Frantic Final Fortnight In Swindale Shield

The teams at the top of the Swindale Shield still have everything to play for over the closing two rounds starting this weekend. Four clubs are still realistically in contention of winning the 40th edition of Wellington Premier rugby's first round title, with Old Boys-University, Marist St. Pat's, Northern United and Petone all still aspiring for first round glory in the 10th and 11th rounds.

OBU and MSP are in the box seat, both on 37 competition points, four clear of defending champions Norths and Petone on 33, with Hutt old Boys Marist a further four points back on 29 and also mathematically still alive. All four of these top teams have expected tough games this weekend though, not least OBU and Petone who play each other at OBU's Khandallah headquarters of Nairnville Park and will thus cancel each other's title hopes out.

MSP host Oriental-Rongotai in a potentially explosive clash at Evans Bay Park in a likely tight contest that their supporters wouldn't have envisaged earlier in the season. But Ories have now won four out of their last five matches and will finish inside the top eight. Norths also won't have it their own way against Wainuiomata at Porirua Park, where the visitors will be desperate to keep their top eight chances alive and for a repeat of last year's 30-29 win over them in this corresponding clash.

Wainui's hopes also largely rest on Poneke's penultimate round fortunes, who will likely hold on to eighth place and shut them out if they can beat the HOBM Eagles at the Hutt Recreation Ground. Stung by Ories last week, Poneke's loyal fans will fancy their teams' chances of bouncing back against HOBM who are safely through to the Jubilee Cup round and will also have one eye on their McBain Shield clash against Petone next week. In other matches, Upper Hutt will also cement a Jubilee Cup position if they prevail over Avalon at Maidstone Park and Tawa and the West Roosters meet at Lyndhurst Park.

In the event of two or more teams finishing tied at the top after next weekend, the Swindale Shield will be shared for the first time in 25 years when Petone and MSP shared the spoils in 1983. The same applies in the first round Women's Fleurs Trophy which finishes this weekend, where Johnsonville (33 points), Norths (29) and Petone (28) are all still in contention.

The race for the Senior Two National Mutual Cup could be decided this week as well, with competition frontrunners MSP and Wellington going head to head at Hataitai Park at 3 pm. MSP's Senior 2 team is so far unbeaten after nine rounds and a win against the Axemen will see them seal the Cup with a week to spare.

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