Eagles all but win Swindale Shield; top eight race to go down to the wire

Above: OBU and Paremata-Plimmerton contest possession on Saturday.

UPDATED: The Jubilee Cup glistens in Hutt Old Boys Marist’s Hutt Recreation Ground clubrooms trophy cabinet and next week no matter what happens the Swindale Shield will be presented to them as well if the WRFUcommittee overturns Tawa’s appeal for their docked two points from last month.

HOBM beat Tawa 28-22 today to skip six points of second placed Tawa with next week’s final round to play - but if Tawa are awarded back the two points early next week that were stripped from them for breaking WRFU front row replacement bylaws in their match against Old Boys University in April they will remain alive to win the title.

As it stands, HOBM are now on 43 points and Tawa 37. But Tawa could go to 39 early next week, meaning the 2015 Swindale Shield will stay alive for another week. HOBM play Ories away at the Polo Ground next week and Tawa play Petone away. If Tawa’s points are reinstated and both HOBM and Tawa finish equal on points then first round title would be shared.

Celebrating first five-eighth Nick Risdon’s 200th game, the Eagles held off a fast-finishing Tawa who raced back with two late tries and very nearly scored a third at the end, but they were bundled into touch and the referee blew fulltime.

Both sides scored three tries apiece, HOBM ultimately sealing the game midway through the second half when their pack shunted Tawa’s off a scrum 40 metres out and they went wide for centre Tomasio Alosio to cut back and score.

Heading into next week’s final round Marist St Pat’s and Ories are third equal on 36 points. HOBM, Tawa, MSP and Ories have qualified for the Jubilee Cup with a week to spare.

Marist St Pat’s qualified for the big show with a 43-24 win over Northern United on their Old Timers’ Day at Evans Bay Park, while Ories held off a plucky Avalon side to win 42-15.

After an early Isaiah Petelo try, MSP dominated territory and possession and led Norths 16-3 by halftime. MSP extended their lead further after the break and ran with the game and into the Jubilee Cup.

Ories are renowned for scoring their tries in bursts, and they did it again today. Holding a 7-3 lead and with Avalon in the contest, Ories raced in to score three converted tries to Whetu Henry, his brother Jarrod and Aukuso Tuitama and they raced to a 28-3 advantage. Avalon closed the deficit with a try to No. 8 Ata Langilangi, but Ories pulled clear to win comfortably in the end.

It’s further down the table where next week’s final round will get pulsating.

Below these sides it’s all on next week – seven teams will be chasing four spots next weekend’s final round.

Of these teams, Poneke were joyous at the end of their match today, while the Upper Hutt Rams were less so, as Poneke scored at the end to pip Wainuiomata 26-20 in their Hakaraia Trophy and Bill Brien Shield encounter and the Upper Hutt Rams were crestfallen after losing to Wellington 27-30.

Wellington skipped out to a 24-3 lead by halftime against the Rams, who sprang into gear in the second half to draw level 27-27 before Wellington halfback Adam Deck sealed a late win with a penalty. Match report of this game below.

Poneke and Wainuiomata battled to a 3-3 halftime score, with Poneke dominating territory at the end of the first half but unable to score. The game sprang to life in the second half when Wainuiomata super-sub TJ Va’a crossed for the game’s first try. Poneke wing Talia Taotua scored a double and they kicked two penalties to put Poneke ahead 19-8. But then Wainuiomata scored two quickfire tries, to halfback Frae Wilson and prop Attila Va’a to and they led 20-19. Poneke, however, sealed their win with a try to debutant wing Samoa Momoemausu.

In the round’s other matches, Old Boys University strode out to beat Paremata-Plimmerton 79-10 and Petone held off the Johnsonville Hawks 24-10 but failed to secure a four-try bonus point.

Old Boys University opened their account through centre Wes Goosen, and by the time wing Joe Hill scored their fourth try after 25 minutes, the Goats led 24-3. New Zealand Universities wing Te Wehi Wright scored a second half brace and fullback Sam Chamberlain scored a hat-trick in the last five minutes of the game.

A feature of the Petone-Johnsonville match before it had started was the inclusion of Petone’s coach Daniel Farani at No. 8 in a late injury reshuffle. On the field it was a desperate struggle early on that came to life just before the break with Petone fullback Sam McNichol scoring a 50 metre try and then Johnsonville wing Tiwi Davies replying with a nicely worked team try. Petone led 10-5 at the oranges. The Hawks then got to 10-10 when their other wing, Ash Vaka Vilili found the whitewash. But Petone scorched clear to take the win with a pair of tries to outside backs Lester Maulolo and Belgium Tuatagaloa.

Harper Lock Shield

Tawa are the confirmed 2015 Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield champions.

Tawa beat Hutt Old Boys Marist 24-10 in their match today to go six points clear at the top of the table to second placed Petone.

The Tawa side raced to an early 10-0 lead with two unconverted tries, but HOBM weren’t about to lie down. They competed strongly through the forwards exchanges and were unlucky to be trailing just 6-10 at halftime after a succession of penalties were awarded to them and with Tawa a man down in the sin-bin at a key point of the match.

Tawa came out strongly in the second half and that sin-binned player, centre Vice Salatele, scored one of two tries to give them the win and the title.

Petone beat Johnsonville 57-29 to grab the second qualifier's berth for the Hardham Cup -assuming their top side makes the Jubilee Cup.

Poneke are third and Norths are fourth, with Poneke beating Wainuiomata 27-16 and Norths missing out to MSP 43-24 - the same score as their top team lost by in the match that followed.

Elsewhere, the Upper Hutt Rams accounted for the Wellington Axemen 47-12 and Old Boys-University defeated Paremata-Plimmerton 41-7. Ories beat the Avalon Wolves by default.

