Kilbirnie Park Top Round Eight Attraction

There will be few vantage points at Kilbirnie Park this week where Poneke and Northern United lock horns in what is undoubtedly the clash of the Swindale Shield so far. Poneke and Norths are the top two contenders in the competition to date, with the winner of this match favoured to go on over the next three weeks and win the first silverware of the season.

Poneke are so far unbeaten after seven rounds, four points clear of Norths at the top of the table with easily the best defensive record of the 12 teams. However, despite losses to Wainuiomata and to Hutt Old Boys Marist, Norths have collected eight bonus points and are averaging over 39 points a game and have the strikepower. Both had convincing wins last week, Poneke pulling clear of Wainui to win 51-13 and Norths subduing Marist St Pat's to win 39-23. Look out for key head to head tussles in the loose and out wide, where Poneke wing Ambrose Plaister and his Norths opposite Francis Seumanatafa have both scored eight tries each this season.

It promises to be another humdinger of a match at the Basin Reserve between Old Boys-University and MSP, where OBU are also celebrating their Old Timers Day. The third placed students are only a point back from Norths and have an outside chance of grabbing top spot if the Porirua based team prevails over Poneke. But they will also need to beat the competitive MSP side and score four tries along the way.

Also doing their sums will be Hutt Old Boys Marist who can launch a late charge at the title if they beat Wests Roosters at the Hutt Recreation Ground. But as Avalon found out last week, getting past the plucky Wests outfit is a tough proposition. HOBM are also coming off an 18-15 win over Tawa, preceded by two consecutive draws, so another close one is predicted between the second and third best defensive sides in the competition.

In other games, much will be riding on the Petone-Avalon game at the Petone Recreation Ground. Both teams will be desperate to secure a top eight berth, while Tawa's Jubilee Cup credentials will become clearer against Upper Hutt at Lyndhurst Park, and Wainui host Oriental-Rongotai at William Jones Park.

Meanwhile, the Premier women's grade first round Fleurs Trophy culminates this weekend with the final set of round robin matches. In the running are Avalon, four points clear at the top of the table to second placed Northern United. Avalon play fourth placed Tawa and Norths are up against sixth placed OBU. The second round Victoria Tavern Trophy is up for grabs from next week, with defending champions HOBM not contesting the women's grade this year.