Wests Wallop Poneke, While Norths And Upper Hutt Make It Four From Four

Round 4 Review Western Suburbs were the impressive winners of round four of the Swindale Shield, thrashing Poneke in a dominant display of attacking rugby. Wests outscored Poneke seven tries to three, and only a late rally from the red-and-blacks halted the rampant Roosters. Northern United and Upper Hutt maintained their unbeaten starts to the season with wins over Petone and Oriental-Rongotai, Johnsonville almost upstaged Marist St. Pats, Avalon beat Old Boys-University and Tawa edged out Hutt Old Boys Marist.

In this week?s feature game at Fraser Park Avalon kept OBU winless with a four tries to three victory at Fraser Park. In a spirited and even game Avalon had their noses ahead of OBU throughout, and while the students threatened to overhaul them midway through the second half they ultimately never had the firepower to do so.

OBU never lacked for enterprise though and they contributed to a fast paced, often frenetic spectacle, where both sides were willing to move the ball wide and counterattack at any opportunity.

Avalon cruised to a 10-0 lead early on through a penalty to first five-eighth Mano Flutey and a try to second five-eighth Matthew Hill, before OBU halfback Adam Fleming waltzed through a ruck to score for the visitors. Avalon left wing Vila Apu?ula then replied for Avalon, finishing off a simple backline movement. Following this flurry of scoring, all inside the 15-minute mark, it remained 15-7 until early in the second half.

OBU started the second spell off the best possible way when replacement midfielder Sam Poulson charged down an Avalon clearing kick and scored in the corner. This closed the gap to just three points, but Avalon No.8 Thomas Waldrom extended his side?s lead to 10 points again with what proved to be the decisive score of the game. From a scrum 40 metres out halfback Peter Sciascia rushed up the shortside, fed Apu?ula, who passed in field to Waldrom who juggled and then wriggled over the line.

OBU weren?t done yet; first five-eighth Randell Walker missed penalty chances in the 48th and 58th minutes, and then they scored their third try through No. 8 Mike Te Moana. This closed the deficit to 22-17 with 15 minutes remaining. Avalon dug deep and after two near opportunities, including a knock-on over the line, Apu?ula sealed the win and the four-try bonus point for Avalon with a solo 30-metre run to the line.

The result was never in doubt at Ian Galloway Park though where Wests ran through Poneke, adding to their 27-10 halftime lead with four second half tries to at one stage lead 53-10. Upper Hutt also scored seven tries in their easy win over Ories at the Polo Grounds. Norths however were pushed hard by Petone at Porirua park. In a close game, a late scoring spree from Norths gave them the bonus point win to stay alone on top of the table.

Meanwhile MSP only just edged out Johnsonville at Helston Park, with first five-eighth kicking a late penalty for MSP to deny Johnsonville a deserved bonus point, and Tawa broke a 23-23 deadlock to pip HOBM at Lyndhurst park.

Steven White


Swindale Shield top points scorers (after four rounds):

58 Scott Leighton(Wests)
42 Riki Flutey (Petone)
42 Fa?atonu Fili (MSP)
39 Cory Aporo (Upper Hutt)
33 Peato Lafaele (Norths)
33 Cameron Cross (Avalon)
30 Jonathan Bentley (HOBM)
28 Rob Aloe (Norths)
28 Corey Burt (Jville)
28 Brad Cooper (Poneke)
26 Willie Lafaele (Tawa)
22 Gene Johnston (Tawa)

Swindale Shield top try scorers (after four rounds):

4 Vila Apu?ula (Avalon)
3 Roy Kinikinilau (Ories)
3 Willie Moala (Petone)
3 Fraser Tane (Upper Hutt)
3 Hirini Robin (Tawa)
3 Siaosi Anamani (Norths)
3 Jonathan Manu (HOBM)
3 Kane Thompson (Wests)
3 Shaun O?Conner (Poneke)
3 Misiluni Moananu (Poneke)

20 players with two tries.

56 players with 1 try.