Sink or swim time for semi-finals hopefuls in fifth round

The fifth round of the Jubilee and Hardham Cups shapes as a critical one for many teams chances in both competitions, as potentially, teams could be confirmed or eliminated as semi-finalists as early as this week. Elsewhere there's a full slate of club games scheduled, including a special round in the Women's competition with one titanic clash, as well as college before the latter breaks for the school holidays.

Jubilee Cup

Wainuiomata and HOBM have stolen a march on the rest of the pack and irrespective of results tomorrow will continue to occupy the top two places after this week; they each could also be confirmed as semi-finalists after tomorrows round of matches if they win and other results fall their way.

Below them however is a real logjam, with the other six sides separated by only 4 points and desperate to remain in contention for semi-final places.

Leaders Wainuiomata make the short trip over the hill to face Petone on the Rec, having once again defended a late lead last weekend, this time over Ories. It seems that every week a different player stands out for the Green & Blacks, with centre Teru Time the latest with his two-try effort. The Villagers have slumped since lowering MSP's colours in the first round of the Jubilee Cup and following last week's loss to the Rams they need to win this one otherwise their aspirations could be in some jeopardy. When the two sides met in the Swindale on Easter Monday at the same venue, Wainuiomata prevailed in a high-scoring encounter by 41 to 34.

Hutt Old Boys Marist is also on the road, making the trip to Miramar to take on Oriental-Rongotai at the Polo Ground. The Eagles were made to work to make it 4-from-4, having to wrest back the initiative after MSP grabbed it early in the second half. Much of that was owed to Glen Walters, who started at first-five and finished at fullback on his way to amassing a personal haul of 31 points. Ories suffered their second successive three point defeat in going down to Wainuiomata and third in all, and like Petone need to right the ship if they are to reach the semi-finals. They will be hoping for the same outcome as their Swindale meeting, where the Magpies ground out a 17-15 win.

Through the Mt Victoria Tunnel the Old Boys-University Goats lock horns with the Upper Hutt Rams at the Basin Reserve in the only game between sides that won last weekend. OBU climbed to third after surviving a late assault on their line by Tawa to hold on a Lyndhurst; a result that also saw them take possession of the Bill Brien Challenge Cup which will be on the line tomorrow. The Rams notched their first Jubilee Cup win as a merger club at the fourth time of asking, and while still at the foot of the table will still fancy their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals, particularly if they can repeat their 22-8 win in their Swindale encounter all the way back on the opening day of the season.

The fourth match of the day is at Lyndhurst Park, where home side and defending champions Tawa host Marist St Pat's. The two pacesetters from the Swindale Shield find themselves both in a situation that few expected a month ago, and for the loser in this one it could be a very hard road to the playoffs, particularly if the other results go against them. The two sides last meeting was of course in the final week of the Swindale where MSP prevailed 28-21 and with both teams looking fairly evenly matched this could be a similar sort of result.

All Jubilee Cup matches are 3.00 pm kick-offs.

Hardham Cup

The feature clash of the fifth round of Hardham Cup matches is undoubtedly at Porirua Park with second-placed Norths hosting unbeaten leaders Poneke.

Norths continue to make amends for that shock first-up loss to OBU, crushing previous leaders Avalon 54-8 with a rampant second-half last Saturday and look in quite ominous form. A win for Poneke would lock-up a semi-final place, and if conditions are poor will back their forwards to lead the way. They will however be without captain Galu Taufale after he was sent-off last week for a tip-tackle, while NZ U20 representatives Jackson Garden-Bachop and Tauasosi Tuimavave will feature in the opposing backlines.Norths have also named former Hurricane Api Naikatini at lock. The two sides met in the second-last week of the Swindale campaign, with Norths slim 32-30 win keeping them alive at that stage for the Jubilee Cup while also ending Poneke's hopes.

