Adam Vardey scores the match winner for Norths v Wests.Round 9 Preview It is shaping as a three horse race for first round honours. Unbeaten Upper Hutt, Northern United and Marist St. Pats remain in contention with three rounds of the Swindale Shield remaining. Of the trio, Norths appear to have the inside running by virtue of their comparatively easier run home than the other two. Norths will be expected to brush aside fading Johnsonville at home at Porirua Park this weekend and then go on to beat Avalon and Tawa...More

Round 8 Review The highlights of round eight Swindale Shield play were Petone?s thrilling win over Hutt Old Boys Marist, Poneke?s midseason resurgence in dispatching Avalon and Northern United?s dogged win over Western Suburbs. Elsewhere, Upper Hutt disposed of Tawa, Marist St. Pats were too strong for Old Boys-University, while Oriental-Rongotai continued Johnsonville?s recent misery. What this means is Upper Hutt holds a two-point lead over Norths, with MSP a further three points back and a further gap back to fourth placed Wests, followed by the rest with just three rounds remaining...More

Round 8 Preview There are still five teams that can win this year?s Swindale Shield. Upper Hutt, Northern United, Western Suburbs, Marist. St Pats and Avalon are all in contention for the title with four rounds remaining. Unbeaten Upper Hutt holds a one point lead over Norths, with Wests and MSP four points back in joint third, while a win with a bonus point this week will see Avalon stay in the hunt.However the pecking order at the top will change after this weekend?s action, with Norths and Wests squaring off at Ian Galloway Park in a crucial clash for both sides...More

Round 7 Review Upper Hutt maintained their grip on the 2005 Swindale Shield, making it seven wins from seven on Saturday. With three teams breathing down their neck going into the round Upper Hutt responded with an emphatic home win over Avalon. Northern United thrashed Oriental-Rongotai at the Polo Grounds, Western Suburbs prevailed over Old Boys-University at the Basin Reserve and Marist St. Pats held off Hutt Old Boys Marist at Rugby League Park in the fight for the top spots.Elsewhere, both Poneke and Petone had important wins to consolidate their mid table positions and keep them firmly in the hunt for the top eight after the first round...More

Round 7 Preview Upper Hutt have been the star attraction of the 2005 Swindale Shield so far. And rightly so, last year?s Hardham Cup champions have yet to lose this year. But things could get a whole lot more intriguing at Maidstone Park after this weekend?s sets of matches. Heading into round seven, Upper Hutt heads Northern United by one point, with Western Suburbs and Marist St. Pats only three points further back and Avalon well within striking distance in fifth. On form, Norths, Wests and MSP should win their games...More

Round 6 Review Upper Hutt maintained their perfect record in round six of the Swindale Shield with a hard-fought victory over Johnsonville. Only one point behind Upper Hutt at the halfway stage of the competition is Norths, who gained a four-try bonus point in their win over Poneke. Western Suburbs continued to impress in demolishing Oriental-Rongotai, and are third equal with Marist St. Pats who accounted for Tawa. Avalon won their local derby against Petone, while Hutt Old Boys Marist won the battle for the wooden spoon against Old Boys-University...More

Round 6 Preview It?s crunch time for Old Boys-University, Hutt Old Boys Marist and Oriental-Rongotai in round six of the Swindale Shield. As the competition reaches the halfway stage these teams must win this weekend if they want to finish the first round inside the top eight. Only two can though, as winless HOBM and OBU play each other at the Hutt Recreation Ground, while Ories, who beat OBU in round one for their only win so far, will need to overcome an inform Western Suburbs at Ian Galloway Park or they will slide further into the relegation zone, especially if HOBM beats OBU...More

Round 5 Review Upper Hutt moved from pretenders to contenders with a gutsy win over Northern United in their round five Swindale Shield clash at a packed Maidstone Park. Holding a 10-5 halftime lead Upper Hutt repelled Norths throughout a scoreless second half to move to the top of the table. Marist St. Pats moved to third on the points ladder with a hard fought win over Avalon at Rugby League Park, while Western Suburbs continued their resurgence in beating Hutt Old Boys Marist at the Hutt Recreation Ground...More

Round 5 Preview It will be a top-of-the-table showdown at Maidstone Park on Saturday as the two unbeaten teams Northern United and Upper Hutt meet in round five Swindale Shield action. Norths lead Upper Hutt on the points table by one point and whoever wins this game will be setting their sights on some silverware six weeks later. In other round five encounters, Johnsonville has had an encouraging start to the season, and their clash with Petone looms as a defining game for them. In stark contrast to this time last year, when they only had a solitary point after four rounds, Johnsonville enjoyed three first up wins over Tawa, Hutt Old Boys Marist and Old Boys-University, before losing only narrowly to the more fancied Marist St...More

Round 4 Review Western Suburbs were the impressive winners of round four of the Swindale Shield, thrashing Poneke in a dominant display of attacking rugby. Wests outscored Poneke seven tries to three, and only a late rally from the red-and-blacks halted the rampant Roosters. Northern United and Upper Hutt maintained their unbeaten starts to the season with wins over Petone and Oriental-Rongotai, Johnsonville almost upstaged Marist St. Pats, Avalon beat Old Boys-University and Tawa edged out Hutt Old Boys Marist...More