Poneke grab top spot and win Andy Leslie Trophy with gutsy win over HOBM

Poneke held on to earn top spot for next week's 2010 Jubilee Cup semi-finals with a gutsy 21-14 win over Hutt Old Boys Marist

Poneke will host their great rivals Petone at Kilbirnie Park in one semi-final after Petone repelled Upper Hutt's challenge to win 32-17 at home, while Northern United will host the HOBM Eagles in the other semi-final following their 51-33 victory over wooden spooners Old Boys-University at Porirua.

Poneke collected the Andy Leslie Trophy for the second successive year for winning the round-robin phase, and also retained the Bill Brien Challenge Cup following their third defence since winning it off Ories in round four.

In the other Jubilee Cup match of the last round, with no consequent bearing on the playoffs, MSP finished off an underperforming Ories side 32-21 at the Polo Grounds. MSP were still in top four contention at the start of the round, but Petone's win over Upper Hutt ensured that they will have to wait another season to collect their 14th Jubilee Cup title.

In the Hardham Cup, there was joy for Avalon and gloom for Johnsonville after Avalon beat MSP B 36-17 and Johnsonville were beaten 27-13 by Wainuiomata to see the former take the place of the latter in the Swindale Shield next season. With other results going their way, there was double joy or Avalon who also got up grab the last semi-final berth.

The 1998 Swindale Shield champions Johnsonville will now once more have to fight their way back to Premier rugby from the Senior 1 ranks? after previously spending three seasons in that grade from 2007-2009.

Elsewhere, the Wests Roosters made it seven from seven in the round-robin with their last round 24-14 win over HOBM B to finish six points clear of second placed Wainuiomata who defeated Johnsonville. The Hardham Cup semi-finals see top qualifier Wests host fourth placed Avalon at Ian Galloway Park and second placed Wainuiomata welcome third placed Tawa on to William Jones Park.

In some highlights from round seven Jubilee Cup games, Norths made sure of their home semi-final early in the piece against OBU at Porirua Park. Norths made a fast start, scoring tries to loose forwards Dean Brundson and Parekura Lalaga and led 15-3 early. This soon became 27-6 with tries to Buxton Popoalii (his 20th of the season) and Hurricanes Schools halfback TJ Pernara.

Norths scored their fifth try before halftime and OBU first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga brought up his 150th point of the season with his third penalty goal as Norths pulled ahead to 37-9. This became 44-14 early in the second half, before OBU came back to close the score to 44-33 with three quick tries, scored by lock Mike Scott and outside backs Ti Pairama-Lewington and Hautahi Kingi. But Norths ended the game the way they started, with a length of the field try that left their supporters wanting to come back for more next week.

At the Petone Recreation Ground, Petone were pushed hard by Upper Hutt before pulling away with the wind at their backs in the second half to win by 15 points. Aside from an Upper Hutt penalty, the scoreboard remained idle for much of the first half before Petone hit the lead 5-3 through a try to openside flanker Mateaki Kafetolu. Upper Hutt right winger Jarrad Churchwood replied with a lovely 40 metre run to the line, converted by fullback Jason Woodward that put Upper Hutt in front 10-5.

Petone fullback Ben Aoina added a penalty, then another after fisticuffs that saw a player from each side sinbinned, to put the Villagers back in front 11-10. Now with the wind at their backs, Petone struck back with a penalty try and a third Aoina penalty and they now led 21-10. But Upper Hutt weren't done yet and they responded with a try to NZ U20 fullback Jason Woodward, which he converted himself to close the gap to 21-17.

That was to prove the last of Upper Hutt's scoring, the home side closing the game out and booking their away semi-final at Kilbirnie Park through two further Aoina penalties and a try to fullback Willie Moala.

Waiting in the wings for Petone to slip up were MSP, who did all they could do with their bonus point, five tries to three win over Ories at the Polo Grounds. The home side struck first with a converted try to right wing Robert Millar and converted by first five-eighth James Proctor. But MSP replied with the first of two tries to hooker Liu Taituave and then another to No. 8 Wim Barrs and the red machine held a 12-7 advantage. In a lively first half, both sides added two further tries each and MSP's lead was 24-21 at halftime. James Proctor kicked his 175th and final point of the season.

