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Eagles well out in front as chasing pack closes up in eighth round thriller

Swindale Shield Premier | 09 May 2015 | Steven White & Jack Callender

Above: The sun shone brightly on Wellington club rugby today. Here Petone’s Nick Grigg flies through to score on of his four tries in the match in his side’s bonus point win over Paremata-Plimmerton in their inaugural Ken Gray Cup match.

With three weeks to play, the Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles have one hand on the first round Swindale Shield trophy, but you can throw a blanket over the chasing pack.

In beating Johnsonville 54-22 today at home at the Hut Recreation Ground (match report below) and nearest rivals Tawa losing over the hill at William Jones Park to Wainuiomata 18-25, the HOBM Eagles have taken a seven-point lead at the top of the standings.

But it’s further down the table where the drama unfolded today, with other results on a fine, sunny afternoon around Wellington serving to close up the chasing pack and making the scramble for ‘top eight’ places for the second round Jubilee Cup a tight affair over the next three rounds.

Tawa went down to Wainuiomata in a bruising tussle, after leading 15-11 at halftime. The So'oialo brothers, Best and Fairest leader James and his elder brother Steven were instrumental early for the visitors who had a stiff wind in their favour in the first half. Wainuiomata sailed home, with tries to outside backs Josh Robertson-Weepu and Tau Mamea making the difference in a contest between two abrasive forward packs.

Below Hutt Old Boys Marist (on 38 points) and Tawa (on 31), 11 points separate the next eight teams. From third placed to Wellington (28) down to 11th placed Poneke (20), the race is on to avoid the Hardham Cup at the end of May.

The Wellington Axemen have probably booked themselves a place in the Jubilee Cup for the first time since 1995 with a hard-fought 22-8 win over Oriental-Rongotai at Hataitai Park.

The Axemen retained the Alby Jack Cup with a combination of individual brilliance on attack and stern resolve on defence. In the first half second five-eighth Penijamini Nabainivalu made a clean break to set up a try for halfback Adam Deck, while blindside flanker Vaea Fifita scored a stunning solo try as the Axemen took a 22-0 lead at halftime. Huge second half defence kept Ories out, who could only manage one try out wide to Trevor Marama.

In another notable result, Marist St Pat’s lost their third straight game, to slip to fourth equal with Ories (both on 26). MSP went down to Old Boys University (21), who went into this game needing to win or they were in danger of slipping away.

The Goats retained the Jack Lamason Trophy with a dominant forwards effort. With the services of Hurricanes prop Ben May, OBU’s pack was all over MSP’s in the first half and they raced to a 26-0 after about half an hour. Then when Argentine lock Augustine Escalona scored and fullback Sam Chamberlain converted they led 33-0 at the interval. The second half was much closer as MSP came back, but the damage was done.

The Upper Hutt Rams (27) left it to the last play of the game to pip Northern United (21) 31-30 to take the Terry Farrow Memorial Trophy.

Fullback Joyner Key took a pass from prop Apa Heemi in his 100th game for the club and ran through to score under the posts and he then calmly converted from in front to toppled Norths who thought they had done enough to win after mounting a comeback and scoring spree of their own in the second half. The Rams had led 10-0 after 10 minutes and then 18-6 at halftime, but in a helter-skelter affair, Norths took a 30-24 lead when Inoke Rasabale scored in the corner. The Rams made one last play and it paid off at the death.

Poneke (20) remain in the hunt for the top eight in the second half with a somewhat flattering win over Avalon. Playing into the Kilbirnie Park wind, Poneke trailed Avalon 8-10 at halftime. Avalon maintained their lead until well into the second half when wing Talia Taotua scored to put them ahead for the first time. Flanker Greg Foe crossed to make it 18-10 in favour of Poneke, before a late flurry of scoring saw them home.

At Ngatitoa Domain, visitors Petone (22) won the inaugural Ken Gray Cup over winless Paremata-Plimmerton. Petone flew to a 40-6 lead by halftime and pulled clear to win 61-11.

With three rounds of the Swindale Shield to play, it seems that just Johnsonville (9), Avalon (1) and Paremata-Plimmerton (1) are already Hardham Cup bound for the second half of the season.

Hutt Old Boys Marist v Johnsonville Match Report
By Jack Callender

Hutt Old Boys Marist further extended their lead at the top of the table with a comfortable 54-22 win over Johnsonville at the Hutt Rec.

In beautiful sunshine, the home side didn’t start off too promising. It was the visitors that made the early running. Livewire halfback Jack Taulapapa who surely is knocking on the door of Wellington ITM Cup selection, made a big run into the HOBM 22 only to lose the ball close to the line.

From this knock on, HOBM very nearly scored with a Nick Risdon crosskick finding left wing Fereti Soloa. He made a telling run into the Johnsonville half. From this play, the Eagles camped in the Hawks half, and they were rewarded with two successful penalty kicks by Sheridan Rangihuna. The home side were up 6 -0.

