Lilo Stars As Norths Surge To Top of The Table

Hurricanes openside flanker Serge Lilo played a leading hand for Northern United in their 30-14 bonus point win over Poneke, moving them one point ahead of the previously unbeaten Poneke at the top of the Swindale Shield points table.

Lilo scored two tries and was at the forefront of a committed Norths defensive effort that paved the way for a second half four-try scoring burst that propelled them to a decisive win.

It's still tight at the top, with Norths, Poneke, Old Boys-University and Hutt Old Boys Marist still in title contention, with six points separating the top four with three rounds to go.

On a magnificently sunny day many of Wellington rugby's stars came out to play in round eight, including Jerry Collins for Norths, Tana Umaga and Neemia Tialata for Petone, Piri Weepu for Wainuiomata, Conrad Smith for Old Boys-University, Ma'a Nonu for Oriental-Rongotai and Chris Masoe for Senior One side Johnsonville.?

At other venues, Marist St. Pats scored a significant 18-14 victory at the Basin Reserve on OBU's Old Timers' day. In a tight match, MSP kept their focus to hold on after leading 10-8 at halftime.

An impressive Petone grabbed a 45-7 win over a misfiring Avalon at the Petone Recreation Ground. The inclusion of Umaga at second-five eighth and the return from injury of promising Andrew Roberts at centre was just what their backline required to build upon their well performing forwards. Petone's back division scored six of their eight tries, including a first half hat trick to right wing Greg Walker and one to Umaga.?

At the Hutt Recreation Ground, the home side clipped the Wests Roosters' feathers to win 26-8, the Eagles leading from start to finish and booking their place in the top eight for the second round. Despite the loss, Wests still occupy a position inside the eight, six points clear of ninth placed Avalon.

Tawa moved ahead of Wests into seventh when they defeated strugglers Upper Hutt 31-19 in a close game at Lyndhurst Park. Tawa led throughout, but Upper Hutt were always in touch, behind by just two points early in the second half before Tawa pulled clear thanks to two tries to second five-eighth Willie Lafaele.

Weepu played a leading hand in Wainui's second win of the season against Ories at William Jones Park, kicking five penalties and a conversion in their 27-24 victory. In another tight contest both teams shadowed each other throughout, with Wainui holding a 24-17 lead midway through the second half. But the Nonu brothers, Samson and Ma'a, combined for a try to even the scores up late in the match. However Weepu again proved his value and loyalty to the new Premier club, slotting a penalty for the win.

In this week's Club Weekly feature game, Norths pulled clear from Poneke with a second half scoring spree, turning around a 5-7-halftime deficit into a 30-7 lead with four unanswered tries and 25 points in a manner that only they could produce.

At halftime no one in the bumper crowd lining Kilbirnie Park would have had an inkling of the ease of victory that was to come after the first half had been anything but a one-sided affair.

Although Norths scored first inside the opening five minutes - Lilo scoring in support of a Jerry Collins tap penalty - it was Poneke that made much of the play and dominated the lion's share of territory. The home side warmed into the game nicely, employing their winning brand of organised support play and quick recycling on attack. They were rewarded with a try in reply to left wing Ambrose Plaister, his ninth of the season.

Poneke continued to mount a strong challenge, but time and again they were met by equally strong defence particularly in the loose in the form of Lilo, Collins and late replacement No. 8 Anare Koliavu - all forcing key turnovers and winning defensive penalties.

Going into the break Poneke were deservedly ahead by two-points but not entirely satisfied having created several clear opportunities.? Hooker Dane Coles, halfback Blair Bradley and right wing Tupu Saena all looking likely at various times.

If the full house at Kilbirnie Park and Poneke coach Richard Watt were anticipating "more of the same" after the break they were quickly jolted out of it, with a Norths raid up the shortside immediately resulting in their second try. New Zealand U19 centre Robert Fruean danced with the sideline and passed infield to Francis Seumanutafa to score and also join Plaister on nine tries so far this year.

Following a penalty to fullback Peato Lafaele, Lilo scored his second and most decisive try through a pushover after first five-eighth Rob Aloe had driven Poneke back towards the Evans Bay corner with a raking touchfinder.

Two more tries then came in a blink of an eye, both containing an element of luck. Collins put Aloe into space with a classic draw and pass and Aloe in turn looked to find Plaister on the wing. However, Aloe's pass to Plaister was half intercepted by a Poneke hand, only for it to fall back into the clutches of Aloe who crossed for the try instead.

The next movement signalled it wasn't Poneke's day. An innocuous Aloe clearing kick failed to find touch near halfway. Instead it sat up cruelly for Poneke right wing Saena, just long enough for a Norths player pouring through to hack it ahead for Fruean to pick up and scamper up field to score in the same corner. This made it 30-7 to Norths.

To their credit Poneke hung in there and produced a magic long-range consolation try, finished by replacement lock Taoho Patuawa after an excellent breakaway movement.

In a high quality encounter, individual contributions were to the fore for both sides. Complementing Norths' loosies were athletic locks Chris Middleton and Api Naikatini. Also playing well for Poneke were No. 8 Neil Meyer and blindside Chris Brightwell, both with supercharged efforts around the field. ??While captain and second five-eighth Misipalauni Moananu pulled out a massive defensive effort. It is Moananu's uniform that will require the most attention at the laundry this week.