MSP show fighting qualities against Norths

Marist St. Pat's have shot into Jubilee Cup contention with a fighting 19-12 win over a star-studded Northern United at Evans Bay Park in round five on Saturday.

In the definitive clash of the year for them, MSP played with all the passion and determination required to keep their hands of the Jubilee Cup title this year, turning around a comprehensive defeat to Norths in the last round of the Swindale Shield just five weeks ago with a match-winning defensive effort and keeping themselves firmly in semi-final contention.

MSP's win sees them in a five-way battle for the top four behind leaders Petone with just two rounds to play ahead of the 2009 playoffs, after round five wins also for Petone, Poneke and Oriental-Rongotai.

Petone beat Upper Hutt 30-8 at Maidstone Park, Poneke enjoyed a 65-5 bonus point win over Tawa at Kilbirnie Park, and completing the triangle of Jubilee Cup excitement in the eastern suburbs, Ories overcame Hutt Old Boys Marist 22-6 at the Polo Ground.

The points table sees Petone on 19 points lead by two points to second placed Poneke on 17 and then a three-point gap to MSP, Ories and Norths all on 14 points.

HOBM are the best of the rest on 7 points, and can still in theory make the semi-finals with two bonus point wins and other results going their way, while Upper Hutt and Tawa will be playing for pride only over the final fortnight of the round-robin.

At Evans Bay, MSP tackled themselves to a standstill in the second half as Norths threw everything at them including their powerful reserves bench that included Vodafone Wellington Lions lock Chris Middleton and returning outside back Buxton Popoali'i, back after a long layoff with a knee injury.

MSP had sensationally scored a try to go 19-0 up, after a Norths mistake at the back and an attacking scrum, to centre Chris Slade which outstanding first five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili had converted, before Norths frantically came back at them over the last 20 minutes.

But the Porirua side were instead met by an impregnable wall of scarlet defence and were unable to break through until it was almost too late and then only with MSP a man down in the backs with Slade in the sinbin, centre Robbie Fruean and Popoali'i combining for a sweeping try from near halfway.

With the result decided, Popoali'i scored again on fulltime in the opposite corner and converted his own try to at least give his side a bonus point out of what had been an absorbing contest that had earlier seen Fili kick two dropped goals and two penalties for a 12-0 lead ahead of Slade's try.

Across the road at Kilbirnie Park it was all one-way traffic for the home side Poneke, turning in a workmanlike performance to score five first half tries and lead Tawa 32-0 at the interval.

Tawa, who made nine changes to their listed starting XV, were unable to contain Poneke's fast-running outside backs headed by powerful right wing Marika Kau and left wing Evan Belford in his 150^th Premier game for the club.

Belford led the red and blacks on to the field in dry, cold conditions and fittingly scored the first try after a Poneke breakout and chip and chase by first five-eighth Sam Rasch behind the defence.

Kau scored the second try in the 20^th minute in the right hand corner after a blindside scrum move, while lock Cam Garvie and Kau (again) scored in the same corner. Kau's second and Poneke's bonus point score was created from quick ball from an attacking lineout on the other side of the field and some great support play by openside Mase Leuluniu on the flanks.

Fullback Ben Huntley crossed on halftime, while Poneke added?five more tries after the break including a second try to Belford.

Ories centre Paula Kinikinilau probably ended HOBM's semi-final hopes with two tries in the first half that put his side ahead 12-6 at the interval in their match in Miramar.

Kinikinilau crossed under the posts for a converted try after a period of sustained pressure for a 7-3 advantage, while he ran on to a grubber kick put through by second five-eighth Johnny Sola for his brace soon after.

The clincher was then scored by flanker Paul Halafihi after the break, first five-eighth James Proctor adding the extras and Ories taking a match winning 19-6 lead.

Petone pulled away from Upper Hutt for a bonus point win, No. 8 Shaun Mahoney and right wing Willie Moala each scoring two tries in the five tries to one victory for the competition leaders.

Petone were made to work hard for their win against the competitive Upper Hutt team who were the only side to beat them in the Swindale Shield, leading 15-0 early but Upper Hutt coming back and closing the gap with a try to flanker Chris Gorrie.

Fullback Jason Woodwood then kicked a penalty to close the deficit to 15-8, before recent Petone Premier centurion Moala scored his brace to create more breathing space for his side and the Villlagers further edged ahead for their win.

