Musical Chairs in the Hardham Cup

In the Hardham Cup, Tawa held on to its top spot, beating southern neighbours Johnsonville 19-18 in a nailbiter at Lyndhurst Park. Northern United B crept to second with an unexpected 24-18 defeat of Wests Roosters, while Marist St. Pat's B and Avalon set up a mid-table logjam with wins over Rimutaka and Wainuiomata respectively.

All eyes, including those of All Black selector Steve Hansen, were on Lyndhurst Park, where Johnsonville's Chris Masoe was pressing for a Tri-Nations call-up. Though the game pitched top of the table Tawa against a struggling Johnsonville, previous form meant little, with the visitors going ahead 5-0 early. Tawa responded with two Gene Johnston penalties before halftime, but a goal to J'ville fullback Azim Beganovich saw his side turn around with an 8-6 lead.

That lead increased early in the second half with a converted try. A David Fa'atafa try and five points from the boot of Gene Johnston made it 16-15 to Tawa with ten to play. An exchange of penalties between Johnston and Beganovich in the dying minutes saw the game close at 19-18, preserving Tawa's unbeaten record in the competition, while also giving hope to Johnsonville hopes of a return to the top flight. For the second week running, J'ville managed to outscore its opponents in tries - Dane Robertson and Campbell Tait accounting for those - without claiming the win.

In the early game at Evans Bay Park, MSP B held out Rimutaka 16-8, with all of MSP's points coming through second-five-eighth Andrew Wood. His haul sent him to the top of the Hardham cup points-scorers table equal with Tawa pivot Gene Johnston. Rimutaka just missed out on a bonus point, its eight points coming through a try to centre Upoko Campbell and penalty to first-five Raymond MacDonald.

At Ian Galloway Park, the Wests Roosters squandered an early 11-0 lead to go down 24-18 to a fired up Norths B. Penalties to veteran fullback Toby Robson and a try to winger Liam Townsend meant Wests began the game according to the script. But in a comeback to equal the one Upper Hutt was pulling off back at Porirua Park against their premier brothers, Norths poured on 24 points through tries to Anthony Masina, Fonotele Salu, and substitute Steve Fuiava, and a couple of conversions to first-five Barry-Robert Farrow. Another try to Townsend, plus the extra two, meant Wests nabbed a bonus point, but it was cold comfort before a home crowd longing for a bit of glory.

At a sun-lit Fraser Park, a resurgent Avalon claimed its second consecutive win, downing Wainuiomata 20-12. In a match which saw the ‘psychic energy' switch from Wainui to Avalon and then back again, the home side's victory could be attributed to a better knack for turning pressure into points.

Wainuiomata dominated play throughout the first 35 minutes, camping so long in Avalon's half it was starting to look like an occupation. A slick lineout combination between hooker Niko Letufuga and jumpers Daniel Olive and Genesis Mamea ensured the visitors had a ready supply of ball, and when after nine minutes a Michael Lealava'a midfield shimmy set Jason Love up for his fourth try in three weeks, it seemed the pattern of the game had been established. Lealava'a was unable to convert, leaving Wainui 5-0 ahead.

Love was prominent at fullback for the rest of the half, showing strong positional anticipation, and several times fielding aimless kicks from his Avalon opponents. With 20 minutes gone, though, Avalon struck back. A Mike Williams clearing kick from deep inside Wainui's 22 failed to find touch, gifting Avalon ball on the halfway on a thinly marked left wing. Slick passing between Jonathan Tupuse, Tyler King and Eamon Tawhiwhirangi saw fullback Laif Rua in the clear and over the line handy to the posts. Avalon first-five Aaron Turley converted, and suddenly his side was ahead 7-5 against the run of play. 7-5 it remained until the break.

Turning with the westering sun at their backs, Avalon began the second half with real vim, piecing together several phases before quick service from halfback Tawhiwhirangi saw Turley arcing left and putting the bustling Katoni Katoa over in the left corner. When Turley converted from the touchline, it was 14-5, and Wainui's grip on the game was coming loose. A further three points from a gift penalty just left of the posts saw Avalon's lead stretch to 17-5 a few minutes later, after referee Mike Fraser caught the visiting backs off-side. At last, after a season of horrors, this was an Avalon side playing with belief, and enjoying its rugby.

Wainui's challenge was far from up. With 20 minutes gone in the half, a backline move which started deep inside the Wainui 22, and saw the ball shuffled through several pairs of hands and in front of the goalposts, was finished by winger Mike Williams dotting down at the other end. With the conversion, it was 17-12 to Avalon, and the game was intriguingly poised. Grunts and shouts of encouragement from the stand began to mingle with the breathless chatter of the players.

Avalon was equal to the challenge, however, and with five to play, elected to take a kick from the right-hand touch after a sustained burst of forward rumbling on the Wainui 22. Turley goaled it, giving his side an unassailable eight point lead, and taking the game to the 20-12 scoreline that it would close at.

It was a match which could have gone either way, but which swung in favour of Avalon due to a mix of greater enthusiasm, growing confidence, and goal-kicking precision. Tawhiwhirangi was impressive at halfback in his third outing in the maroon and blue, getting to every ruck and recycling ball fast to ignite his backs and ensure multi-phase football. His partnership with hard-running number 8 Pirie Ngarimu was a feature of the match, as was the no-nonsense straight-up-the-guts running by close-shaven prop Errol Weston.

For their part, Wainuiomata showed promise in the backline, on a couple of occasions threatening to score but for a final muffed pass. Raakai Maxwell was once more tireless at the back of the scrum, and lock Daniel Olive played like a fourth loosie, covering yards all around the park and handling the ball with skill.

With three rounds now gone, Avalon will be satisfied with a share of third on the Hardham Cup points table. Tawa's place in next season's Swindale Shield seems assured, but with Avalon, Wests, Wainui and J'ville eying up the remaining three spots, it's a definite case of musical chairs in the Hardham Cup.