Two-try So?oialo leads Norths to lucky win over HOBM

Jubilee and Hardham Cups round six round-up: Fullback James So'oialo scored all the points including two intercept tries to lead defending champions Northern United to a shaky 23-17 win over Hutt Old Boys Marist to keep his side in the mix in the sixth and penultimate round of the Jubilee Cup on Saturday.

So'oialo's personal points scoring haul, including the match winning try in the dying stages, was probably enough to propel Norths into the semi-finals in a fortnight's time, while at the same time burying HOBM's playoff hopes with a round still to play.

With the Eagles holding a 17-16 lead, So'oialo intercepted his second pass of the afternoon and raced away to win the game for his team, in the process etching his name on to the burgeoning list of hometown heroes at Porirua Park and also becoming the second player after Ories' James Proctor (236 points) to pass 200 points for the season.

HOBM had previously stormed right back into the match after trailing 16-7 at halftime, Tupeni Kamakorewa?scoring?the try that put them into the lead after they turned down an easy shot at goal in favour of a lineout and try.

But 19-year old So'oialo, younger brother of Rodney, proved their nemesis with his late opportune try to go with his early seven-pointer and three penalties.

Norths join Petone, Poneke and Marist St. Pat's in the top four with a round to play, who each stamped their credentials with big bonus wins in the three other Jubilee Cup games on Saturday.

Club rugby around the region on Saturday was played in bright sunshine with just a gentle breeze which made a wholly pleasant afternoon for spectators and players alike after the incessant wintry weather of late.

In Jubilee Cup matches, Petone beat Oriental Rongotai 38-18 at the Petone Recreation Ground, Poneke beat Upper Hutt 53-21 at Maidstone Park and MSP defeated Tawa 52-10 at Lyndhurst Park.

In the Hardham Cup, Old Boys-University made it six from six and sealed top spot and a home semi-final with a 26-20 win over Avalon at the Basin Reserve, and at the same time extinguishing Avalon's hopes of a stay of execution from relegation next season. Avalon are set to be replaced in the Swindale Shield in 2010 by Johnsonville, despite Johnsonville losing heavily to Wainuiomata 44-22 at William Jones Park.

In other Hardham Cup matches the Wests Roosters beat MSP B 33-17 at Evans Bay Park and Rimutaka overran Poneke B 41-5 at Kilbirnie Park, meaning the top four has already been decided with Wests, Wainuiomata and Johnsonville all set to join top qualifier OBU in the playoffs.

Petone's 20-point win over Ories and Norths' win without a bonus point ensured a top two Jubilee Cup finish for the Villagers and a home semi-final regardless of what happens next week, while at the same time Ories will have to score four tries and beat Poneke at home in the last round and rely on either Norths losing to Petone at Porirua or MSP losing to?HOBM at Evans Bay.

Ories were left ruing missed opportunities and their own ill-discipline in their loss at Petone, losing not one but two players to the sin-bin in quick succession midway through the second half and Petone taking full toll to race away with the game.

Dynamic Right wing Willie Moala was doing most of the racing too, twice setting up field position for scoring opportunities with livewire bursts and then scoring a 60-metre try up the grandstand touchline for Petone's bonus point and to end Ories' challenge.

Second placed Poneke will guarantee themselves a home semi-final at Kilbirnie Park if they draw or beat Ories next week after an emphatic come from behind win over Upper Hutt. Like Ories, Upper Hutt were right in it as the second half progressed.

Two tries to winger Evan Belford (his sixth and seventh in the second round) and then a third to skipper and No. 8 Misipaulani Moananu (now 8 for the season) allowed Poneke to establish a 25-6 advantage soon after halftime. Upper Hutt then came roaring back with two tries to winger Ofa Pongi to trail 21-25. But with Upper Hutt halfback Robert Kaiwai in the sin bin, Poneke now pulled away with a points blitzkrieg and added another 28 unanswered points.

MSP were always in control against an injury hit Tawa who competed well for long periods but couldn't contain MSP's rampant attack. MSP outscored Tawa seven tries to one including two each to fullback Mike Kingsbeer and Brendan Watt. Watt, who missed the first three rounds of the Jubilee Cup now has 17 tries for the season.

The win for MSP continues their late season resurgence, their impressive victory in succession after wins against Upper Hutt and Norths in rounds four and five.

