together in those positions in the Test match at Westpac Stadium that followed later in the evening against Ireland -and both scoring tries.

Poneke warmed up for the Jubilee Cup with a battling two-try?15-0 win over a gritty Tawa at Kilbirnie Park to continue their winning momentum into the second round.

Meanwhile a disappointing Wests Roosters were body-slammed by Wainuiomata at the Cage, conceding a late try against the run of play?and losing 19-15 after dominating?for?most of the?match and out scoring Wainuiomata two tries to nil into the wind in the first half. At a windswept Ian Galloway Park it was the Rooster supporters' eyes that were watering more than their visitors' at the end, as Wainui came back and pipped Wests with a late try to comfortably finish in ninth.

In other grades, Johnsonville and Marist St. Pat's won the Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield and Senior 2 National Mutual Cups respectively, as expected.

Johnsonville breezed to a 37-7 win over Poneke with Chris Masoe playing at blindside flanker to defend their Senior 1 title. Johnsonville can now turn its attention to the Hardham Cup and hopeful promotion to the Swindale Shield next year. They will be joined by Marist St. Pats, Northern United and Rimutaka who held on for fourth.

MSP won the National Mutual Cup after a comfortable 34-12 win over Johnsonville at home, finishing ahead of Wellington and Tawa in second and third places.

In other news, Wellington's three New Zealand U20 players all started in that team's opening 48-9 U20 IRB World Cup over Tonga in Cardiff on Friday night. The trio included Upper Hutt's Matt Luamanu, Petone's Dan Kirkpatrick and OBU's Joe Hill. Right wing Hill starred with two tries, while Kirkpatrick kicked two conversions and a penalty.

Photo: Victor-torious. MSP captain Victor Vito holds the Swindale Shield aloft flanked by his jubilant teammates??

RESULTS 7 JUNE

Premier
Swindale Shield

Marist St. Pat's 41 - Upper Hutt 0
Petone 16 - Hutt Old Boys Marist 13
Avalon 3 - Northern United 93
Oriental Rongotai 6 - Old Boys-University 20
Poneke 15 - Tawa 0

Competition winner: Marist St. Pat's

Senior 1
Harper Lock Shield

Poneke 7 - Johnsonville 37
Rimutaka 5 - Northern United 11
Oriental Rongotai 7 - Old Boys-University 22
Marist St. Pat's 52 - Upper Hutt 17
Petone 31 - Hutt Old Boys Marist 7
Stokes Valley 29 - Paremata-Plimmerton 7

Competition winner: Johnsonville

Senior 2
National Mutual Cup

Marist. St Pat's 34 - Johnsonville 12
Wellington 22 - Old Boys-University 15
Tawa 18 - Poneke 5

Competition winner: Marist St. Pat's

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