Ories amongst favourties in expected tight Jubilee Cup

Look out for a continued strong showing by Oriental-Rongotai in the 2009 Jubilee Cup which kicks off this Saturday with the first round of matches. Now in their second year back in the top grade following a five-year hiatus languishing in the tier two Hardham Cup competition, Ories are again right up there amongst the traditional big guns and powerhouses of Wellington rugby.

The names of Petone, Poneke, Marist St. Pat's, and in recent times Northern United, are those most associated with playoff rugby and Jubilee Cup success. But not so Oriental-Rongotai (or its forerunner Oriental), Wellington's fourth oldest club, whose only wins in 80 seasons were during the World War Two years through a temporary amalgamation with Poneke.

After a shock loss to newcomers Wainuiomata in the 2007 Hardham Cup final, Ories came back strongly last season to make the top eight at the end of the Swindale Shield round for the first time since 2003 and finished sixth in the Jubilee Cup. The nucleus of last year's Ories side is back again this year, including a clutch of experienced names such as Aukuso, Leiataua, McNamara, Matu'u, Pakau, Reddish, Sola Tuma'ai, and they have shaken off the Sevens tag more recently associated with Ories and developed into a formidable lineup. With a strong forward pack, exciting backs and a prolific goalkicking first five-eighth in James Proctor, they have the team to make the playoffs and beyond this year. They last made the semi-finals in 2002, losing 18-14 to MSP.?

But standing in Ories' way will be any number of title contenders primed and eager to win Wellington sport's most coveted amateur title, with the above quartet of defending co-champions Northern United and Marist St. Pat's and Petone and Poneke all likely to? be jostling for playoff positions at the business end of the season.

Of these, Norths are the obvious threat to all others for their ability to blow any other off the park on their day. It is these destructive qualities that saw them score exactly 500 points and run in 75 tries in 11 games in the just completed Swindale Shield round and storm home with nine straight wins and share the first round title with Petone. Blessed with game breakers throughout their squad, the 2004, 2006 and 2008 (shared) champions have eight 2009 Rebel Sport Super 14 players on their books if available and an array of new talent shining through such as teenagers James So'oialo at fullback and Alipati Leiua at centre, the latter scoring 17 tries in the Swindale Shield.

Petone are a strong side and were unlucky not to win the Swindale Shield on their own, just losing one game all season to Upper Hutt. The Villagers will be especially keen to win this year's Jubilee Cup ahead of their 125^th anniversary celebrations in early 2010. A well balanced team, Petone have the best defensive record of all teams in 2009 so far, conceding just 125 points in 11 games. Look out for big Jubilee Cups from hooker Eugene Smith if available, No. 8 Shaun Mahoney and centre/wing Greg Walker, who has just recently returned to action from a work related injury.

MSP will want to improve on their fifth placing in the Swindale Shield, following their stellar 2008 season in which they became Wellington's first club to hold all major trophies at the same time (the Swindale Shield, Jubilee Cup, Bill Brien Cup and Andy Leslie Trophy for winning the second round round-robin). In the first round this year MSP lost to Poneke, Petone, Ories and Norths, but their superior depth over most other clubs will be an asset come the end of the season. MSP's second fifteen are unbeaten so far this year and have several players with Premier experience.

Above all, both Petone and MSP bring a winning tradition to the Jubilee Cup round, having each won it numerous times between them and won or shared it 20 times in the past 30 years. Petone reign supreme in terms of Jubilee Cup victories. From their first win in 1930, they have gone on to record a further 22 Jubilee Cup titles, including an unprecedented five consecutive wins between 1967-1971. They also shared the Cup with St Pat's Old Boys in 1949 and Wellington in 1982. MSP have now won or shared 12 Jubilee Cups since their first in 1978 and have an outstanding record of 24 Swindale Shield and Jubilee Cup titles combined in 37 seasons.

The Jubilee Cup is about sheer determination, and victories are more often than not ground out the old fashioned way and often in the mud and rain. That's where Poneke come into the reckoning. A proud club with a super-consistent Cup record, if actually winning it has eluded them several times, Poneke appeared in six of eight finals between 1999-2006 and five of seven contested at Westpac Stadium between 2000 and 2006. Last year in their 125^th season they fought back from a horror start to the Swindale Shield to sneak into the top eight and then once more make the top four. A third placed finish in the Swindale Shield sets them up for a strong showing again this time around.

The remaining three sides HOBM, Upper Hutt and Tawa, will all be competitive, particularly at their home venues and each will rate their chances of knocking over the fancied big guns. All have young and exciting teams and in the case of HOBM know what it takes to win the title having captured it in 2007. Upper Hutt and Tawa have yet to win the first round title, but with six different winners in the eleven seasons between 1998-2008 including first time winners the Wests Roosters (1998), Norths (2004) and HOBM, anything's possible.

Expect a fast and furious first round, with all teams eager to kick-start the Cup on the front foot. Round one matches see Poneke play Petone at Kilbirnie Park, MSP host Ories at Evans Bay Park, Norths play Tawa at Porirua Park and Upper Hutt and HOBM square off at Maidstone Park.