The big news for the Petone club this past week wasn't on the field but off it, with the sad passing of popular club member Sautiaimalie Gerrard ‘Fuki' Lafituana'i, from a heart attack. Fuki was a past Petone Senior 2 player and was heavily involved in Petone's women's team in 2009. All Petone teams observed a minute's silence in honour of the well-liked and respected Fuki.

Hardham Cup

As expected Hurricanes skipper and All Blacks No. 8 Rodney So'oialo turned out for his Wests Roosters team in the Hardham Cup, helping Wests to a 17-3 win over a tenacious Poneke B side on the backblocks of Kilbirnie Park.

So'oialo ran around for 80 minutes and made some tackles and some ball carries, but he was clearly saving himself physically for next week's Test against Australia.

He also wasn't helped by the quality of the game he was part of, his side thoroughly unconvincing against a well-drilled and organised Poneke second fifteen whose outstanding defence was the other feature of the match.??

The Roosters only led 3-0 for most of the first half, before second five eighth Richard Henderson finally scored in the 35^th minute moments after missing a try in the right hand corner after an overlap was created following a scything run in broken play by left wing Francisco Fido.

Their supporters then had to wait almost the entire second half before they scored again, Fido chipping ahead and regathering and scoring a second converted try that made their victory appear more comfortable.

But it was far from easy for Wests, who simply couldn't deconstruct Poneke's defence, even with Poneke twice spending 10 minutes reduced to 14 players through yellow cards.

Nevertheless, Wests are probably now safe from the feared relegation zone, with the big news of the fifth round of the Hardham Cup being Johnsonville's return to Premier rugby in 2010 all but assured at the likely expense of Avalon.

Swindale Shield rugby looks set to return to Helston Park next year, following Johnsonville's 19-12 victory over MSP B at home in round five, Johnsonville now promoted unless they choke in their last two games and Avalon win their last two games and earn a bonus point in one of them. Avalon's last two games are against Johnsonville and leaders Old Boys-University.

Johnsonville's 7-point win over MSP also did their playoff rivals Wests and Wainui a favour, who have both now leapt ahead of potential spoilers MSP into the semi-final positions - despite Wainuiomata losing to leaders Old Boys-University at the Basin Reserve.

OBU pulled clear from Wainuiomata after scores were locked up at 9-9 in the second half, with a converted try to left wing Troy Bramley the difference after OBU halfback Sam Hall and Wainuiomata fullback Jason Love had each kicked four penalties. OBU are now unbeaten after five matches and they can start preparing for the semi-finals.

In the other game of the round at Fraser Park, Avalon beat Rimutaka in an extremely hard fought game. Avalon right wing Toloao Lauama and Rimutaka No. 8 Martin Asiata scored the game's only two tries but Avalon fullback Joyner Keys kicked two penalties to clinch his side their second victory of the round.

The defeat for Rimutaka ends their tilt at promotion to the Premier ranks next year, fighting it out with Poneke for the minor places over the remaining two weeks.

Other Grades

Northern United finished top of the pops at the end of the round-robin of the Premier Women's Victoria Tavern Trophy and will host fourth placed qualifier Stokes Valley in one semi-final next week, while second placed Eketahuna will entertain third placed Johnsonville in the other.

Norths finished the five-week round robin unbeaten after Stokes Valley defaulted to them in the last round, perhaps keeping their cards up their sleeves in readiness for what would have been a return bout next week.

Ories were the only team that could have affected the top four in the women's grade if they had beaten Eketahuna by a bonus point margin, but instead it was Eketahuna doing the bulk of the scoring in winning 43-10.

In the other match, Johnsonville warmed up for their clash next week with Eketahuna with a 49-0 slaying of OBU.

Meanwhile Petone continue to lead the Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup and it's a cracking pace too, the Villagers accounting for Upper Hutt 60-5 to remain unbeaten and hold a four-point lead at the top of the table to second placed Ories.

Ories beat HOBM 13-5 in the big match of the Senior 1 round between the previous second and third placed teams. The defeat for HOBM sees them slip to fourth, overtaken by Stokes Valley who beat MSP 29-5 in their Evans Bay Park clash.

The Wellington Axemen have grabbed a two-point lead in the Senior 2 HD Morgan Memorial Trophy, toppling previous joint leaders Paremata-Plimmerton 35-19.

The Axemen have also moved two points clear at the top of Wainuiomata who were upset 29-17 by mid-table Northern United in their match.

The Senior 2 grade is one to watch, with five teams separated by just three points, after wins also for fourth placed OBU over Johnsonville 49-0 and fifth placed Poneke over Wests 43-22.

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