OBU unbeaten, as Tawa and Ories hold on to win thrillers

Above: Oriental Rongotai wing Aukuso Tuitama runs in a try early in the second half for his side in today's Jubilee Cup win over Wainuiomata.

UPDATED SUNDAY: The Old Boys University Goats have made it five from five in this year’s Jubilee Cup round-robin, qualifying for the Jubilee Cup semi-finals and being just a couple of bonus points away from earning a home semi-final, after pulling clear to beat Petone 38-20 today.

Petone led OBU 12-3 early in the match, but the Goats scored a key try just before the break and then refuelled at halftime to run away to win four tries to three. With a try and a hat full of points off the kicking tee, fullback Sam Chamberlain scored 23 points for OBU.

In two fifth round heart-stoppers, Tawa and Oriental-Rongotai both cemented their places in the playoff zone with tight wins at home against Hutt Old Boys Marist and Wainuiomata respectively.

A 14-player Tawa held off waves of HOBM attacking phase play over the final few minutes to effectively extinguish the Eagles’ chances of making the top four. In a tight match throughout, Tawa had got themselves in front when blindside flanker Telea Seumanutafa scored his 14th try of the season. James So’oialo, who had earlier kicked three penalties and two conversions, was sent to the sin-bin late in the match. HOBM, who had been in front at halftime, hammered away until fulltime but failed to penetrate against a Tawa side that had lost the week before in the final play of the game.

Likewise, Oriental-Rongotai found themselves down to 14 players when lock Tuakana Metuarau was shown yellow by international referee Ben O’Keffe and they found themselves holding on grimly to the end. Wainuiomata had got ahead 22-17 with back-to-back second half tries, before Ories had drawn level at 27-27 and then pivot James Proctor had kicked the match-winning penalty with several minutes remaining. The difference ultimately in this match was Ories’ fast start. The Magpies had scorched to a 12-0 lead in the first 10 minutes and then taken a 12-10 lead into halftime.

Marist St Pat’s consolidated their spot in the top four with a clinical 38-25 win over the Wellington Axemen. Wellington opened the scoring with a runaway try to centre Kaipo Sarkissian, but MSP got their noses in front soon after and then pulled clear to take a decisive lead midway through the second half. The Axemen battled hard to the end and dynamic lock Vaea Fifita scored their bonus point try. Extended report of this match is below.

With two rounds to play, the top four teams in the Jubilee Cup are OBU, Tawa, Ories an MSP, with Petone just back in fifth.

Losses for Wellington, Wainuiomata and defending champions HOBM have left these sides’ playoff hopes hanging by threads.

The Hardham Cup field is more spread out after today’s fifth round set of matches, with seven of the eight teams still alive to make the Premier 2 semi-finals.

Just Petone B is out of contention, after being defeated 74-7 by a resurgent Poneke at Kilbirnie Park. The red and black defended the Bill Brien Challenge Shield by laying on 11 tries. Galy Taufale scored a hat-trick and outside backs Max Murray and Talia Taotua both ran in braces.

Johnsonville hold a narrow lead at the top of the standings heading into the last two regular season rounds of the season after they enjoyed a 46-19 over Tawa’s B team in the early game at Lyndhurst Park. Outside backs Tiwi Davies and Roy Kinikinilau both scored two tries as part of a 7 tries to 3 victory.

The Upper Hutt Rams hold second place after beating Northern United 23-18 at home a Maidstone Park. In a tight match, both sides scored two tries apiece, with the Rams scoring the match winner late in the match after Norths had got themselves ahead. Norths are third, three points back from the Rams.

Avalon hold fourth place on the table after they beat Paremata-Plimmerton 15-13 away at Ngatitoa Domain. Avalon held a 12-3 lead at halftime, as the home side hit back with a converted try to halfback James Stevenson-Wright. But a Shannon Bradbrook second half penalty won the game for them.

Old Boys University won their fifth straight match of the Ed Chaney/HD Morgan Memorial Cup competition, beating Poneke 29-22 with a late try in the early game at Kilbirnie Park to beat Poneke.OBU had seemingly taken control by halftime, but Poneke roared back in the second half to level 22-22. OBU scored a runaway try with several minutes remaining to take the win.

There were also big wins to Marist St Pat’s and Hutt Old Boys Marist in two other games in this grade this afternoon, with MSP beating Wellington 48-12 and HOBM defeating Johnsonville 48-8.
Ories held off Wainuiomata 15-3 at the Polo Ground, Norths overcame the Upper Hutt Rams 24-21 and Avalon held off Paremata-Plimmerton 31-25

In third round Victoria Tavern Trophy Women’s fixtures, first round winners Northern United and defending champions Ories both earned their second successive second round bonus point wins. Norths beat HOBM 29-10 and Ories overcame the Avalon She-Wolves 25-5. The OBU Impalas had the bye.