In a scrappy affair, the second half failed to ignite like the first and MSP first five-eighth Anthony Bradshaw kicked a penalty to extend his side's lead to 27-21. Biffo ensued and Ories reserve prop and regular captain Donal McNamara was sent from the field, before his opposite Jamie Parkinson scored the winning try for MSP late in the piece.

Poneke v HOBM report

At a cold and uninviting Kilbirnie Park, the home side Poneke held on into the wind in the second half to earn a hard-fought victory over HOBM in their top-of-the-table clash, with both semi-final home ground advantage and the likely avoidance of Norths for the winner in the playoffs both at stake.

After leading 21-7 at halftime, the red and blacks conceded an early second half try to the Eagles that closed the gap to 21-14, before rallying with a typically resolute and determined performance to deny the Eagles further points and frustrate their visitors into a scoreless, ill-disciplined final quarter.

Poneke effectively had the game won with several minutes still remaining when HOBM found themselves reduced to 13 men after the separate sinbinnings of in-form forwards, prop Simon Malaeulu and No. 8 Matt Time.

Poneke could thank four of their most experienced players for stepping up with influential performances - the Moananu brothers, Misipalauni and Misiluni, second five-eighth Sam Rasch and left wing Evan Belford.

The Moananus missed the first half, but were both injected on to the field at halftime and together led a huge defensively orientated second half forwards effort.

As well as helping to set up Poneke's first try and kicking three key penalties, Rasch directed the backs and ran the ball with purpose to the line, while Belford scored a stunning try right on halftime that proved to be the decisive score of the game.

Belford was the recipient of a Poneke turnover on their own side of halfway and immediate counterattack by right wing Tupu Saena and blindside flanker Darren West, who flung a wide pass out to Belford. In broken play, Belford charged up into HOBM's territory and showed great skill and power to beat the cover defenders and cross for a 60-metre try. Rasch couldn't add the extras, but from 16-7 to 21-7 in front and now losing the advantage of a strong northerly wind, this try was a big play for Poneke.

Previously, Rasch had kicked an early penalty for Poneke and then fielded a HOBM kick in general play and ran Saena into space up the clubrooms touchline for a try to put them ahead 10-0 after 15 minutes.

HOBM, who had previously missed a chance to get on the board with a Dan Snee penalty, struck back with their first try within five minutes, after working their way up field with a concerted period of play. This endeavour was rewarded when halfback and skipper Nick Risdon darted over from a ruck close to the chalk. Snee converted to reduce the margin to 10-7.

HOBM, through their well-organised forwards, led in particular by lock Steven Bradshaw, Malaeulu, hooker Luke Gibb, and flankers Polonga Pedro and Thomas Benson, kept up the pressure and dominated possession and vital field position throughout most of the rest of the first half.

But they couldn't break through again and instead Rasch stepped up and kicked a pair of penalties, both from about 45 metres out on the angle, to extend the margin to 16-7 with about five minutes left before halftime.

Again HOBM came back but another strong surge up into and inside Poneke's 22 was repelled. Snee had a chance for a penalty to close the gap but hooked it wide. Belford then raced away to score with the last act of the half.

HOBM started the second half strongly with the wind behind them, and with better ground underfoot to work with they were rewarded almost immediately. A Snee kick into the corner forced a defensive lineout to be thrown not straight by Poneke and a scrum 15 in to be awarded. From their own ball, HOBM strung some phases together, try-scoring prop Malaeulu crashed over and Snee converted to see them close to within seven.

The Eagles were quickly back on to attack, keeping Poneke pinned deep inside their own half for the best part of 25 minutes. They couldn't score though and when Snee missed a 40-metre penalty, frustration set in and at the same time Poneke lifted.

Keeping it tight and organised, Poneke were able to re-gain parity and the run of play moved up towards halfway. Penalties began to mount against HOBM and they were reduced to 14 players when Malaeulu was sinbinned in the far corner of play.

Poneke lifted further as the clock ticked towards fulltime. HOBM's challenge then effectively ended five minutes from the end when, still needing to score twice to win, No. 8 Time joined Malaeulu in the sin-bin for a late hit on Rasch. Referee Kershaw's whistle blew for the last time and Poneke had earned their sixth win on the trot.

Hardham Cup

Top dog the Wests Roosters warmed up for next week's Hardham Cup semi-finals by beating HOBM B, albeit in less than comfortably, but once again it was at other venues where the spotlight fell in the final round.