Johnsonville hit back with a well taken try. After the forwards got their hands on the ball, stringing a few solid phases together, dynamic centre Dane Robertson scooted past a couple of weak HOBM tackles to score. The conversion was missed but this try gave the Hawks confidence.

This try was about as good as it got for Johnsonville in the first half as the HOBM train finally left the station.

Their scrum was dominant with loose forwards Joe Apikatoa, Matt Sleith and Lise Soloa proving very powerful. After number 8 Lise Soloa took the ball out from a back-peddling Hawks scrum, he fed the ball out wide to bustling centre Eroni Ekevaki who in turn found Lise’s brother Fereti Soloa. Soloa dotted down in the corner and with the conversion added the Eagles were up 13-5.

A missed penalty kick into touch and a few knock ons from Johnsonville proved costly in the last 15minutes of the first half as the home side scored 2 trys. Fereti Soloa scored his second try of the afternoon and Ekevaki – who was a constant menace for Johnsonville to contain - scored his first of the afternoon after ghosting past the Johnsonville outside backs. Rangihuna would kick a conversion and a penalty to put his side up 28 to 5 at the interval.

Johnsonville came out firing and scored at the start of the second half with a well taken try to a back reserve. Shortly after, HOBM hit back and Fereti Soloa secured his hat-trick A loose pass from Johnsonville went to ground and Soloa, doing what all good wingers do, backed his pace and toed it ahead. He picked the ball up and scored under the posts. With the Eagles up 35-10, the chances of Johnsonville winning were extremely remote.

Johnsonville fullback Marcus Sos picked up his side’s third try. His try was nothing short of brilliant. Sos received the ball inside the HOBM 22, and he showcased a beautiful left foot step past two defenders to score in the corner. The conversion was missed but the Hawks were down by 20.

But experienced HOBM second five Alexis Time, a stalwart of the club put a fullstop on Johnsonville’s chances of a comeback. The forwards rumbled into the Johnsonville half and the big man crashed over close to the posts, burrowing under a couple of forwards. Rangihuna added the conversion and the Eagles had an imposing 42 – 15 lead.

Another Johnsonville reserve outside back scored their fourth try of the afternoon, sheer reward for battling away.But HOBM finished with a flourish. Sheridan Rangihuna, scooted into a gap and outsprinted Marcus Sos en route to diving over the tryline. He couldn’t add his own onversion.

The home side scored again on fulltime to send their happy fans away grinning. Reserve centre Site Timu plonked the ball down under the sticks and Rangihuna’s conversion wrapped up an outstanding performance by the Jubilee Cup champions. Johnsonville never gave up and showed moments of brilliance but unfortunately they were outclassed by a superior side.

Next week HOBM with the Bill Brien Challenge Cup locked away for another week, are back at the Hutt Rec to face Poneke on their Old Timers’ Day. Johnsonville play host to Ories at Helston and the Hawks will be looking to notch two consecutive victories against the Miramar club, having beaten them 19-17 at the Polo Ground in this fixture last year. Former Hurricane Hadleigh ‘Helston’ Parkes was part of that winning side.

Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield

For now, please visit Draws & Results across the top of this page.

Colts Paris Memorial Trophy

The Northern United Colts remain unbeaten after five rounds of the Paris Memorial Trophy Colts competition with a knife-edge 29-28 win over the Upper Hutt Junior Rams in a top-of-the-table clash.

The match came down to the final play of the game with the Rams lining up a penalty that would have won them the game. But the penalty was pushed wide in the wind and Norths held on.

Norths had led 10-7 at halftime, and then seemingly pulled clear late in the second half. But the Rams struck back with a pair of tries in quick succession to close up the scores. They then pushed into Norths territory into injury time but came up short when the penalty was awarded to them. They now have four wins from their first five matches.

For more Colts results and the updated points table, please visit Draws & Results across the top of this page.

First Grade Thompson Memorial Cup

For now, please visit Draws & Results across the top of this page.

Women’s Fleurs Trophy

Old Boys University 50 - Avalon 7; Oriental-Rongotai 60 - Hutt Old Boys Marist 7 ; Poneke 37- Tawa 7 Wainuiomata WBD - Johnsonville. Bye: Northern United.

Please check Draws & Results (above) for more.

JC Bowl U85 kg Restricted results:

Wellington A 30 - Marist St Pats Reds 8; Avalon Wolves 45 - Eastbourne 15 ; Tawa 50 - Upper Hutt Rams 11; Poneke 27 - OBU Onslow Bunnies 10. Bye: Kapiti

Points table in this website yet to be updated.?

U85kg Restricted Division 2:

Under 85kg Division 2 – Week 5: Western Suburbs 36 - Wainuiomata 19; Hutt Old Boys Marist 28 - Paremata-Plimmerton 17; Johnsonville 32 - Stokes Valley 7 ; Marist St Pats Green 52 - Wellington B 17