Tulou, Fili Help Spark MSP To Thrilling Old Timers? Day Win Over Norths

Swindale Shield round four review: Vodafone Wellington Lions No. 8 Alex Tulou and Samoan international first five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili produced the magic that saw MSP snatch a thrilling 25-22 win over Northern United on their Old Timers' day at Evans Bay Park on Saturday.

Tulou scored two tries in a matter of minutes early in the second half, both off the shoulder off Fili, and Fili kicked both conversions as well as two late penalties that helped turned the game around and earn victory for MSP after they fought back from a 15-0 deficit at halftime.

The second of these two Fili penalties four minutes from fulltime saw MSP take the lead that snatched a remarkable victory, after scores had been deadlocked at 22-22 late in the match.

Earlier, it was Tulou's opposite, Anare Koliavu who grabbed two first half tries to see Norths?lead?at the turnaround, an advantage that could have been more if not for young first five-eighth Leon Ellison being unsuccessful in landing any of his five first half shots at goal.

This result headlined an action packed set of fourth round Swindale Shield matches that also featured wins to Oriental-Rongotai over Petone, Upper Hutt over Old Boys-University and convincing first-up wins for Poneke over Wainuiomata and for the Wests Roosters over Avalon.

Ories and Upper Hutt both spoiled Petone's and OBU's Old Timers' days with hard fought and narrow wins, Ories winning at the Village 32-26 and Upper Hutt prevailing at the Basin Reserve 10-8.

Poneke earned their first victory of the year by comfortably beating Wainui 37-12 at home at Kilbirnie Park, Wests led from start to finish to beat Avalon 18-5 at Ian Galloway Park and Hutt Old Boys Marist came from behind to topple Tawa 25-10 at the Hutt Recreation Ground in the other fixture.

These results see Hutt Old Boys Marist as the only unbeaten team after four rounds, the Eagles soaring to a four-point lead at the top of the table on 18 points to be clear of Petone, OBU and Upper Hutt all on 14 points with MSP and Norths lurking just behind.

Unlike recent years when the good weather has lingered long into autumn, for the third time in four weeks Wellington club rugby was affected by poor weather, with Wellington more resembling a fridge than an Indian summer. Although the rain largely stayed away, it was the biting southerly that shaped the run of play across most venues.

This was none more evident than at the Basin Reserve, where home team Old Boys-University were playing for the first time this season. In a tight contest between two in-form teams, it was the visitors Upper Hutt who scored all the early points playing into the wind to lead 10-3 at halftime. Upper Hutt scored two unconverted first half tries to new New Zealand U20 No. 8 Matt Luamanu and wing Greg Tweddle and then backed that up with outstanding defence to allow OBU past their clutches?just once when flanker James Oliver scored after 65 minutes.

Ories had first use of the strong wind at Petone and quickly had the home side reeling, racing to a 10-0 lead in as many minutes courtesy of a converted try to Samson Nonu and a penalty to first five-eighth James Proctor. Ories' pack had their tails up and prop Whetu Henry and halfback Peme Leiataua scored again as they sizzled to a 27-0 lead. Petone managed to score before the break and they turned with the wind trailing 32-5. But unlike last week, Ories kept their concentration throughout the second half and held on to capture the Jim Brown Memorial Trophy.

It was a similar story at Kilbirnie Park, where Poneke raced to a 20-0 halftime lead and held on to win in a canter at the end. Playing with the stiff wind, Poneke scored first through left wing Ambrose Plaister after a searing break by Vodafone Wellington Lions hooker Dane Coles and didn't look back. Their key try came right on halftime when fullback Matt Pautoa crossed after Coles and first five-eighth Gus Ferguson counterattacked after a Wainui clearing kick had failed to find touch. Two more tries after the break allowed Poneke to pull away from their green and black opposition and retain the Hakaraia Trophy.

At the Hutt Recreation Ground, Tawa couldn't protect a 10-0 halftime lead when they turned into the wind in the second 40 minutes of play, HOBM overrunning them with three tries to hooker Steve Silva, flanker Ash Parker and winger Eroni Ekevati. Tawa's earlier try had been a penalty try, while halfback Damien Madsen kicked a penalty for their remaining points.

The Club Weekly was at the Wests Roosters - Avalon game, where the Roosters walked away from their cage location as deserved 18-5 winners over their disorganised and poor disciplined Hutt Valley visitors.

Indeed, it was the Roosters who played with more heart and more team structure to register their first win of the season, despite their fair share of poor handling and difficulty in creating opportunities in the windy and wintry conditions.

A pre-match eye raiser was the confirmed inclusion of Thomas Waldrom at second five-eighth as Avalon searched for a playmaker in the absence of several of their key players from previous seasons such as Peter Sciascia, Mano Flutey, Andrew Turner, and Siu Katoa and the absence through injury of Lemafa Tuluauau, Katoni Katoa, Finau Hopoi and Shannon Bradbrook.

But unfortunately for Avalon, Waldrom was ineffective in his temporary position, the champion Wellington and Hurricanes No. 8 having a poor all round game in the midfield. Instead, it was his opposite, Roosters second five-eighth Junior So'o who proved a major influence on the outcome.

The powerfully built So'o, a former Poneke midfielder and sporting the makings of a fine afro, had a great game for the Roosters, consistently breaking the line before he left the field after 60 minutes, presumably with an injury.

He did the damage just after halftime with Wests having just turned to play into the wind, scoring the game's decisive try when he picked up a poorly protected ball from a defensive Avalon ruck and skipped through 15 metres to the line to score. This try increased Wests' halftime lead from 13-0 to 18-0 and enabled them to hold on to win.

Only moments earlier So'o had broken the Avalon line from a midfield scrum, which had created prime field position for Wests to attack just after the break.

So'o was backed up by an equally impressive performance in the loose by his captain and openside flanker Scott Fuglistaller, who was everywhere for Wests in the first half and fittingly scored their first try when he stole the ball from an Avalon defender in the tackle and sprinted 20 metres for the easiest of tries.

Fuglistaller's try was converted by first five-eighth Scott Mudgeway, who had previously opened the scoring with a long-range penalty after 21 minutes and missed with two other tricky chances in the half.

With an 18-0 advantage Wests grew in confidence in the second half, but an increasingly desperate Avalon strung more continuity together and finally scored through lock Ngas Haerewa.

Ten years on from their greatest triumph of winning the 1998 Jubilee Cup, the Roosters can now turn their attention towards a date next week with Ories?at the Polo Grounds, while Avalon have the unenviable task of playing HOBM at home in round five.

?

In other grades, Johnsonville have hit the front of the Senior One Harper Lock Shield with a four-try 28-12 win over Hutt Old Boys Marist, making them the only unbeaten team after four rounds. In the Senior Two National Mutual Cup Wellington and MSP lead the field with four consecutive wins each. Tawa are the early leaders of the JDR Cup U21 division, earning their second straight bonus point win in beating OBU.