Avalon fell to third after suffering that heavy home defeat to Norths, and this week again face a Swindale Shield side when they make the trip to Hataitai to face Wellington. The Axemen netted a valuable bonus-point in their win over OBU after losing to Norths and Poneke the previous weeks, but will be wary of the challenge the Fraser Park side presents. For their part Avalon will look to shake off that result and get back in the winners column, but will be without powerhouse lock Akuila Alatini after he was sent-off against Norths. The two sides last met in a high-scoring Hardham Cup encounter last year, with the Axemen winning 49-24.

The other two matches involve the sides outside of the current top four. Fifth-placed Johnsonville can push themselves back into contention when they host MSP at Helston Park, with the latter coming off their first win of the campaign, while the only early match in the round pits OBU against winless Paremata-Plimmerton in the curtain-raiser at the Basin Reserve, though the Goats will have to be wary of opposing fullback Ryan McLean who has crossed five times in their last three games.

Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup

The Senior 1 competition hits its midway point with the fifth round of matches, and all five matches are in the early afternoon timeslot.

Leaders Poneke are away against Norths at Porirua Park, looking to maintain their unbeaten record in this competition, while the hosts will be looking for an upset to try and kick-start their campaign.

Second-placed Upper Hutt Rams will look to keep pace when they visit Wellington at Hataitai, with the Axemen coming off their first win. Petone, who dropped to third, are at home to mid-table Wainui and fourth-placed HOBM visit winless Ories. The final match is at Lyndhurst where Tawa takes on the Wests Roosters.

College Premier

The Premier 1 competition enters its final week of the round-robin stage. There is one Traditional clash on Saturday with Wellington College hosting Rongotai. Both schools have been in action already this week, with Wellington College having won their annual Quadrangular by beating Nelson College 5-0 in difficult conditions in Wanganui, and Rongotai going down 0-42 to Silverstream on Wednesday.

In the other matches in this round second-placed Scots are at home to fourth-placed Hutt International after contrasting results last week, while bottom sides St Bernard's and winless Naenae clash. All three matches are 2.30 pm kick-offs. The remaining fixture, the annual St Pat's Town vs Silverstream traditional match, is scheduled to be played on July 23 following the school holidays.

In the Premier 2 grade, four of the five matches are at 1.00 pm. Leaders Wairarapa are at mid-table Upper Hutt College, while second-placed Silverstream 2nds are at home against Hutt Valley HS. Porirua travels up the coast to play Kapiti, and Paraparaumu visits the Wellington College 2nds. The sole 2.30 pm game is at Aotea, where third-placed Tawa are the visitors.

Other grades

The first games up this weekend are on tonight, with three of the four Women's Victoria Tavern Trophy matches taking place under lights. Old Boys-University and Wainuiomata start the round with a 6.30 pm kick-off at Te Whaea, with 7.30 pm starts for Avalon against Poneke and Tawa versus Stokes Valley on the Maidstone artificial and at Lyndhurst respectively.

The feature clash of the round is however at Porirua Park on Saturday at 11.35 am when competition heavyweights Norths and Oriental-Rongotai clash. When the two sides met in mid-April Ories prevailed 26-24, so Norths will be looking to square the season ledger on home turf.

The Colts Division 1 John E Kelly Cup round starts on Friday night as well, with Oriental-Rongotai this week facing the challenge of ending OBU Greens' 31-match winning streak at 8.00 pm at Te Whaea. The matches on Saturday have Norths against MSP at Porirua, and Petone are scheduled to face OBU Black though the university holidays may see that postponed. In the one 3pm kickoff HOBM host the Wellington Axemen at the Hutt Rec.

In the Senior 2 HD Morgan Cup, Johnsonville hosts MSP in the early game at Helston, while at 3.00 pm leaders Avalon make the short trip to take on Stokes Valley at Delaney Park, OBU hosts the Upper Hutt Rams at Ian Galloway and Norths face HOBM at Porirua. Petone have the bye.

Finally, the third round of the Under 85kg Paul Potiki Shield sees the Tawa Titans at Redwood Park against Eastbourne and the Upper Hutt Rams are at Maidstone against Avalon in 1.15 pm matches, while at 3.00 pm Waikanae and Poneke meet up the coast and the two OBU sides, the Bunnies and Spartans, clash at Te Whaea. The MSP Blues have the bye.

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