Pressure Mounting For Top Eight Spots In Final Three Rounds

The pressure is mounting for Jubilee Cup spots in this weekend's ninth round of the Swindale Shield. The race for the title is clearly shaping as a three-horse affair between Northern United, Hutt Old Boys Marist and Poneke, who have cleared out with an eight-point jump lead on the rest of the field. But it's further down the ladder where nine points separate sixth and eleventh. The heat is on for Jubilee Cup places for Old Boys-University, Tawa, Upper Hutt, Oriental-Rongotai and Western Suburbs - and in particular Marist St. Pat's.

MSP, six time Jubilee Cup champions between 1994 and 2002, will be fighting hard throughout the final three rounds to make the top eight and the Jubilee Cup round. MSP currently hold the eighth spot, five points clear of ninth placed Upper Hutt, followed by Wests and Ories. Only Johnsonville, with one win, are out of the running at this stage.

The stakes will be high at Evans Bay Park, where MSP meet Ories, while Upper Hutt and Wests' fixture at Maidstone Park could also become a date with desperation for both sides. Old Boys-University will be measuring their recent improvement against the best when they take on new leaders Northern United at the Prime Finance Basin Reserve, and HOBM will be hoping to beat Johnsonville at Helston Park to set up a round ten showdown with Norths.

Much interest will centre on the Petone Recreation Ground for Petone's Old Timer's Day fixture against Poneke. Poneke (established 1883) and Petone (1885) are the oldest clubs in the premier competition and their ongoing rivalry will bring out the best in both sides. Poneke, whose only loss was to HOBM in round one will head into this clash as favourites, while an improved defence could be the key to a Petone victory.

Another key fixture will be this week's Club Weekly feature clash between Avalon and Tawa at Lyndhurst Park, which also promises to be a high paced game between two of the more free spirited sides in the premier competition. Both like to run with the ball and both look to play an entertaining brand of rugby.

Avalon will be buoyed by it's round eight success in knocking off HOBM at fortress Fraser Park, while Tawa, who suffered a disappointing loss to Wests 17-22, after coming within a whisker of toppling the previously unbeaten HOBM two weeks ago, will be motivated to reverse their fortunes on their Old Timer's Day.

Recent history favours the visitors, with Avalon beating Tawa on five of the last six occasions these sides have met. This includes three high scoring victories in a row; with Avalon winning 43-30 and 44-7 twice last year and 41-25 in the 2004 Jubilee Cup round.