Colts Paris Memorial Trophy

Worringly, there were two defaults in seven matches today, Avalon and Paremata-Plimmerton no shows against Ories and OBU Green.

Northern United went to the top of the table and remain unbeaten after six matches with a 52-14 win over Old Boys University Black.

Petone A are second after beating Johnsonville 60-5 and the Upper Hutt Rams third after pipping the Wellington Junior Axemen 21-17.

Poneke beat Wainuiomata 16-13 and Hutt Old Boys Marist accounted for Tawa 24-12 in two lively encounters.

First Grade Thompson Memorial Trophy

The Petone Brotherhood marched to their sixth straight victory, beating Old Boys University 33-32.

Hutt Old Boys Marist are second with a 32-24 victory over Norths, while Poneke beat Stokes Valley 25-15 in a match that saw the latter side slip a couple of spots down the ladder. In a notable thrashing, MSP beat Tawa 96-17.?

WelTec Premiership First XV

St Pat’s Town pushed Scots College close in today’s first round opener and Moascar Cup opening encounter. Scots College held on to win 37-32 after leading 17-15 at halftime.
At the Basin Reserve, Wellington College suddenly came good, beating Hutt International Boys’ School 64-0.

At Kilbirnie Park, Rongotai College defeated newly promoted Wairarapa College 26-17, while St Pat’s Silverstream accounted for the other Premier newcomer Tawa College, 41-15.

Match Report: Wellington (30) v Upper Hutt Rams (27)

What a game, what a contest!

In a game of two halves, The Wellington Axemen did the unthinkable today, holding out the Upper Hutt Rams in the last 10 minutes with a man down. 30 points to 27 in front of a strong crowd at Maidstone Park

The first half was all Wellington as the Rams struggled to get going.

The scoring kicked off in the fourth minute. A grubber kick was fed through by Axemen fullback Ryan Saunders deep inside the Upper Hutt half. Unfortunately for Upper Hutt fullback Tafa Tafa, the ball bounced cruelly away from him and left wing Henry Hocking, on debut for the Axemen, scored under the posts. Halfback Adam Deck added the conversion and the visitors were up 7 – 0.

Although Rams second five eighth Joyner Key kicked a penalty, it was a brief halt in the Axemen momentum

The Axemen forwards after numerous pick and gos, fed the ball out wide to first five Hilton Mexted. He showed superb strength close to the line as he beat 2 defenders, planting the ball on the chalk.

Shortly after this try midway through the first half, a Rams player was sinbinned and the Axemen took advantage.

The visitors made use of an overlap out wide with blindside flanker Josh Blackwell in the naughty chair. Hocking scored his second try, coasting in to score. After Mexted scored his second try, which resulted from a charge down and big Paddy Hughes run,
Upper Hutt were down 24 – 3 at the break and they were facing a very heavy defeat.

The first half was extremely poor for the Rams who wouldn’t protect the ball at the breakdown often and make poor decisions, In one instance towards the end of the first half, they lost the ball at the breakdown after ignoring support on the outside close to the Axemen line. In saying that, Wellington deservedly led at the break and took their opportunities whereas Upper Hutt didn’t.

The second half belonged to Upper Hutt, much to the delight of the 250 strong home crowd.
Number 8 Murphy Taramai, who played for Wellington against Taranaki in 2014, had a barnstorming second half where he scored 2 trys.

He scored the first try for the Rams a couple of minutes into the half and it was nothing short of brilliant. Deep inside the Axemen 22 and close to the touchline Murphy chipped kicked. After evading fullback Ryan Saunders, the ball sat up nicely for him after it rolled and he dotted down into the corner. The crowd were on their feet. With a conversion added by Joyner Key the Rams were down 24 -10.

When lock Jamie Norman scored off a lineout drive a few moments later the Rams were well back in the contest. Although the conversion was missed this try was a huge momentum shifter. The momentum which was with the Axemen in the first 40, swung back to the Rams.
Adam Deck kicked a penalty to keep the home side at bay briefly, 27- 15.

But Taramai scored again and it was all on in the last 10 minutes. The Axemen held a slender 27-22 lead and the travelling fans looked very nervous indeed.

Lungi Moananu the Wellington tighthead prop, was sent to the bin for infringing. This decision from referee Alastair Payne was huge, especially for the home side.

The Rams made full use of a man advantage, like Wellington had previously in the first half.

Fullback Tafa Tafa, who made up for a poor bounce in the first half, scored in the corner. Unfortunately, the kick was missed and the game was tied 27 all.

With 5 minutes to go, Adam Deck kicked a huge penalty from 35 metres out, straight down the middle. With the Axemen up 30-27 victory was almost theirs.

But Upper Hutt almost stole victory twice.

Firstly they almost scored off the kickoff. Wellington openside flanker Sam Gardner knocked the ball back into an Upper Hutt player. Right winger Troy Mohr thought he almost scored, but a knock on was called and a try was denied.

In dying seconds, after wave after wave of attack, Joyner Key was almost scored over the line, but ran too high up. This resulted in an Axemen penalty, as Key wouldn’t release the ball.
Mexted booted the ball into touch and the Axemen escaped with a fortunate victory.

Honourable mentions go to Upper Hutt players Max Pearson and Mitchell Markov who carried the ball strongly throughout. Wellington Axemen hooker and former Scots College first 15 representative in 2012, Sam Dawson debuted strongly.

The Axemen jump up to fifth on the table, close to qualifying for Jubilee Cup with a round to spare. However on the other side of the coin, Upper Hutt is now in real danger to miss out on the Jubilee Cup top 8.