Roosters crow while J?ville weeps

Hardham Cup 14 June: The Wests Roosters and Tawa were the two biggest winners coming out of the first round of the Hardham Cup, each taking a determined step in their bid to retain Premier status. The Roosters won 25-5 away at Avalon, while Tawa crossed Wainuiomata's line eight times at William Jones Park for a 48-14 result. Johnsonville will be disappointed after a 31-12 loss to MSP B at the Basin, while Norths B dispatched Premier hopefuls Rimutaka 26-14.

A wounded Johnsonville, desperate to regain premier status after two years in the senior first wilderness, were soundly beaten in the early game at the Basin. A tight first-half tussle saw MSP edging the Blues 14-12 at the break, but a second half torrent of tries sealed the game for MSP. Winger Hamish Bennie crossed twice for Marist, with hooker Rocky Leofo, pivot Andrew Wood and Littlechild also each bagging a try. Tries to Denis Sim and Faatuatu had J'ville in touch at the break, but it wasn't enough.

It was a bitter start to the Hardham Cup campaign for Johnsonville, who defeated MSP B 22-5 at Helston Park in April. The back-to-back Harper Lock Shield champions have twice succumbed at this stage of the Hardham Cup now, losing to Poneke B in round one last year. Their quest for a return to the top flight will require a thick blend of guts, gravel and grit from here on in.

Norths were too good for Rimutaka for the second successive week, turning a 14-0 half-time lead into a 26-14 final score in the early game at Porirua Park. After their 11-5 win out at Maoribank Park last week, Norths went into the match as favourites, justifying that tag with a four tries to two win. Centres Josh Woodman (2) and Lele Matau accounted for three of Norths' tries, with openside James Kerse notching one for the forwards. Rimutaka fought back bravely in the second half through tries to centre Upoko Campbell and Edmonds. First-five-eighth Raymond MacDonald chipped in with a couple of conversions.

Avalon eventually surrendered 25-5 to an increasingly confident Wests. The Roosters took charge in the first half, taking a 15-0 lead into the break, but toiling from the home side had them in touch at 15-5 a quarter of an hour from time. If the Avalon faithful were sensing an end to the drought, though - Avalon was winless throughout the Swindale Shield - the clouds over the Hutt brought no rain, Wests ensuring the win with ten further points in the final minutes.

The Roosters will be disappointed not to take home a bonus point, with?Galu Taufale?(2) and Liam Townsend their only try scorers. Avalon's five points came courtesy of a Lemafa Tuluauau try. A return of the Waldrom brothers would surely be welcome for a club whose pride has been severely dented in '08.

After registering just one win in eleven outings during the Swindale Shield, Tawa finally found their try-scoring gear at William Jones Park in Wainuiomata. Whether it was the firm conditions under foot, the feel of the slanting June sun on their backs, or the stinging realisation that relegation threatens, Tawa reversed their stodgy first round loss at Lyndhurst to hammer Wainuiomata 48-14.
Three first-half tries saw the Tricolours go into the break with a handy 17-7 lead. A further five in the second 40 left the Green and Blacks miffed and bemused in front of a sprinkling of home fans.

Tawa looked sharp early, halfback Madsen skirting round the side of a ruck to slip a ball to his captain, Iona Fuatai, who made the first of several bruising runs. Hungry support play by hooker Matt Treeby and openside Matt Tamali'i set up excellent second phase ball for the visitors deep in Wainui's 22. When Madsen spun it right, it was just a matter of getting it through the hands to right wing Jon Masaga, who twisted in the tackle to go over. 5-0 it remained for the next twenty minutes, with the two sides trading missed penalty attempts, until Fuatai crossed for Tawa's second try. Coming openside off the back of a five-yard scrum, Fuatai bucked his way through two helpless tacklers to score handy to the posts. Madsen's conversion attempt was accurate, but the northerly had the final say, holding it up in front of the sticks.

A shoulder injury to Wainui halfback Corey Draper late in the first half forced a re-shuffle in the home side's backline, with Yogi Rogers coming into halfback and winger Jason Love moving to fullback. Sensing a chink, Tawa spoiled Wainui scrum ball more than once, gaining possession and territory in the process. With five to go in the half, lock Na Ioane took play to the advantage line to set up quick ball for Madsen. When Shaun Treeby took it at second-five, it was a matter of beating one, then stepping neatly off his right to score under the posts. A late try to Wainuiomata centre Isaiah Mamea after a fluffed 22 dropout by Tawa saw the home side back in with a sniff, the score 17-7 at half-time.

The second half was all Tawa, however. A flurry of renewed vigour from the Wainuiomata pack, with abrasive runs from loosies Raakai Maxwell and Genesis Mamea, ran out of puff when Jeff Makapelu scored for Tawa. After stealing Wainui scrum ball on the half and sending it right, Tawa sensed points, first-five-eighth Gene Johnston re-directing traffic to the left. A call of "Gene-o" from speedster Makapelu on the left wing led to a floated pass from Johnston for Makapelu to run onto. The winger made yards fast up the left, then chipped and regathered to score a try worthy of that other Jeff, Wilson, in the corner. Further tries to Masaga, Matt Treeby, Shaun Treeby and Damien Madsen, punctuated only by a pick-up and sprint by Wainui winger-cum-fullback Jason Love, saw the match close at 48-14.

For Tawa, Johnston was tidy at first-five, making valuable yardage with his boot all afternoon and even floating fantail-like to set up Shaun Treeby's second try. Fuatai rampaged all over the park, and wingers Masaga and Makapelu made the most of a firm track and sunshine. For Wainuiomata, hooker Niko Letufuga was impressive throwing into the lineouts, and even working a smart one-two with lock Glen Angus early on before igniting the home side's backline. Three missed penalties - two from in front - by Wainui pivot Michael Lealava'a in the first half proved vital, leaving his side ten points adrift at the break and turning round into a light but not insignificant wind. Michael Williams was imposing on the left wing, and Yogi Rogers worked hard out of position at halfback.

The honours board inside the clubrooms at William Jones Park spells out Wainuiomata's 2007 Hardham Cup success in gleaming gold letters. ‘On the day,' though, it was Tawa who looked the likelier prospect for 2008.

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