Petone tip over Swindale champs MSP as OBU B beat Norths in Hardham Cup opener

UPDATED: The opening afternoon of second round Wellington club rugby Premier Jubilee Cup and Premier 2 Hardham Cup matches was played today under stroppy skies, but the rugby was sizzling at all venues.

The second round is short and sharp, but if today's results are a gauge, fans have got an exciting two months to look forward to.

In the Jubilee Cup, Petone sounded out an ominous warning that they mean business in 2014, comfortably defeating last week's Swindale Shield winners Marist St Pat's 27-19.

Petone scored three tries, turning tenacious defence into attack to fly to a decisive 17-0 lead by halftime, with tries to second five-eighth Nick Grigg and in-form loose forward Josh Hrstich (pictured above scoring his try). MSP hit back just after the interval through centre Aviata Silago, but Petone sealed the win when flyhalf Riki Flutey scored again to give them a 27-5 lead.

Oriental-Rongotai trucked out several Hurricanes stars against Tawa at Lyndhurst Park and beat the defending Jubilee Cup champions 45-15.

Ories were fast out of the blocks and effectively had the game won at 21-3 up with centre Paulo Aukuso scoring twice early and Ardie Savea having a major influence in his second club game of the year.? Ories led 35-3 at halftime, pulling clear after the interval to inflict a fourth consecutive defeat on Tawa.

Wainuiomata showed why they'll be pressing hard for a Jubilee Cup semi-finals place at the end of July in their 29-15 win over the Upper Hutt Rams at Maidstone Park.

Wainuiomata's loose forwards Greg Lealofi, Shahn Eru and Best and Fairest competition leader Ben Tupuola were to the fore as Wainuiomata came back from an early 7-0 deficit to lead 12-10 at halftime.

Former Newcastle Knights NRL player Marvin Karawana scored the game's key try soon after the interval to push the green and blacks out to a 19-10 lead, while fullback Josh Robertson-Weepu scored a try and kicked nine points.

It was a seesawing encounter at the Basin Reserve, where home side Old Boys University sailed to a 13-3 lead with the wind in their favour, which they extended to 20-10 at halftime after right wing Joe Hill danced through to score under the bar.

Some powerful thrusts from their forwards aside, which led to their first half try to prop Otto Rasch, HOBM struggled for accuracy. But the Eagles upped their tempo in the second half and soared back into the contest and past the Goats - putting on 20 unanswered points.

From broken play, left wing Chase Tiatia raced away to score what proved to be the match winner and his 10^th try of the season. OBU hit back with a try to centre Wes Goosen, but the Eagles held on to win 30-27.

The upset of the day was at Ian Galloway Park in the Hardham Cup, where Old Boys University defeated Northern United's top team 25-24.

OBU replacement wing Tim Mowbray crossed for the match winner in the corner with a couple of minutes only on the referee's clock. This was after Norths had thought they had scored what was the winning try moments before when veteran outside back Peato Lafaele crossed to put Norths ahead 24-20.

Lafaele's try had come hot on the heels of another Norths try after Norths had got themselves back in the game when prop Daley Ena delivered the final pass to replacement halfback Adam Vardey to score and to close the margin to 20-17.

With the use of a not insignificant wind, OBU B had led Norths 17-5 at halftime, scoring tries to their first and second five-eighths, Simon George and Morgan Chalmers. Chalmers' try was a 95-metre try after George ran at the line from a defensive lineout, exploiting a hole with a Norths midfielder injured on the ground, and he linked with flanker Sam Coventry and then Chalmers.

Norths scored their only try of the first half the forwrds rumbling over in the corner after a series of bone crunching forwards drives.

OBU extended their lead to 20-5 just after halftime with a penalty and Norths scored their second try to make it 20-12 to OBU B. The story of much of the rest of second half was Norths squandering possession by kicking the ball away too often and failing to build phases. OBU hung in there, before the game unfolded in dramatic style at the end.

In other Hardham Cup first round matches today, recently crowned Harper Lock Shield champions Avalon beat Johnsonville 34-16 at Fraser Park on Old Timers' Day, Poneke sauntered to a 57-5 win over Marist St Pat's B at Kilbirnie Park with seven individual players scoring nine tries and the Wellington Axemen edged out Paremata-Plimmerton at the Graveyard.

Three out of the four Hardham Cup wins were bonus point victories.

Defending second round Senior Ed Chaney Cup champions Tawa were one of four bonus point winners in the first round of matches, beating Ories 29-15 in the battle of the second XVs at Lyndhurst Park.

Promoted team Poneke beat the struggling Wests Roosters 32-13, while the other promoted team, Wellington, missed out 13-15 in a tight one to Hutt Old Boys Marist.

The Upper Hutt Rams and Petone both earned opening round bonus point wins, the Rams beating Wainuiomata 31-13 and Petone defeating Norths 40-27.

In the HD Morgan Memorial Senior 2 first round, Stokes Valley found form on their Old Timers' Day and 65^th anniversary weekend. Stokes Valley earned a bonus point 26-12 win over Norths.

Petone, Avalon and HOBM were all Senior 2 grade winners without bonus points. Petone beat MSP 23-8, Avalon beat Johnsonville 22-14 and HOBM edged OBU 15-11.

The two Old Boys University Colts teams struck success in the first set of matches in the Division 1 John E Kelly Cup.

The champions OBU Green side beat HOBM Green for the second week in a row, 62-12, while promoted team OBU Black defeated the Wellington Axemen Colts 36-22.

In other Colts Division 1 matches, Petone Blue beat MSP 38-19 and Norths Blue beat Ories 22-10.

The Colts Division 2 competition was the most closely contested grade of them all today.

Four of the six opening round Vic Calcinai Memorial Cup games were decided by either one or two points.

Johnsonville beat Avalon 20-19, Upper Hutt Rams A defeated Poneke 33-32, OBU White overcame Petone 23-22 and Rahui beat Tawa 16-14. The other two matches saw Wainuiomata defeat Upper Hutt Rams B 38-5 and the Kapiti Colts overcome Paremata-Plimmerton 27-11.

St Pat's Silverstream edged out Scots College 28-26 in today's feature Premier 1 First XV encounter.

Wellington College got their first win of the competition season in three attempts, beating Naenae College 38-12.

Hutt International Boys' School made it three from three, beating St Bernard's College 17-11 and St Pat's Town earned their second win, beating Rongotai College 26-16.

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