Crunch Time For Hardham Cup Hopefuls

The playoff credentials of the five teams still in contention to join runaway leaders Tawa are set to become a lot clearer after this weekend's fifth round set of matches in the Hardham Cup. After a month's play it seems that only winless Johnsonville and Rimutaka are out of semi-final reckoning, but the aspirations of some other teams could be in the balance if they lose this weekend.

One side hoping for a positive final three week's of round robin play is Wainuomata, whose loyal fans will be hoping for a third successive trip to Westpac Stadium on finals day. It is now well documented that they reached the giddy heights of the final in 2006 from playing in the Senior One Harper Lock Shield throughout the first half of the season, and then went one better and won the Premier Two title last year in their first full season back in the Swindale Shield.

But before they can entertain any dreams of a three-peat of Hardham Cup final appearances, the defending champions will first need to negotiate a potentially tricky closing three weeks of regular season play in which they play Northern United ‘B', Marist St. Pat's ‘B' and then the Wests Roosters in the final week.

The two ‘B' teams have already proved themselves as the two dark horses of the competition, both having knocked off two 2009 Swindale Shield hopefuls and each containing several players within their ranks with plenty of Swindale Shield and Jubilee Cup experience. As it stands, these sides are both right in contention for the semi-finals, meaning one or more existing Premier sides could miss out at their expense.

Wainuiomata, will be expected to defeat Northern United at home at William Jones Park this weekend, but banking the four competition points against them can't be taken as a certainty. If they manage to defeat them and other results go their way, Wainuiomata will likely move up the points table from fourth equal to as high as second behind Tawa.

In other games, the Wests Roosters host MSP at Ian Galloway Park, Tawa meet Avalon at Lyndhurst Park and Johnsonville and Rimutaka clash at Helston Park.

The Roosters, who are coming off back-to-back losses against Norths and Tawa will be feeling the pressure against an MSP side who were enterprising on attack and committed on defence in their 24-10 win over Norths last week. A loss for Wests would surely open up the threat of relegation heading into their two final clashes with Rimutaka and Wainuiomata, both away from home. Avalon will be hoping to join Tawa at the top of the table if they win against them, while Rimutaka and Johnsonville will be playing to lift themselves off the bottom of the table.

Meanwhile top qualifiers Johnsonville host a Victoria Tavern Trophy Women's Premier grade semi-final against Old Boys-University in the early game at Helston Park and Northern United host Stokes Valley in the other Women's playoff encounter