The Club Weekly was at a sun-drenched Petone Recreation Ground where the run of play between the home team and Ories was much closer than the final scoreline indicated, Petone exploiting a 13-man Ories to pile on 16 points including two tries and retain their unbeaten second round record at home.

In a close and exciting contest, little separated the two teams for the first 55 minutes. Petone outscored Ories two tries to one but Ories first five-eighth James Proctor kicked two penalties and the conversion as Petone led 15-13 at halftime.

Ories could easily have been ahead at the break, missing two clear tries with the tryline in sight and Proctor missing a third penalty on halftime. A clean break in midfield by left wing Robert Miller and carried on by second five-eighth Paula Kinikinilau was stopped just short of the line in a bootlace tackle by Petone openside Api Sione, while Ories openside Asher Derbyshire knocked on with the tryline beckoning in the tackle of wide ranging prop Tyral Vigne.

In between, Miller scored a well-worked try up the blindside, while Petone second five-eighth Michael Lealava'a and fullback Fraser Middleton each scored tries, Middleton benefiting from an electric Moala run in broken play.

Proctor then missed with two more chances with penalties (albeit one from halfway) to put his side in front after halftime as Ories came out of the sheds and kept the ball alive for long periods and stretched Petone's defence.?

But the best defensive team in the Jubilee Cup to date made their tackles, absorbed the pressure and kept their composure. Then the game turned when first Ories right wing Hayden Whelan and then Derbyshire were shown yellow by referee Garratt Williamson.

Petone first five-eighth Cripps kicked two successive penalties (21-13), then left wing Fautua Otto barged over from close range (26-13), followed by Moala who raced away from a blindside scrum movement for their fourth try in the opposite corner (31-12).

The result decided, Ories never gave up and Proctor was rewarded with a nicely worked try. But Petone had the last say, replacement back Greg Walker scoring at the end after a chip kick by prop Vigne was regathered on the fly by No. 8 Shaun Mahoney.

There was a feast of scoring in the Hardham Cup as well, with Wainuiomata and Rimutaka finally breaking the shackles to record excellent bonus point wins.

Wainuiomata scored seven tries in topping Johnsonville, after Johnsonville led 15-8 at one stage. But in a burst of quickfire scoring, Wainuiomata took the lead and then extended it to 32-15 in no time. From there they pulled away further and exactly doubled Johnsonville's score, the fulltime scoreboard having them ahead 44-22.

19-year old lock and New Zealand U20 squad member Sharhn Eru continued to lay his claims as a player of the future with a hat trick of tries, while speedster and right wing Jason Love also scored three tries.

Rimutaka captain and No. 8 Martin Asiata scored a hat trick of tries in his side's 41-5 over Poneke, while openside flanker Lifo Savea grabbed a brace in a six tries to one victory. However the win wasn't enough for Rimutaka to remain in contention and they will reflect on a couple of close losses earlier in the season.

Avalon pushed OBU close in their must-win game, but were also left to rue other losses earlier in the round and their last round game against Johnsonville is now for pride only. In a close game, OBU outscored Avalon three tries to two and they can now start preparing for their home semi-final at the Basin Reserve as they warm up there in the last round against Poneke.

In other grades, Northern United will play Eketahuna for the Victoria Tavern Trophy Women's Premier division title in the division one and two finals day at Porirua Park.

In the semi-finals, top qualifier Norths overcame Stokes Valley 22-0 and Eketahuna beat Johnsonville 15-10.

The Women's division two final will be between Petone and Poneke after Petone beat MSP 38-10 in one semi-final and Poneke beat Wainuiomata 20-10 in the other.

It was another good day for the Petone Senior One team, edging out Paremata-Plimmerton 19-17 in the Ed Chaney Cup for their sixth consecutive win. Petone have now opened up a seven-point lead in the Senior One standings with three rounds to play to second placed Stokes Valley who accounted for bottom ranked Upper Hutt 28-5. Ories remain in third just behind Stokes Valley despite being upset 30-19 by Norths.

The Wellington Axemen continued their winning ways in the Senior Two HD Morgan Memorial Trophy, beating close rivals and mid-table Poneke 17-12 to remain in front by a point to second placed Wainuiomata who eased past winless Johnsonville 55-12.

In a cracker of a competition, six teams are grouped together separated by six points with three rounds to play before the playoffs. In other results, OBU (third) beat Paremata-Plimmerton (fourth) 10-0, Norths (fifth) beat Avalon (eighth) 28-19 and HOBM defeated Wests 41-5 in a one-sided battle down the table.

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