Eagles unbeaten as Poneke sting Tawa and MSP roar into life

Above: Ryan Setefano runs into a tackle today with Billy Proctor in support for Marist St Pat's against Wainuiomata. Setefano scored two tries and Proctor set up two. 

Hutt Old Boys Marist are the only unbeaten side after three completed rounds of this year’s Swindale Shield. The Eagles sit alone at the top of the table on maximum points after they lowered Oriental-Rongotai and previous frontrunners Tawa and Avalon both lost, as part of today’s Easter round of matches.

HOBM beat Ories 47-15 in their Bondy Memorial Cup match at the Polo Ground, scoring six tries in a commanding display build on another powerful forward effort.

At Lyndhurst Park, a 14-man Poneke scored a late try to lock Cole Stewart to give them a 25-20 win over Tawa, while at Fraser Park Old Boys University defeated Avalon 40-12 with wing TaI Neli scoring a hat-trick for the Goats.

At William Jones Park, Billy Proctor was an attacking standout as Marist St Pat’s clicked into gear at William Jones Park to beat Wainuiomata 44-19 for the Rona-Morrisey Cup.

At Maidstone Park, Petone earned their second straight win and consigned the Upper Hutt Rams to their third straight loss in winning 43-14 for the Ted Connolly Cup.

At Ngati Toa Domain, Paremata-Plimmerton won their first Premier match in three years, beating Johnsonville 34-7. The Hawks joined the Rams as the other winless team after three rounds.

Northern United defeated the Wellington Axemen 33-8 on Thursday night.

Oriental-Rongotai had the assistance of the strong wind in the first half against Hutt Old Boys Marist, but ill-discipline saw Glen Walters kick three penalties for HOBM, who also scored two tries. Ories scored a try late in the first-half, but were in trouble, trailing 21-10.

Ories never got a look in throughout the second-half as Rei Manaia, Ben Power and Hurricane James O’ Reilly in particular went to work. Manaia was rewarded with a try and Hurricane Chase Tiatia, playing second-five, once again found the stripe. Ambrose Curtis, Luke Taualupe and Marcel Renata stood out for Ories.

It was like the Poneke of old that beat Tawa 25-20 at Lyndhurst Park today.

Unsettled by injuries and having lost centre Levi Harmon to a transfer to the Wellington Axemen midweek, Poneke played with heart and good old-fashioned grit to shadow Tawa all match and then score the late winning try off an attacking scrum under Tawa’s posts.

Openside flanker Greg Foe was a key figure in this one, with a massive work rate all game, while locks Cole Stewart and Galu Taufale, lion-hearted blindside flanker Corey Lawrence, prop Hennie Tui and replacement first five-eighth Pakai Turia all played well.

Poneke had scored the game’s first try to No. 8 Llew Jones, who, along with Tawa flanker Telea Seumanutafa, was sin-binned later in the match. Poneke scored their winning try with Jones still in the bin. Tawa hit back with their only try of the match, to first five-eighth James So’oialo after a sweeping counterattack. Both teams traded penalties and Poneke went into the break leading 14-11.

So’oialo put Tawa in the lead at 17-14 with a pair of penalties, but Poneke kept coming and they went close to scoring another try on at least three occasions. They drew level again with a penalty, while two more penalties advanced the score to 20-20 with only a few minutes to play.

From a scrum on their own side of halfway, Poneke ran the ball up the short side up into Tawa’s 22. Turia kicked ahead and the defender was caught behind his posts, forcing a 5-metre scrum. Foe peeled off the back of the scrum and was tackled short of the line. Poneke’s forwards piled in and Stewart came up with the winning try.

Old Boys University got their season back on track with a comfortable win over the Avalon Wolves. Avalon have matched their win tally from 2017 already and harboured high hopes of being at least competitive against the Jubilee Cup Champions. Those prospects were dashed in the opening quarter as the Billygoats surged to a 23-0 lead.

OBU established early dominance in the set-pieces and were swift to punish Avalon errors with a series of fine counter attacks, highlighted by some nice interchanges between backs and forwards.

