Poneke And Norths Book Showdown As Roosters Stun Avalon

The continued hot form of frontrunners Poneke and Northern United and a sensational injury time victory for the Wests Roosters were key features of an exciting seventh round of Swindale Shield matches played in glorious autumn conditions.

Poneke made it seven from seven with a 51-13 win over Wainuiomata at William Jones Park and Norths subdued a spirited Marist St Pat's to win 39-23 at Porirua Park, setting up a probable title-deciding clash between the pair next week at Kilbirnie Park.

At Fraser Park Avalon fell fowl of an impressive Wests comeback and scoring spree, including a last second dropped goal, giving the Roosters a 20-17 win.

Poneke's win over Wainuiomata wasn't all one-way traffic. The red and blacks only managed to secure a comfortable margin of victory for the Hakaraia Trophy in the second half. On their Old Timers Day and on the birthday of their most famous ever player, Jonah Lomu, Wainui had the services of star All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu and were competitive early on. A 90 metre runaway try to lock Haimona Waititi right on halftime gave Poneke a 19-6 lead at the interval and they pulled clear from there.

Norths were similarly impressive against a competitive MSP who were eventually humbled by the ever-rampant Norths side containing Hurricanes players Serge Lilo, Anthony Perenise and Tamati Ellison. MSP halfback Reece Poutawera was playing his 100^th game and his side led 11-10 midway through the first half, and trailed Norths just 17-22 at halftime. Norths maintained the pressure to win well, with Lilo grabbing two tries.

It was also tight at Lyndhurst Park, where an 18-15 win to Hutt Old Boys Marist over Tawa moved them into the top four.? Tawa are now two points behind third placed Old Boys-University who beat Upper Hutt 40-13 at Maidstone Park. OBU pulled clear of Upper Hutt after halftime, after Upper Hutt halfback Daniel Beckett and first five-eighth Ben Aoina crossed for first half tries.

Petone were made to work hard in defeating Oriental-Rongotai 26-20 at the Polo Ground, after initially sailing to a 17-0 lead. But Ories invariably push Petone close, and this was no exception, scoring a converted try before the break and then outscoring their visitors in the second half. Despite the spirited comeback from Ories, two early converted tries from Petone proved enough for them to maintain their perilous position just inside the top eight.

Fraser Park was a cauldron of intensity as two evenly matched Avalon and Wests Roosters sides battled hard for an edge in this week's Club Weekly Feature Match. It was also the match of the round for its competitiveness and thrilling finish, in which Wests came from behind to win with a last minute drop goal.

Veteran fullback Toby Robson couldn't have scripted it any better, as only minutes earlier his side were seemingly dead and buried and struggling to play catch-up rugby with a flat lining attack at 17-7 behind.

With two tries in the final few minutes, a Robson penalty that hit the posts and an injury time conversion to first five-eighth Naoya Nomura that just sailed wide, they were left thinking they'd left their run too late.

An extra time surge and a turnover followed, Robson positioned himself in the pocket and nailed his drop kick for an important win for his side that might be enough for them to make the Jubilee Cup round.

It was huge disappointment for Avalon, who failed to press home an advantage when they established a ten-point lead early in the second half through their second long-range try of the day, scored by centre Siu Katoa. In a close game characterised by big defence and a mighty battle in the loose, Avalon had the better of two attacking, wide-ranging backlines. Halfback Peter Sciascia was accurate with his passing and midfielders Finau Hopoi and Katoa were a constant threat.

Hopoi and Katoa were both involved in setting up a brilliant try for fullback Chris Tuapola on the stroke of halftime from a midfield scrum. This put Avalon in the lead at 10-7, after Wests wing Andrew Peters scored first from a midfield ruck situation 25 minutes in.

Wests have been in some tough scraps already this year, and their extra patience and experience coupled with increasing ill discipline from Avalon allowed for momentum to swing the way of the visitors.

Weight of numbers saw openside Scott Fuglistaller score out wide, in a nice interchange with centre Tristan Meo, who was also involved in Peters' try.

Wests' lineout was strong all day driving hooker Luke Mahoney over for another try 15 metres inside the corner flag. Nomura missed, and a 17-17 draw beckoned. But Robson had other ideas, slotting the match winner with the last play of the game

Another feature of this contest were the several exciting individual battles, with the high workrates and support play of both hot prospect opensides Roy McGrath for Avalon and Fuglistaller for Wests. Fuglistaller is a 2006 New Zealand U19 and Vodafone Wellington Lions apprentice player, while the equally lively McGrath played for the Wellington U19s last season.

The No. 8 battle between Avalon's Piri Ngarimu and Natano Tiatia for Wests was also telling, both putting their bodies on the line for their sides. The front row battle between West's loosehead Adrian Barone and Avalon's old warhorse Errol Weston also made for compelling viewing.

Meanwhile they were partying in Paparangi after the local Johnsonville teams kept their unbeaten records intact in their top of the table Harper Lock Shield Senior One and National Mutual Cup Senior Two clashes against Poneke. Johnsonville are seven points clear at the head of the Harper Lock table, while in the grade below they are ten points ahead of second placed Poneke.