Centres Of Attention In Tight Jubilee Cup Third Round

The full complement of Wellington's rich midfield talent came out to play in week three of the second round of Wellington club rugby, as wet weather again played a part across all Jubilee Cup venues. As marginal conditions once more closed in around the grounds, some of the game's big names were making their presence felt in several backlines.

This included Conrad Smith on the comeback trail at Nairnville Park for Old Boys-University, scoring a try and playing 60 minutes in his side's 33-7 win over the Wests Roosters, as well as Tana Umaga, Ma'a Nonu, Tamati Ellison, Willie Lafaele and newcomer Robert Fruen.

At the Petone Recreation Ground it was all on for young and old - literally - with New Zealand U19s centre Fruen feeling the full force of a Tana Umaga king hit in front of Umaga's goalposts and Hurricanes second five-eighth Tamati Ellison taking the brunt of another in the first half in Petone's 19-13 win over Northern United.

In the Hardham Cup, Nonu was in action at the Polo Ground in Oriental-Rongotai's 27-10 win over Wainuiomata.

In-form former New Zealand Colts star Lafaele also scored a try for Tawa with a searing 40-metre break from broken play, which briefly gave his side the lead against Hutt Old Boys Marist. But the Eagles were stung into action soon after, scoring a converted try to take a 12-10 lead into the break and sailing to a 43-10 victory with five further tries in the second half. Hurricanes wing Hosea Gear also got on the scoresheet for HOBM, while hooker Steve Silva grabbed a first half brace.

Smith scored the first of Old Boys University's five tries against the Roosters in a match transferred to Wests' former home ground Nairnville Park from a flooded Basin Reserve. Despite the return of New Zealand Maori hooker Luke Mahoney, the Roosters are missing too many of their frontline players to make an impact on the second round, including rising openside Scott Fuglistaller, recuperating from minor surgery.

At Kilbirnie Park, Marist St. Pat's joined Hutt Old Boys Marist at the top of the table, pipping Poneke 6-0 in an eastern suburbs slugfest. While the scoring action was restricted to just two Fa'atonu Fili penalties for MSP, the ramifications for Poneke were much greater. Winless after three rounds, the regular Cup finalists need to win against OBU next week to maintain their semi-final aspirations.

The appearance of Umaga at the Village helped lift Petone to a popular victory in front of a partisan crowd over Norths in this week's feature match, adding inspiration in a tight game as well as scoring what proved to be the match clinching try midway through the second half - a 30-metre dash to the line after regathering a chip and chase put through by emerging first five-eighth Dan Kirkpatrick.

Kirkpatrick added the conversion and also kicked four penalties, including three from six in tricky conditions in the first half. With the blustery wind at their favour, Petone ground out a 9-0-halftime lead, capitalising on their territorial dominance and a regular supply of Norths ill discipline that saw Tamati Ellison sinbinned on the stroke of halftime.

The 14-man Norths started the second half off with a hiss and a roar, quickly winning field position and driving former Manawatu lock Tim Faleafaga over to score from an attacking lineout. First five-eighth Rob Aloe converted and Petone's lead was shaved to 9-7.

But the Villagers held firm, as Norths battled for continuity in the slippery conditions, unable to finish off another attacking foray that they surely would have under blue skies. Instead, Petone pressed on to attack, with Umaga scoring next to make it 16-7. Both kickers then quickly exchanged penalties, Petone still with a nine-point advantage heading the final quarter of play.

But in a testament to their defensive qualities, Petone lifted their intensity and kept the ever-threatening Norths out until the end. It was a desperate Norths who threw everything at them, but their line held firm. Their forwards held Norths up over the line and Umaga snuffed out a possible try out wide when he pole-axed Fruen. Aloe kicked another penalty to close the gap to 19-13, but that was their only further reward.

For Petone the win puts them back on track for the playoffs after an injury depleted loss to Tawa in round two, while it doesn't get any easier for Norths, who could potentially lose up to half their first choice roster to the Vodafone Wellington Lions next weekend. The Lions play Waikato in a pre-season match on their home ground at Porirua Park next Friday night, with the 22 players involved in that game unavailable for club rugby the following day.

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