Wing Tai Neli crossed the chalk for the first two tries using his silky feet to finish in opposite corners.

Former Avalon centre Maile Koloto haunted his old club dashing 40 metres on the left-side of defence to make it 23-0 in as many minutes.

Avalon second-five Ben Peni made a storming charge to finally bring the hosts some momentum. Peni’s midfield partner Dylan Reece scored a short time later to make it 23-5.

Dale Sabbagh kicked impressively in the violent wind and his third penalty goal made it 26-5 at the interval.

The OBU scrum earned a penalty try for the first score of the second-half, but Avalon showed some commendable spirit and captain Sefo Aumua scored after a break from his younger brother Chris Aumua.

Sefo Auma also produced two of the biggest hits of the seasons on Koloto and OBU reserve lock Taine Plumtree.

In a spluttering second half, it was fitting the elusive Neli had the last say. In a rare moment of brightness, contrasting against the darkening skies, Neli gathered a pass on the half volley from a scrum and pushed through six Avalon tacklers and his own teammate Paddy Carter to complete a quality hat-trick.

After a loss and an unconvincing win to start the season, Marist St Pat’s kicked into life in the second half in their match against Wainuiomata at William Jones Park.

The first half was a tense and willing arm-wrestle, with MSP having first use of the blustery wind and leading 10-7.

Now playing into the wind in the second half, centre Billy Proctor helped spark MSP with an 80-metre run setting up a try to second five-eighth Ryan Setefano to put the visitors ahead 15-7. Proctor made a second blistering break, leading to a try to right wing Willie Schultz, followed by a try to hooker Joe Walding-Karaitiana and suddenly MSP were ahead 25-7.

Wainuiomata hit back with a second converted try to cut the lead to 25-14, but MSP sealed their win with several minutes remaining with another forwards try, A flurry of scoring by both sides made the final score 42-19 to MSP.

A switched on Paremata-Plimmerton used the conditions much better than Johnsonville at a windy Ngati Toa Domain to win five tries to one and 34-7.

Paremata-Plimmerton led 15-0 at halftime and kept their foot on the pedal throughout the second half to register their first win of the season. Lock James Corcoran was a key figure in their effort, while Hurricanes halfback Richard Judd was a welcome addition to their side. For Johnsonville, right wing Jacob Walmsley looked dangerous given few clear opportunities.

No. 8 Tupou Sopoaga and stand-in first five-eighth Carlos Price helped lead Petone to their 43-14 win over the Upper Hutt Rams.

Petone beat the Upper Hutt Rams seven tries to two, pulling clear after leading 12-7 at halftime. Fullback Adam Simpson scored two tries, following his hat-trick last week, while Hurricane Murray Douglas, Wille Fine, Losi Filipo, Willie Tufui and Jack Ross also found the whitewash at Upper Hutt.

Harper Lock Shield

Northern United, Poneke and Marist St Pat's are the three unbeaten teams after three complete rounds of the Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield competition.

Following Northern United's 50-point win on Thursday night against the Axemen, Poneke fought for a 28-20 win over Tawa in the early game at Lyndhurst Park this afternoon.

Poneke settled faster and two tries to them in the first quarter proved the difference. Tawa grew into the game and hit back with a counter-punching try and a penalty on halftime. Poneke led 15-13 at the turn.

Misty rain set in just before halftime and the second half was tense and willing. With the blustery wind in their favour, Poneke extended their lead with their third try. Tawa struck right back with a converted try out wide, closing the gap to 22-20 in Poneke's favour. Poneke sealed their win with two further penalties.

In the closest match all day in either grade, Johnsonville defeated Paremata-Plimmerton 26-25.

OBU beat Avalon 18-13 and Ories overcame HOBM 19-7, while Petone blanked the Rams 31-0 and MSP defeated Wainuiomata 79-0. 

MSP opened up a 43-0 lead by halftime with a wind advantage. Rain set in during the second half making for tough going. But MSP maintained the pressure and turned defence into attack on several occasions run in several more tries. A few MSP players scored two tries each, including Iosefo Aukustino, Jayden McCarthy and Michael Findlay.