Jubilee Cup Rerun A Mouth Watering Prospect

In a rerun of last year's Jubilee Cup final Marist St. Pat's host champions Hutt Old Boys Marist in round six of the Swindale Shield at Evans Bay Park. In the resumption of rivalries for Wellington Marist ascendancy the two teams also play for the Father Cleary Shield and the Bill Brien Challenge Cup, both held by MSP.

Last year's Jubilee Final at Westpac Stadium was a typically hard fought season ender, with HOBM out scoring MSP two tries to one for an 18-10 victory. The two other clashes between the pair in 2007 were both won by MSP? - but only just - MSP beating HOBM 32-29 in the Swindale Shield round and again 17-16 in round five of the Jubilee Cup.?

That nail biting one-point win to MSP in the mud of Evans Bay Park last July was also HOBM's last loss, so an Eagles win today will not only see them tighten their grip at the top of the points table but will also carry them to a 10-game winning streak.

In other sixth round matches, Petone, Northern United and Old Boys-University will be favoured to win and further advance their title credentials. Second placed Petone were too slick for Poneke last week and will fancy their chances of spoiling Wainuiomata's Green and Black Day at William Jones Park. However Wainui will see it as a great opportunity to upset their neighbours from over the hill and reverse their back-to-back defeats over Poneke and MSP. On form, Norths and OBU should both win at home with bonus points against the Wests Roosters and Avalon respectively.

The other two matches this weekend could be a lot closer, with Poneke desperate to emerge from Maidstone Park with some competition points against sixth placed Upper Hutt who lost narrowly to Norths last week. 7^th placed Tawa and 9^th placed Oriental-Rongotai meet at Tawa's verdant Lyndhurst Park venue in what could be a crucial meeting in the race to decide their Jubilee Cup fortunes.

All round six Swindale Shield matches are at the earlier time of 2.30 pm with the mighty Hurricanes tackling the Lions from Johannesburg at Westpac Stadium at 7.35 pm.

Excitement abounds in other grades this week, where Johnsonville will be out to extend their unbeaten record in the Harper Lock Shield against Ories at Helston Park and Wellington and Tawa meet at Lyndhurst Park in a top of the table National Mutual Cup clash. Other top of the table clashes include Norths v Petone in the Fleurs Trophy Women's Grade, Ories J8s and OBU 69ers in the Reserve Grade Division 1 and the Wests Larry's and MSP in the Reserve Grade Division Two.

The Petone U19s need only a bonus point from their clash with Stokes Valley to take out the first round U19 James Gilbert Memorial Trophy.

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