MSP win Swindale Shield, Norths miss out on top eight

UPDATED: Marist St Pat's are the 2014 Swindale Shield champions, while Northern United are the side to miss out on the ‘top eight' and will be playing in the Hardham Cup for the rest of the season.

A spirited MSP beat Tawa 28-21 today in front of a bumper crowd in bright sunshine at Kilbirnie Park today, winning the first round title for the first time since 2008 and capturing their 11th Swindale Shield overall.

The won the first round 11-match competition by winning eight games, drawing one and losing two and scoring 336 points for and 236 against. They scored 37 tries and conceded 26. Playmaking first five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili is the leading point scorer so far with 128 points.

MSP are a deserved first round champion after holding off a late charge by the Tawa wolf pack with 14 players after No. 8 Pago Haini was red carded with 18 minutes remaining. MSP now go on to try and emulate Tawa's feats last year of capturing the Swindale Shield - Jubilee Cup double in the same season.

In a match worthy of a final, MSP blew the contest open late in the first half with quickfire tries to left wing Ryan Setefano and centre Cardiff Vaeaga. They led 15-9 at halftime, all Tawa's points coming from boot of first five-eighth James So'oialo.

MSP got ahead 25-9 after 50 minutes after a penalty to first five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili and Sefefano's second try. They very nearly went in again but were cut down after a lovely break up into the 22.

The fourth quarter was tense and willing, Haini being red carded and Tawa coming right back at them. They scored after a forwards drive and then through fullback Randall Bishop in the same corner and it was game on at 25-21.

More outstanding, scrambling defence by MSP held Tawa out and Fili edged them ahead 28-21 with his final penalty.

Heroes for MSP included halfback Peter Sciascia who was outstanding on attack and defence, Fili, flankers Isaac O'Connor and Gabe Papanui, hooker Sefo Setefano and left wing Ryan Setefano who scored two tries and also made at least two try saving tackles late in the game.

For Tawa supporters, invigorated by recent successes, it was a tough loss. Just three weeks ago they appeared cruising to the first round title but were over-run by Petone (27-31) in round nine and tipped over by Old Boys University (16-18) last week. With their powerful forwards and inspirational captain Taniela Korori set to come back from a broken thumb, they have all the motivation to dig deep and defend their Jubilee Cup title.

Northern United Won't be joining MSP, Tawa and the six other clubs in the Jubilee Cup.

In losing 25-27 to the Upper Hutt Rams ?they are the unlucky club to miss out this year, for the second year in succession.

The eight teams set to contest the 2014 Jubilee Cup starting next Saturday are: MSP, Tawa,? Wainuiomata, Petone, the Upper Hutt Rams, Old Boys University, Oriental-Rongotai and Hutt Old Boys Marist.

Northern United, Poneke, Wellington and Johnsonville are to be joined by Avalon, MSP B, Old Boys University B and Paremata-Plimmerton in the Hardham Cup.

The battle for the remaining two Hardham Cup spots was just as intense heading into today's last round set of matches with six teams all theoretically still alive.

Congratulations to Paremata-Plimmerton for making it into the Hardham Cup round. Needing to win well over the Ories Second XV today they won 45-10. Paremata-Plimmerton scored three converted tries and led 21-5 at halftime and then skipped away to have the game wrapped up 10 minutes into the second half.

Paremata-Plimmerton finished fourth behind winners Avalon, second placed OBU and third placed MSP.

Tawa finished fifth, despite beating MSP 18-11 today. This match was called off early when an MSP player had a seizure on the field.

Avalon pipped sixth place Hutt Old Boys Marist 32-27 for the Billy Herbert Memorial Trophy, ?OBU beat Wainuiomata 30-8, Northern United beat the Upper Hutt Rams 20-15 and Petone beat the Wests Roosters 39-10 for the Gareth Head Memorial Trophy.

Last round games in the second round National Mutual Cup Senior 2 grade were all close today.

Poneke won the grade without firing a shot, beating the Upper Hutt Rams by default. Wellington finished second, beating HOBM 25-22. Poneke and HOBM have been promoted to the Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup for the second half of the season.

Avalon finished third, despite losing to OBU 27-28, while Johnsonville edged Petone 13-11 and MSP defeated Stokes Valleyt 27-20.

In Colts rugby, Old Boys University Green were presented with the first round Paris Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of their last round match against HOBM Green today, beating OBU Green 39-0 in today's final round match.

OBU Green finished the first round with a record of seven wins from seven, having scored 254 points and conceding 41.

The second round Paul Potiki Memorial Shield starts next week in the Colts Division 1 grade.

OBU Black beat Tawa 16-11 in the final of the Colts Division 2 final. OBU Black have been promoted for the second round and will join their Green counterparts in Division 1 for the second round.

Wainuiomata beat Paremata-Plimmerton 42-14 in the final of the Colts Division 3 James Gilbert Cup.

In the Premier 1 First XV competition, St Pat's Silverstream eased to their second straight win today, beating St Bernard's College 48-10.

HIBS continued their winning start tot eh season, defeating Naenae College 31-10. Other results today saw Scots College beat Rongotai 60-7 in the battle of the eastern Suburbs colleges.

