Norths seal Swindale Shield with intercept try

It took a 75th minute intercept try for Northern United to diffuse Oriental-Rongotai's challenge and retain the 2011 Swindale Shield with two rounds remaining at the Polo Ground yesterday.

All Blacks star and birthday boy Ma'a Nonu was leading the charge for Ories but his long searching pass out to Hurricanes teammate Julian Savea was plucked out of the air by Norths midfielder Leon Ellison and he raced away to score untouched under the bar. Fullback James So'oialo added the extras to put Norths ahead 21-10 and the first round title is theirs for another year.

Nonu's pass was justified in the circumstances, with Ories trailing by just four points at the time and well in with a chance if they could just get back into opposition territory and launch another assault at the Norths tryline.

In an intense, action-packed game, Nonu, who was celebrating his 29th birthday, was the best back on show having moved in to first five-eighth and sparked his teammates into a rousing comeback after being behind 11-0 late in the first half and having played their way into Norths' hands by conceding a succession of turnovers and a operating a misfiring lineout.

Norths started typically strongly and scored an emphatic early try to bulldozing No. 8 Mana Faraimo, initially sparked by a lovely blindside run and kick into the corner from a scrum by star of the future and halfback TJ Perenara (who later shifted into midfield). Norths also starved Ories of any quality possession and Nonu didn't even get an opportunity with ball in hand until about the 20th minute. Nonu, Savea, dangerous second five-eighth Paula Kinikinilau and pacy fullback Matt Proctor were kept largely quiet until later in the half.

On the stroke of halftime Ories hit back with a converted try to starting first five-eighth Trevor Marama when Savea ran back an aimless So'oialo clearing kick from an unnecessarily taken quick lineout. So'oialo's kick in play was directed straight down Savea's throat and he set sail in broken play. He beat the first tackler passed inside to Nonu, who in turn found Marama who skirted through to score the try.

With the forwards matching Norths everywhere except the lineouts, the Nonu-inspired Ories threw everything at the champions in the first 15 minutes of the second half and missed further try scoring opportunities on both sides of the field.

Nonu's second penalty attempt edged them closer to 11-10 and the game remained on tenderhooks until well into the second half when a So'oialo penalty pulled Norths ahead 14-10 ahead - until their intercept try and conversion with about five minutes left.

The win for Norths sees them wrap up the first round title with rounds 10 and 11 to spare, but they won't officially be awarded the Swindale Shield until after their last round match against Petone in a fortnight.

The win for Norths is their sixth Swindale Shield title since their first in 2003 and their third consecutive win, the club becoming just the third behind Petone between 1969-1976 (eight in a row) and Marist St. Pat's between 1994-96 to win three in a row. The Jubilee Cup now beckons for them and their many appreciative supporters.

Meanwhile, with the first round title now sewn up by Norths, focus now turns to the battle down the table to finish the 11-week round-robin Swindale Shield competition inside the top eight and secure a place in the upcoming Jubilee Cup.

The race for the top eight is intense, with five teams ending round nine separated by five competition points or one win and only bottom two teams the Wests Roosters and Avalon mathematically out of Jubilee Cup contention.

Old Boys-University ended the ninth round one spot outside the top eight and two places lower than they started it following their 20-23 defeat at the hands of Wainuiomata at William Jones Park.

Nonu's All Blacks teammate Piri Weepu kicked a late penalty to sink the students and put their Jubilee Cup plans in serious jeopardy with matches to come against Ories and Marist. St Pat's.

Wainuiomata had been up 15-3 at halftime following two first half tries to right wing Michael Williams. A try to Wainuiomata halfback Frae Wilson then had the home side ahead 20-3 and the competition points seemed heading their way.

But the students mounted a comeback, scoring two converted tries to their locks, Hurricanes Bryn Evans and Mike Scott, edging them closer to 20-17. First five-eighth Mike Newell added a penalty and it was all locked up at 20-20 before Weepu's match winning penalty.

Upper Hutt crept back into the top eight at the expense of OBU with a similar comeback and a heart stopping 32-29 win over Tawa at home at Maidstone Park - their first win at home this year following three last-gasp losses.

The men in maroon took their fans on another emotional roller coaster ride, conceding a 17-0 deficit to Tawa and then coming back to score the match winning try through outstanding fullback Jason Woodward late in the contest. Woodward is now the competition's leading points scorer and joint leading try-scorer with Petone No. 8 Piers Gordon.

