Swindale Shield Beckons for MSP in Last Round

A glance back over the last five Swindale Shields suggests Marist St. Pat's should comfortably capture their 10th first round title and their first since 2000 in the last round played this weekend.

Not only are last year's beaten Jubilee Cup finalists in the box seat for the title win with a four-point buffer at the top of the table, they have recent history on their side with each of the five previous Swindale Shield champion sides having led the field after ten rounds and duly gone on to win in the last week.

In 2003 Northern United won their first Swindale Shield by beating the Wests Roosters 35-21 in the last round having led after the penultimate round, while Petone did it in 2004 by beating Avalon 38-17, and Norths defeated Tawa 47-0 in 2006 and Wests again 72-0 to hold on for the title spoils last year.

An exception was Upper Hutt, who wrapped up the honours with a week to spare in 2005 by winning their first ten games consecutively and then losing to MSP 12-11 in the final week. Ironically, it will be Upper Hutt who will try and prevent MSP from going on to win in 2008 in their match at Evans Bay Park tomorrow.

Heading into the last round this year, MSP are on 42 points and hold a four-point lead at the top of the table to defending champions Norths and Petone, both on 38 points, with Old Boys-University a further point adrift on 37. Thus a win or a draw over Upper Hutt will be enough for MSP to secure the title. If two or more teams are tied on the same amount of points after the last round then the Shield is shared, a scenario that has occurred twice before - in 1972 when Petone and Wellington shared it and in 1983 between Petone and MSP.

This is the best that last week's co-leaders OBU can hope for as they go into the closing week needing a bonus point win against Oriental-Rongotai at the Polo Ground just to draw level at the top. But both Norths and Petone will consider themselves right in it should MSP lose, particularly Norths who will be expected to win with a bonus point against Avalon at Fraser Park. Petone's task is a lot harder, realistically needing the same result over Hutt Old Boys Marist whom they host at the Village for the McBain Shield.

The remaining two matches this weekend won't affect the standings with the eight Jubilee Cup spots all confirmed last week. Poneke host Tawa at Kilbirnie Park and Wests and Wainuiomata square off at Ian Galloway Park. All matches are at 2.15 pm ahead of the All Blacks and Ireland Test at Westpac Stadium from 7.35 pm.

Meanwhile both Johnsonville and MSP should each respectively take out the Senior 1 and Senior 2 titles this week. Johnsonville just needs a point from their match against mid-table Poneke to successfully defend the Senior1 Harper Lock Shield, and MSP just need to win or draw against 8th placed Johnsonville to secure the Senior 2 National Mutual Cup.