In the Senior Women’s games, Wainuiomata eased passed Johnsonville 130-0 and Poneke saw off Tawa 31-14 in the first match of the day at Kilbirnie Park.

The Petone Brotherhood and Old Boys University are both unbeaten after three rounds of the First Grade Johnsonville Centennuim Cup. The Brotherhood beat MSP Avele 24-7 and OBU’s third fifteen edged the HOBM Barbarians 21-19.

The significant result of today’s Paris Memorial Trophy Colts round was Northern United losing their first match of the season.

Norths were defeated 26-17 by mid-table MSP.

With two matches being deferred and another default involving OBU’s Black side, this round was a disjointed one. In three other matches played, Wainuiomata beat Avalon 26-19 under lights on Friday night, HOBM Green beat Paremata-Plimmerton 55-14 and Petone Blue overcame Poneke 23-18.

First round champions the Tawa Titans won their second straight bonus point victory in the second round U85kg Division 1 Paul Potiki Shield competition, beating the Wellington Light Axemen 34-13. The OBU Bunnies made it three from three with a 22-7 win over promoted team the HOBM Howlers. Avalon beat Johnsonville 25-15 in the other match that was played this afternoon.

The Wests Roosters and Stokes Valley both won their third matches in the U85kg Division 2 Tony O’Brien Shield. Results from this grade today were: Upper Hutt Rams 25 - Paremata-Plimmerton 19; Wainuiomata 17 - Wellington 15; Western Suburbs 32 - Kapiti 29; Stokes Valley 25 - Marist St Pats Green 19.

The Poneke Ruffnuts won their 10th straight Reserve Grade match today, without taking the field as they were defaulted to by the OBU 69’ers. Reserve Grade Results today were: Upper Hutt Rams Thirsty Rams 60 - OBU Righteous Brothers; 15 Marist St Pats Internationals 50 - OBU Porters Pink Ginners 5; Johnsonville Cripples 48 - Upper Hutt Rams Pirates 12; Upper Hutt Rams J8’s WBD - Poneke Panthers; Paremata-Plimmerton Punters WBD - OBU Teddy Bears; Poneke Ruffnuts WBD OBU 69’ers Bye: Western Suburbs Mixed Veges.

In the two WelTec Premiership fixtures played today, Wellington College grabbed a much needed win over Rongotai College. Both sides were backing up after midweek matches, but Wellington College pulled clear to win 39-24. Scots Collfe sealed first place at the conclusion of the round-robin for the upcoming quarterfinals system with a 70-0 victory over HIBS.

MSP v Wellington Jubilee Cup Match Report

The battle of the two sides who both started the day outside the top four, and two clubs who's clubrooms face each other and used to share Hataitai Park, was hard fought but ultimately decided in favour of Marist St Pats who prevailed 38-25 over Wellington.

The opening period was dominated by MSP in terms of both territory and possession, though it was Wellington who got on the scoresheet when Kaipo Sarkissian snaffled an intercept and ran 75m to score. MSP got on the scoresheet from the restart when Wellington were caught offside and Fa'atonu Fili kicked the penalty. Fili soon added to that, snapping a drop goal when holding penalty advantage. The Axemen were back in when Adam Deck broke from the base of a maul, with Ryan Saunders finishing in the right hand corner, but undid that good work when penalised under their posts and caught napping with a quick tap and Ryan Setefano crossing. The half ended soon after Fili added a second penalty after Wellington were penalised at the breakdown.

MSP were soon back into it after the break, busting down the right flank seemingly at will. Isiah Petelo toed through a Fili grubber to score, then Mike Buckley 50m minutes later. Deck added a penalty for Wellington in between, while Fili's third penalty preceeded Isaac O'Connor barging his way over. At 38-13 it seemed the floodgates were open.

That all changed on the 60 minute mark. Firstly MSP hooker Valentine Meachem went to the bin for a cynical infringement, with teammate and replacement lock Nick Harrison following moments later for a foot trip. It took a while for Wellington to take advantage but eventually they marched a six-man MSP scrum backwards 20m and were awarded a penalty try, but MSP otherwise held firm. The last scoring of the match came after MSP were restored to 15, when Vaea Fifita stepped his way through several tacklers on a 35m run.

The upshot of the day was that MSP vaulted over Petone into 4th, and while the Axemen remained at the bottom they arent yet eliminated from the semi-final picture. In the earlier game MSP notched their first win of the Premier Reserve second round with a 48-12 win.