Tawa had sensationally scored two tries, to their wings Ross Taurima and George Tilsley, to open up their big lead after just several minutes of play. Stung early, Upper Hutt settled and closed the deficit to 17-6 at halftime. Upper Hutt then scored two tries, to lock Ray Sio and left wing Max Pearson, and they now led 18-17. Tawa re-took the lead with their third try, to centre Jason Roache, and they led 24-18. But Upper Hutt struck twice through Woodward, his second finally putting the game in the bag for Upper Hutt. Tawa then scored a well-deserved fourth try to end a thrilling game.

In another action packed match, albeit on the other end of the scale as far as scoring went, Poneke battled their way to an 8-5 win over Hutt Old Boys Marist at a revamped Kilbirnie Park in what was the lowest scoring Swindale Shield result since MSP beat Tawa 7-3 in round eight in 2007.

Poneke won the match, perhaps unsurprisingly, on the back of an outstanding defensive effort, particularly in the first half when the Eagles hammered away for long periods inside their 22 but couldn't crack the line nor kick any of three penalty attempts.

HOBM were left rueing not being able to turn this pressure into points when Poneke replacement lock Joe Latta was driven over on the 60-minute mark to put the red and blacks ahead 5-0. Second five-eighth Jeremy Te Huia then struck a glorious penalty with about five minutes remaining to seal the victory and retain the Roy John Trophy.

HOBM kept fighting and scored a consolation try at the end to first five-eighth Kahu Tamatea, the losing bonus point potentially crucial.

After being on the rocks at the start of the last round, MSP's second consecutive victory, 26-14 over Avalon at home at Evans Bay Park, has probably clinched them their place in the Jubilee Cup.

Avalon fought hard throughout and they led 9-3 midway through the first half through three penalties to fullback Joyner Keys. MSP took the lead for the first time with a try to left wing Jope Nabou, and first five-eighth Trent Vatselias added his third penalty to give them a 14-9 lead at halftime.

MSP then pulled clear after the break with tries to hooker Liu Taituave and replacement flanker Tevita ah Wong. Avalon battled on and scored a consolation try to lock Akuila Alatini.

The Wests Roosters also soldiered on against Petone at Ian Galloway Park despite the Villagers winning 46-3 to see them retain the Gareth Head Memorial Trophy. Wests were in the game at 3-3 after almost 30 minutes of play before Petone scored their first try to take a 13-3 lead into halftime.

With Hurricane Daniel Kirkpatrick directing Petone's backs, they pulled clear after halftime scoring twice more, centre Michael Lealava'a's try under the posts making it 27-3 and pretty much sealing the win. The points kept coming and Hurricane Neemia Tialata scored the last try of the afternoon.

In the Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield, there were key wins for Petone, Rimutaka and Norths and a draw between leaders HOBM and Poneke - all serving to close up the points table and set up a cracker final fortnight.

HOBM had a seven point lead on the rest of the field going into the ninth round, but their 17-17 draw with Poneke at Kilbirnie Park has narrowed that down to just four points.

In a close match, HOBM had scored in the corner to give them a 17-14 lead, before Poneke stepped up to kick a late penalty that could prove crucial for the outcome of the competition.

Breathing down HOBM's neck is defending Senior 1 champion Norths, who eased to a 29-7 win over Ories at the Polo Ground. Petone are now outright third after ending Johnonville's challenge 25-14 at Helston Park, followed by Poneke, with Hardham Cup hopefuls Rimutaka just a point back in fifth following their 29-15 win over Tawa.

MSP are sixth, after beating hapless Stokes Valley by default, while OBU beat Paremata-Plimmerton 47-24 to climb one spot to seventh and still be in with a shot of making the top four and playing in the Hardham Cup.

In the Senior 2 National Mutual Cup, Upper Hutt trounced Johnsonville 48-13 at Maidstone Park to move from third to joint first with Wainuiomata who beat previous leaders OBU 25-17 at William Jones Park.

Elsewhere, Poneke upset HOBM 16-12, MSP beat Avalon 42-17 and Wellington pipped Norths 18-14 at Hataitai Park. Down the table, the Wests Roosters beat Petone 13-12.

The Senior 2 competition is set to go down to the wire, with the leading six teams separated by the margin of a bonus point win and a seventh team, Wellington, three points further back with a fortnight to play.

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