Eighth Jubilee Cup Place Wide Open Heading Into Final Two Rounds

Round 10 Preview Four into one won?t go. That?s the predicament facing Johnsonville, Oriental-Rongotai, Tawa and Hutt Old Boys Marist heading into this week?s penultimate Swindale Shield round. Avalon?s remarkable come from behind win against Ories last week did more than secure Avalon?s position in the Jubilee Cup, it created a 10-point chasm on the points table between Avalon and Poneke, who are now seventh equal, and these four teams, who are now in a battle to finish eighth and grab the last Jubilee Cup berth.

At the top, only Upper Hutt and Northern United can still win the first round title, and both should win their round ten matches. Barring the upset of the season, Upper Hutt will bank at least four points from their clash with winless Old Boys-University at the Basin Reserve. Although Avalon will provide sterner opposition for Norths, Norths will be expected to win their game at Fraser Park. If they do then this will set up a showdown for the Shield next week when they play Tawa and Upper Hutt play Marist St. Pats.

However if Avalon upsets Norths, and assuming Upper Hutt accounts for OBU, then Upper Hutt could lift the Shield this week.

The four-way battle for eighth spot couldn?t be any closer. Currently Avalon and Poneke are on 23 points, with Johnsonville ten points adrift on 13 points. But just behind Johnsonville are Ories (12 points), Tawa (12) and Hutt Old Boys Marist (10). Only OBU is out of contention.

Such is the draw involving these four sides over the last two rounds that anything could happen. Ories could be in the box seat though. Their final two games are against Tawa and HOBM, while the other three teams in contention have all still got appointments with big guns.

Tawa will feel they will need to beat Ories in their clash this week at Lyndhurst Park. With a date at Porirua Park against Norths in the last round, five points for Tawa against Ories will be much appreciated by their faithful. If Ories win they can create their own second round destiny by beating HOBM in the last round and playing their way into eighth, instead of relying on other results.

In other round ten games, Johnsonville?s clash with Western Suburbs at Ian Galloway Park won?t be a forgone conclusion either. Johnsonville-Wests games are always heated and passion will take precedence over form. Poneke demolished Tawa in round nine, and should end HOBM?s challenge at the Hutt Recreation Ground, but HOBM will be desperate for the win. MSP takes on Petone at Rugby League Park in the remaining fixture.