Eagles and Tawa out in front as Johnsonville run down by Norths in heartbreaker

Above: The Johnsonville front rowers all played well on Saturday, but couldn't prevent Norths from reeling in their 18-point lead and winning 26-24.?

The 2015 Swindale Shield appears to be a two-horse race between defending Jubilee Cup champions Hutt and Old Boys Marist and Tawa, who both battled to their seventh straight victories today in a drama-filled afternoon of rugby.

Hutt Old Boys Marist and Tawa could be heading for a showdown for the first round title in three weeks’ time when they meet at the Hutt Recreation Ground in a penultimate round clash of the heavyweights. HOBM are the current leaders on 33 points with Tawa a point back on 32 after the Eagles saw off a gallant challenge by Old Boys University to win 40-20 and Tawa held off Marist St. Pat’s 32-27.

HOBM pulled clear in the final 10 minutes to win comfortably on the scoreboard, but much of their Wood Cup match was evenly contested and they only led 13-12 at halftime and 23-20 midway through the second half when Joe Hill crossed to close the score up for the Goats.

Tawa’s forward pack fired up against MSP, helping them to a 27-10 lead at the break. The second half became a much tighter affair, but Tawa held on to win. For Tawa, right wing Faraimo Nofoaiga scored two tries and flanker Telea Seimanutafa scored his eighth try of the season, and for MSP halfback Ken Kapeli also scored a brace.

The loss for MSP sees them slip to third on 26 points, with Oriental-Rongotai and the Wellington Axemen seemingly the only other two sides in the mix for possible first round title contention, on 26 and 25 points respectively.

Ories ran out 43-15 winners over a plucky Paremata-Plimmerton outfit, while the Axemen continue to go from strength to strength, seeing off Avalon 34-12 away at Fraser Park (extended match report below). Ories and the Axemen meet on Wellington’s Old Timers’ Day next weekend in a match that should propel the winner into the Jubilee Cup for the second half of this season.

It’s all on mid-table, with today’s other results highlighting what an exciting month of rugby lies ahead before the championship club rugby season kicks off.

The Upper Hutt Rams, Northern United and Petone were the other three winners today, those three sides and Wainuiomata now occupying the all-important sixth through to Ninth places. The top eight sides at the end of May progress to the Jubilee Cup.

The Upper Hutt Rams were denied the ball and denied territory for long periods of their clash today with Wainuiomata, but pulled ahead in the second half to lead 29-7 and eventually win 37-21. Livewire openside flanler Mitchell Markov scored two key tries for the Rams. For Wainuiomata, Tyler Tane became the second player this season to raise a century of points.

Northern United broke Johnsonville’s hearts with a late come-from-behind 26-24 victory. Veteran Frances Seumanutafa was the individual hero, screeching in for two late tries to see Norths get to within a point of victory. First five-eighth Jackson Garden-Bachop calmly kicked the winning penalty with about 5 minutes to play and Johnsonville were shattered.

There was only one side in it for the first 60 minutes and it wasn’t Norths. Johnsonville had scored three well-deserved first half tries and deservedly led 18-6 at halftime. Consecutive raids after the interval led to consecutive penalties and a 24-6 lead.

Norths, who had been terrible up to that point, flicked a switch, with the help of second half substitution Dean Brunsdon and Api Naikatini who was a late starter after arriving at the ground late, and they came back with three tries of their own to take victory and keep their Jubilee Cup hopes alive, whilst probably extinguishing Johnsonville’s.

Petone likewise survived a big comeback from Poneke, who closed the score to read 26-22 to Petone at fulltime. On their Old Timers’ Day, Petone retained the F.J. Tilyard Shield.

Petone’s young gun midfielder Lester Maulolo scored the game’s first try, followed by Poneke’s Greg Foe storming 55 metres from a lineout to score. But Petone fullback Tamati Samuels became a key protagonist, scoring a brace of tries either side of halftime as the Villagers went ahead 26-8. Poneke hit back with a try to all-action halfback Joe Fiu, and they crossed again to forward Christian Perese. The win for Petone keeps their Jubilee Cup lifeline going, while Poneke could be gone.

Wellington Axemen v Avalon extended report by Jack Callender:

In beautiful conditions at Fraser Park, the Wellington Axemen ran out easy winners over Avalon 34 to 12.

The home side started strong with plenty of possession almost turning into points in the first couple of minutes. But a Shannon Bradbrook penalty kick that just nudged left of the uprights would prove costly.

Shortly after that missed penalty attempt, the Axemen struck. Lively right wing Paddy Hughes received the ball on the right hand touchline and spotted a yawning gap in the Avalon defence. He floated a beautiful pass out wide to his other winger Sani Taylor who coasted in to score the opening try. Halfback Adam Deck missed the conversion but made up for it with a penalty kick shortly after to put the visitors in front 8-0.

Avalon’s defence was already starting to struggle and unfortunately for the Wolves, the Axemen were in again. No. 8 Sam Gardner strode through the defence at close range to score with Deck adding his first conversion of the afternoon. When Hilton Mexted scored just before halftime the Axemen completed their first half of domination. After the added conversion, Avalon limped into the break down 22-0 and it could have been higher had Sani Taylor not greedily ignored his support,?darting down the sideline earlier on. Taylor was tackled and a knock on occurred in the next play.

