Jubilee and Hardham Cup semi-finals previews

Jubilee and Hardham Cup semi-finals previews

Poneke v Northern United

Two of the most consistent teams over the past several seasons square off in today's Jubilee Cup semi-final at Kilbirnie Park, where top qualifier and Andy Leslie Trophy winner Poneke hosts fourth placed Northern United. Both are no strangers to semi-finals rugby, one or both of them having progressed to play in the final at Westpac Stadium in five of the past six years. Norths are playing in their seventh consecutive Jubilee Cup semi-final and if they win they will reach their fifth final since their first in 2004. In this time 2003 champions Poneke have missed out on the top four just once (in 2007).

Poneke's (18-5) win over Ories and Norths' (29-20) victory over Petone?in last week's seventh and final round saw Poneke leapfrog Petone and grab the top qualifier's position for the semi-finals. Going by recent history this could be a significant advantage for Poneke, as the top qualifier has progressed through to the final every year between 2002-2008. This means that Norths will have to? become the first team since Marist St. Pat's in 2001 to reach the final after finishing fourth at the end of the round-robin. If they achieve this they can take comfort that the 2001 MSP team went on to beat Poneke 21-16 in the final after tipping over Petone 22-16 in their semi-final.

If there's one side that can beat the odds it's Norths, who are missing up to 10 first choice selections to the Vodafone Wellington Lions but are still a force to be reckoned with whenever they take the field. Norths scored exactly 500 points in co-winning the Swindale Shield with Petone and have won five from seven of their matches in the second round including an 18-8 win over Poneke six weeks ago on this ground - Poneke's only loss of the Jubilee Cup. In the Swindale Shield, Poneke beat Norths 34-19 in the opening round of the season on Gala Day at Trentham Memorial Park.

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Petone v Marist St. Pat's

It's the clash of the Jubilee Cup giants in today's semi-final at the Petone Recreation Ground, where the home team and second placed qualifier meets third placed Marist St. Pat's. Expect nothing less than an intense and torrid playoff encounter between the two clubs with the finest Jubilee Cup traditions of all. Petone are the most successful Jubilee Cup club in the competition's 81-year history with 26 outright or shared titles and MSP the lords of the past three decades with 12 since their first in 1978 and their most recent last year. Picking a winner today could be too tough to call, with Petone and MSP bringing almost identical points for and against records from the past seven weeks and Petone winning 13-9 when they met in the round-robin.

Petone will be desperate to beat their keen rival and progress through to next week's final for a shot at the title that they last won in 2005 ahead of their 125th Jubilee celebrations next year. The Villagers already have co-possession of the Swindale Shield (with Northern United) and Bill Brien Challenge Cups and just missed out to Poneke in winning the Andy Leslie Trophy for first place at the end of the round-robin. To do so they must turn around a poor semi-final record in recent years that has seen them reach the top four stage in each of the past five years including the last three in a row but only progress to the final once.

MSP have timed their run to the semi-finals well and have now won four in a row since their last loss to top qualifier Poneke in round three, following an inconsistent season up to that point that had seen them win eight from 14, and after the highs of last year when they won 19 on the trot and collected the Swindale Shield-Jubilee Cup (shared) double.

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Old Boys-University v Johnsonville

On form, Old Boys-University head into their Hardham Cup semi-final with Johnsonville as clear favourites, having swept all before them and remained unbeaten in this year's Hardham Cup. In seven games the students have piled on 178 points and conceded just 56 and are coming off their most convincing win to date in last week's final round match, scoring 11 tries and beating Poneke B 67-0 on their home Basin Reserve turf.

But they will know not to underestimate Johnsonville who have the passion and the pride to go all the way. With their re-entry to the Swindale Shield safely secured after three seasons in the doldrums, the boys in the blue hoops can afford to throw caution to the wind and press hard for an upset today. Johnsonville have won four from seven in the round-robin series, with their most significant win coming against neighbours and second placed qualifiers the Wests Roosters 17-5 and their closest a 20-16 win over Poneke B, achieved with a match winner on fulltime.

Four weeks ago OBU and Johnsonville met at the Basin reserve for the first time since early in 2006, with OBU winning 16-9 and becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs in the process.

This will be both OBU's and Johnsonville's first taste of semi-finals rugby since 2005 when both reached the Hardham Cup playoffs. After that the fortunes of both clubs took different routes. OBU played in the Jubilee Cup between 2006-2008 and very nearly made the semi-finals twice, while Johnsonville were relegated from the Swindale Shield in 2006 in an extraordinary close season that could have seen any number of three teams go down right up to the final whistle of the last game of the season.

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Wests Roosters v Wainuiomata

Wainuiomata are playing for the right to contest their fourth consecutive Hardham Cup final when they line up against the Wests Roosters at Ian Galloway in today's semi-final. Wainuiomata have visited Westpac Stadium every year since 2006 when they sensationally made the final against Upper Hutt from the ranks of the Senior One Harper Lock Shield. In 2007 they went one better by beating Oriental-Rongotai in the final 23-17 and they very nearly tipped over top qualifier Tawa last year at Westpac Stadium.

So they certainly know what playoff rugby is about and have as much heart and pride in their jersey than any other team in Wellington club rugby. They now have a core group of? exciting players now in key positions, such as U20 New Zealand U20 lock Shahn Eru and halfback Frae Wilson (if fit) two dynamic flankers Genenis Mamea and Greg Lealofi and real speed at the back in Tau Mamea, Michael Williams and Jason Love.

Its been a rocky old season for the Wests Roosters who last won a club rugby title in 2003 when they beat Tawa 31-15 in the Hardham Cup final. A series of close losses against some of the Jubilee Cup teams gave their supporters hope that success was just around the corner. But it never arrived and they slipped to ninth in the Swindale Shield, just one point ahead of tenth placed Wainuiomata.

But Wainuiomata were one of the Roosters' two victims in the first round, Wests winning 26-19 at William Jones Park back in mid-April. That seven-point win was also the margin of victory for Wests when these two teams met again at Ian Galloway Park in the Hardham Cup round-robin, the Roosters prevailing 20-13. The Roosters are a plucky defensive side who will fight hard all day against Wainuiomata but they will need to find some attacking impetus to go with their defensive resolve if they are to challenge for the silverware next Sunday.