On Wednesday, St Pat's Town pipped Wellington College 19-17.

In Women's friendly fixtures, Old Boys University beat Eketahuna 27-17 and Northern United defeated Feilding Old Boys Oroua 40-3.

In other Swindale Shield matches today, high scoring was generally the order of the day after a generally low round of scoring throughout the opening 10 rounds.

The Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles soared to their most convincing win of the year, beating the Wellington Axemen 61-14. In an attractive match with several length of the field movements that led to tries, HOBM had their bonus point by halftime and ran freely in the second spell. Wing Chase Tiatia scored one of their tries, to end the first round as the leading try-scorer with nine.

There was to be no repeat of last round disappointments of recent seasons when Old Boys University came to play against Wainuiomata who had already qualified for the final round.

Playing for former Manager and club personality Richard Puddy Newsome, OBU also had their bonus point try by halftime, after first five-eighth Hamish Buick, lock Ian Kennedy, and loose forwards Adam Hill and Teariki Ben-Nicholas crossed the whitewash. OBU went on to win 47-22

In their 50th anniversary Jim Grbich Memorial Shield match, Ories had too much firepower out wide for Poneke, winning 36-10. It was a tight struggle up front, but Ories broke free and ran away with the win and into the Jubilee Cup. Wing Andy Ellis scored a hat-trick.

Northern United need to win against the Upper Hutt Rams on their Old Timers' Day, but came up short by two points.

Norths led 13-12 after 25 minutes when first five-eighth Perry Hayman scored a try and kicked a penalty, but the Rams came back with a converted try on halftime to close the margin to 13-12 at the interval.

Norths pulled clear again, leading 20-12 after 50 minutes, but, once more, Upper Hutt came back and they won the contest on late penalties. The Upper Hutt Rams won the Terry Farrow Memorial Cup.

Petone flexed their muscles with a convincing performance against minnows Johnsonville, winning 36-0 at Helston Park.

Swindale Shield match report: Petone steamroll Johnsonville

Petone were too big, strong and powerful winning 36- 0 against a Johnsonville side that just couldn't get going at Helston Park.

The entire match was one way traffic.

After a scrappy opening 5 minutes, the Villagers scored their first try after their forwards rumbled over off a lineout drive. The lineout came after Johnsonville conceded a penalty for infringing at the ruck.

Former Bay of Plenty prop Mike Kainga dived over after a simple, well worked move from the Petone forwards. The conversion was added by halfback Jared Kahu.

Bustling flanker Mateaki Kafatolu scored the second try after finishing off a linebreak from Nick Grigg.

Towards the end of the half. Keanu Moran finished off an overlap out wide to dot down in the right hand corner.

Johnsonville's defence was beginning to tire and Petone took a commanding 19-0 lead into the break.

When the second half begun, the floodgates burst open for the home side.

The tone was set when Riki Flutey steamrolled Johnsonville captain Corey Lawrence.

Keanu Moran scored his second try moments after kickoff after centre Sam McNicol breached the defensive line with ease. The ball was fed to Moran and he dotted down.

Number eight Josh Hrstich, who made his presence felt against Tawa weeks ago with his defence, showcased some brilliant offloads and speed this time round. There were shades of Kieran Read all over him as he ran rings around the Johnsonville team.

He finished off another line break and crashed over close to the posts much to the delight of the travelling supporters who made the drive up the Ngauranga Gorge. The bonus point try was secured.

Petone's final try came during the 65^th minute, when Hrstich dotted down after the forwards decimated the Johnsonville pack when it came to the drive.

Replacement back Taylor Henry came on and added the conversion to bring the scoreline to 36-0.

The game lost its shape in the last 10 minutes, with mistakes aplenty from both sides.

In fact things were going so well for Petone that Riki Flutey was deemed surplus to requirements with half an hour to go.

The Petone defence was just as impressive as their attack. Despite being up 36 - 0 with a quarter of the game to go, they shut down the Johnsonville team, forcing a mistake after a barrage close to their line with 5 minutes to play.

Johnsonville battled away desperate for a consolation try in the latter stages of the game. But the Petone defence held firm and took great pride in not conceding a line break. Even Johnsonville's livewire halfback Jack Taulapapa was kept quiet, as he struggled under the pressure from the Petone defensive line which rushed up, and eroded the space.

However, Johnsonville first five Matt Greange certainly didn't disgrace himself on debut. The third choice behind Thomas Donaldson and Callum Gill was solid and had a handy punt. Greange is originally from Taranaki and is plying his trade as a builder for Russell Properties.

Petone have now won 3 games in a row and are going to be a tough beast come Jubilee Cup time. They are well coached and look destined to go far in 2014.

The Hawks will look to start afresh in the Hardham Cup and if they get Rocky Leofo, Hadleigh Parkes, Kane Le'aupepe and others back, then there is no reason why they can't make the semi finals in the Hardham Cup.

Second round draws

The draws for the second round will all be released tomorrow afternoon by the WRFU.

The draw for next week's Jubilee Cup opener is (home teams first):

Tawa v Ories

Petone v MSP

Upper Hutt Rams v Wainuiomata

OBU v Hutt Old Boys Marist

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