Top Four Set To Decide Hardham Cup

There shouldn't be too many surprises in this year's Hardham Cup competition. After almost three months of Swindale Shield rugby Upper Hutt, Western Suburbs, Oriental-Rongotai and Johnsonville should all be too strong for the three ‘B' sides and Wainuiomata, who are making the step up from the Harper Lock Shield. Barring any major shocks these four teams are set to be the semi-finalists in two months.

Of the four, Upper Hutt and Wests shape as the most favoured title contenders, with this pair returning to the Hardham Cup after both playing in the Jubilee Cup last year. 2005 Swindale champions Upper Hutt also made the semi-finals of the Cup round but their fortunes have fallen this season.

Nevertheless, the Hardham Cup title will still be good reward for them this year, and with the return of star players Cory Jane (New Zealand Maori) and halfback Alby Mathewson (New Zealand U21) the 2004 Hardham Cup champions will be hard to beat. Wests can also call upon plenty of experience with the likes of Hamish Irving and Justin Purdie up front and proven performers Richard Cooney and Tristan Meo in the midfield.

Ories are always dangerous at home at the Polo Grounds, and with the Leiataua brothers, hooker Eddie, No. 8 Manu and halfback Peme all firing they will cause problems. Look out for their Japanese connection, with openside flanker Yoshikazu Kushi a potential dynamo in the loose. In the first round Ories beat Upper Hutt 26-11, drew with Wests 20-20 and narrowly lost to Johnsonville 17-20, with their other win coming against Tawa 10-8.

Johnsonville are a better performing side in 2006 than their ten loss-one win record suggests, where they could have beaten Wests (17-18) and Tawa (18-30), while two of their heavy losses to Petone (22-49) and Marist St. Pats (7-44) were far more flattering to the opposition than the scores suggest. With a physical pack and talent out wide they will click if they can string together some 80-minute efforts.

The Harper Lock Shield was hotly contested, with Poneke winning in the last round, just ahead of Northern United and Hutt Old Boys Marist and Wainuiomata fourth. An upset or two by Wainuiomata over any of the existing premier sides could see them playing in the Swindale Shield next year at their expense, which would certainly add some extra spice to the competition.

First round games see Ories and Upper Hutt square off at Maidstone Park and Wests and Johnsonville renewing their local rivalry at Ian Galloway Park. Meanwhile, Wainuomata host Norths at William Jones Park and HOBM play Poneke at the Hutt Recreation Ground in the early game.