Wellington Lions flanker Vaea Fifita, who came off the bench at the start of the second half, provided tremendous impact. His long range try in the opening period of play was outstanding. The speed Fifita had to outsprint Avalon’s right wing Liddy Ah Wong down the touchline was magnificent. With the Axemen up 27 – 0 victory was assured.

Sani Taylor made up for his greedy try botch in the closing stages of the first half when he scored his second of the afternoon, exposing another yawning gap in the Avalon defence to saunter in. Another Adam Deck conversion put his team up 34-0.

The Axemen emptied their bench with 20 minutes to go and Avalon scored a couple of well taken tries. Despite losing flanker Logan Blake to the bin, the Wolves had a fair share of possession towards the end of the second half. First five Shannon Bradbrook danced past a couple of Axemen forwards to score under the sticks. He converted his own try.

Shortly after Avalon hit back again. The small crowd were on their feet when big prop Valu Malaki crashed over.

By this stage it was too little too late. The Axemen were too big strong and powerful across the park for Avalon, who remain entrenched near bottom of the Swindale Shield, still searching for that first victory of the season.

Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield

Tawa remain the hottest ticket in this grade, defeating MSP 34-17 at Lyndhurst Park today to remain unbeaten after seven rounds.

Poneke peat Petone 39-37 in a thriller, while Norths overran Johnsonville 29-11, to see Poneke and Norths just behind with six wins and one loss each. Petone have slipped to fourth with their second loss today.

The Wellington Axemen are fifth after beating Avalon 37-31 in another close-run match today, ahead of Wainuiomata who overcame the Upper Hutt Rams 41-21.

Hutt Old Boys Marist defeated Old Boys University 20-15 and Ories kept Paremata-Plimmerton winless with a 57-12 win in the other game.

Colts Paris Memorial Trophy

Northern United and the Upper Hutt Rams continue to impress in the Colts grade, while Old Boys University accounted for Hutt Old Boys Marist in a replay of last year’s final.

Northern United beat the Johnsonville Junior Hawks 29-5, after scoring three early tries and leading 19-0 by halftime.

The Upper Hutt Rams Colts remain undefeated after four matches, inflicting a fourth straight defeat on Wainuiomata and winning 36-20.

OBU Green tipped over HOBM Green 36-10, while Petone ran riot over the second OBU team in an 80-0 win.

In the two closest results of the afternoon, the Tawa and MSP Colts sides fought out a 10-10 draw and the Wellington Junior Axemen pipped the Avalon Wolf Cubs 24-22.

Ories grabbed their first win with a 31-18 scoreline over Paremata-Plimmerton and Poneke had the bye.

First Grade Thompson Memorial Cup

The Petone Brotherhood sit atop the First Grade standings after three weeks with three consecutive bonus point wins, after beating MSP Avele 40-27 today.

Stokes Valley are also unbeaten, holding off Petone A 19-17.

MSP Bat Northern United 24-12, Hutt Old Boys Marist 25 defeated Old Boys University 25-12 and Poneke defeated Tawa 34-19 in the other matches this afternoon.

Women’s Fleurs Trophy

There were three Women’s competition games played under lights on Friday night, all resulting in one-sided wins. Ories and Norths each registered their third straight bonus point wins to start the season, Ories beatingt Poneke 76-0 and Norths defeating Tawa 96-0. Hutt Old Boys Marist beat Johnsonville 104-0, their second win. The fourth match between Avalon and Wainuiomata was postponed to an as yet unnamed date.

JC Bowl U85 kg Restricted results: Tawa Titans 29 - Marist St Pat’s Red 12, Avalon 22 - Poneke 15 OBU Onslow Bunnies 29 - Upper Hutt Rams 24, Kapiti v Eastbourne – Match Postponed Bye: Wellington.

U85kg Restricted Division 2 results: Western Suburbs 60 - Paremata-Plimmerton 11, Hutt Old Boys Marist 35 - Wellington 5, Johnsonville 35 - Marist St Pat’s Green 0, Stokes Valley 25 - Wainuiomata 7. Bye: OBU Onslow Spartans

Reserve Grade results (week three): OBU Teddy Bears 26 - Upper Hutt Rams Pirates 19, Upper Hutt Rams Thirsty Rams 25 - OBU 69’ers 7, Upper Hutt Rams J8’s 43 - Western Suburbs Mixed Veges 14, OBU Righteous Brothers 94 - Poneke Panthers 12, Poneke Ruffnuts 40 - Paremata-Plimmerton 0, OBU Porters Pink Ginners 17 - Johnsonville Cripples 12. Bye: MSP Internationals

First XV Rugby

The first round of the BNZ Series First XV Festival was played today at Napier Boys’ High School. Feilding High School beat Manawatu neirgbours Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Gisborne BHS defeated St Pat’s Town 39-0, Napier Boys’ High School beat Wellington College 30-10 and St Pat’s Silverstream lost to Hastings Boys’ High School.

Wellington Grading Games results: Rongotai 65 - 0?Taita College, Kapiti 14 - 21?Hutt Valley High School,?Hutt International Boys' School?27 - 10?Upper Hutt College,?Porirua College?27 - 13 Wainuiomata, St Bernards 24 - 43?Bishop Viard College,?Wairarapa College?40 - 5?Paraparaumu College,?Naenae College?25 - 20?Newlands College,?Tawa College?23 - 8?Aotea College,?Onslow College?56 - 12 St Bernards 2nds