At Helston Park, Johnsonville knew they had to beat Wainuiomata to keep alive their semi-final and promotion-relegation hopes. With the first half wind advantage, Johnsonville started keenly with a penalty and a try to take an 8-0 lead. Wainuiomata battled back and they scored a converted try to close the home side's lead to 8-7 at halftime.

Turning with the wind, Wainuiomata scored their second converted try when fullback Lynsay Koia finished off a bright attack after winger Michael Williams had reeled in a cross kick. This made it 14-8 to the visitors, but Johnsonville responded with a try to their first five-eighth Brian Woolley to close the deficit to 14-13.

Wainuiomata managed two penalties to extend their lead to 20-13 and Johnsonville proceeded to hammer away at their line for a concerted period, desperate to score another seven-pointer. They couldn't, and instead Wainuiomata worked their way down the other end and scored a third converted try at the end to take a 27-13 win.

Johnsonville now had to wait on the Avalon - MSP B result. But the news wasn't good as Avalon had scored six tries to beat the MSP side and also take a maximum five competition points from their encounter.

MSP had opened the scoring through second five-eighth Jamie Dunn, but from there is was mostly Avalon as they hit back? and eventually took a 24-12 halftime lead. This score remained throughout much of the second half, before tries to veteran outside back Finau Hopoi and replacement winger Falani Sanele pushed the score out to 36-12. MSP added a third try at the end to close up the final score.

At Ian Galloway Park, the Roosters were pushed hard by HOBM B, before prevailing deep into the second half. Playing into the wind, Wests battled to a 12-8 lead through tries to skipper and No. 8 Galu Taufale and lock Nemani Waka. HOBM hit back with two long-range penalties and they took a 14-12 into the halftime interval.

Wests scored their third try to put them back in front, 17-14, but they couldn't shrug off their well-performing visitors. Eventually they scored their match sealing and bonus point try at the end to take a 10-point winning margin from the match and keep their Hardham Cup unbeaten record alive. Wests second five-eighth Ahtuni Masum scored one of their tries, to finish the round-robin as the leading try-scorer with five tries.

In the early Hardham Cup game at Porirua Park, Tawa battled to a 23-14 win over Norths B, scoring tries to hooker Juice Finau, No. 8 Iona Fuatai and first five-eighth Aviu Samuelu.

Women's Premier

The Northern United Women's Premier side retained their Victoria Tavern Women's second round title with a 36-33 win in their home final at Porirua Park over Eketahuna.

Other grades

In the Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup, leading sides Ories and OBU extended their hold on the top of the standings with two weeks until the semi-finals. OBU won without lacing their boots, being defaulted to by strugglers Norths, while Ories took the field and cruised past Avalon 43-13.

In an important clash for both sides at Kilbirnie Park, Poneke emerged as 26-13 winners over Stokes Valley to see Poneke climb to fourth ahead of fifth placed Stokes Valley. Tawa are third after their 24-20 win over mid ranked Paremata-Plimmerton, while seventh placed Rimutaka probably ended eighth placed Petone's challenge with a 19-15 victory over them.

In round seven of the Senior 2 HD Morgan Memorial Trophy, frontrunners Upper Hutt moved four points clear at the top of the standings to their nearest challenger after beating Petone 39-3.
Their nearest challenger is now Hutt Old Boys Marist, after HOBM beat Wellington 27-13 in the clash of the round. However Wellington have dropped just the one place from second to third due to MSP also losing and slipping from second to fourth. MSP's defeat came at the hands of Poneke, 14-5, who can keep alive a slim chance of making the Senior 2 semi-finals in two weeks from now.

In another key Senior 2 clash in round seven, OBU dropped from fourth to fifth after losing 20-17 to Wainuiomata, who are now sixth equal with Poneke with a mathematical chance of still reaching the playoffs. The Wests Roosters are a point back and probably gone, but that didn't stop them beating winless Paremata-Plimmerton 52-0 in the round's other game.

In the semi-finals of the U21 Division 2 grade, Poneke dispatched Wainuiomata 41-7 and Tawa overcame the Wests Roosters 30-20. Poneke and Wests will contest the Under 21 Division 2 final next week

In the U85KG Division 3 semi-finals, Stokes Valley beat Petone 22-12 and the Wests Roosters beat Avalon 22-10. Stokes Valley and Wests will contest the final next week.

?

?