Big guns to square off in round two

In two mouthwatering early season Swindale Shield encounters, four of this year's favoured teams are in action against each other in this weekend's second round. In a repeat of last year's Jubilee Cup semi-finals, big first round winners Petone Randwick Meats host Northern United at the Petone Recreation Ground and Marist St. Pat's and Poneke square off at Evans Bay Park in one of Wellington club rugby's keenest rivalries.
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Both these games promise to be mighty clashes, given the results of last weekend's first round set of Swindale Shield matches, of last year's Jubilee Cup playoffs and the terrifically close recent history of results between these teams. Petone and Poneke last week indicated especially in their bonus point wins over Avalon and Norths respectively that there will be no easing themselves into the new season, with Petone running in 13 tries to overcome Avalon and Poneke playing with much purpose and passion to overcome a strong Norths line-up.
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For Poneke to win against MSP they will have to overcome MSP's now formidable home record at Evans Bay. The Red Machine has turned their home patch into a fortress over the past two seasons, remaining undefeated there in 16 games since the early rounds of the 2007 Swindale Shield. But if any team can end their run of home victories it is their near-neighbours Poneke. Last year Injuries and disruptions made for a slow start to their season, losing five of their first six matches, including a 28-6 defeat to MSP. But in typical gritty Poneke fashion they fought back to scrape into the Jubilee Cup round and make the top four. MSP won their semi-final 19-5, but they only sealed their win and spot in the final by a late try and a sideline conversion to points machine first five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili.
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Likewise, picking a winner between Norths and Poneke would take a brave guess. Norths will be smarting after their first-up loss to Poneke and desperate to roll their season into life ahead of their first home game at Porirua next week. Their Jubilee Cup semi-final the last time they met was also mighty close, only separated by some individual magic by teenaged fullback Buxton Popoali'I whose wonderful long-range try made the difference in his side's 18-5 win at Petone. Their head to head record over the past several seasons is also close, with both teams winning two each and drawing once from their previous five clashes and Norths ahead on nine wins to Petone's six in their past 16 clashes going back to 2002.
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Meanwhile in the other four round two Swindale Shield games, first round winners Oriental-Rongotai and Upper Hutt meet at Maidstone Park, narrow first round winners Hutt Old Boys Marist travel across the hill to play home team Wainuiomata, Tawa hosts Avalon at Lyndhurst Park in a traditionally open running encounter and Old Boys-University hosts the Wests Roosters at their old home ground of Nairnville Park. Note all Premier games kick-off at 3pm this weekend.
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This weekend also marks the first round of all grades of club rugby for the new season, following the start of Premier, Senior 1 and 2 and women's grades on last week's Gala Day. In a notable Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield this week, Rimutaka hosts Johnsonville at Maoribank Park at 3pm, with both teams likely to be vying for inclusion in the Hardham Cup later this year and hopeful promotion to the Swindale Shield in 2010.