McBain Shield clash top billing in fourth round

One of the Hutt Valley's keenest sporting rivalries resumes this weekend when Petone and Hutt Old Boys Marist square off for their annual McBain Shield contest at the Petone Recreation Ground.

First played for in 1935 and with both clubs celebrating major milestones in their histories this year, the McBain Shield is one trophy that each will covet for their trophy cabinets in 2010. Wellington's third oldest rugby club Petone celebrates its 125th anniversary in a fortnight's time, while HOBM holds its centenary celebrations on the weekend of 25, 26 and 27 June.

Both teams occupy spots near the top of the Swindale Shield points table after three weeks and can enter this clash with some confidence. Despite losing their first match of the season to a Weepu led Wainuiomata last week, HOBM were typically fast out of the blocks with earlier bonus point wins against Upper Hutt and the Wests Roosters. Petone, who drew with Old Boys-University and Tawa in the first two weeks, were convincing in their win over Johnsonville last week.

Petone has generally dominated this match throughout much of its history in winning the annual contest 57 times, including the last three in a row. Of the last seven at Premier level since HOBM's promotion back up from Senior 1 in 2003, HOBM have won three and Petone four. Three of these seven recent Premier matches were decided by just two or three point margins - these being ?HOBM's win in 2003 by 22-20 and Petone's wins in 2005 by 25-23 and in 2008 by 16-13. Last year's clash at the Hutt Recreation Ground saw Petone win 15-0.

In other games this ANZAC Day Weekend, Northern United will be out to continue their imperious early season form against Wainuiomata at William Jones Park for the Alf Keating Memorial Trophy, having so far overrun Marist St. Pat's, Upper Hutt and the Wests Roosters. A fourth successive bonus point win for Norths would represent the first instance in at least eight seasons (since Club Weekly records began) of the competition leader being on maximum points (20) after the first month of play. However opposition supporters can point to the fact that at least in the last seven seasons the leader after four weeks has gone on to the win the Swindale Shield on just one occasion (Norths in 2006). Norths' campaign this year also generally gets tougher with several big matches for them still to win if they are to take out their fifth first round title since 2003.

Having lost their opening three matches to Norths, Poneke and Oriental-Rongotai, Marist St. Pat's need a spark against fellow winless side Upper Hutt at Maidstone Park. Despite losing their first three games, the run of play in two of Upper Hutt's defeats has been closer than the final result suggested and if they can hold off MSP in the forward exchanges and continue their positive attacking game then this could be another tough afternoon out for the defending Jubilee Cup champions.

Johnsonville's dream of playing in the Jubilee Cup later in the season will stay alive if they can overcome Old Boys-University just up the road at Nairnville Park. Johnsonville have competed admirably in their opening three matches without success, but meet a confident OBU outfit who showed good form last week in their 20-point win over Tawa. This is also OBU's second and final match at their suburban enclave at Nairnville Park before moving operations to the Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve for their remaining home matches.

It's Old Timers' Day at Lyndhurst Park, where the home side Tawa will be keen to get their promising start to the season back on track against Oriental-Rongotai. With two wins from three this year including last week's come-from-behind win 33-32 win over MSP, Ories can consolidate their high table position if they can grab their first away win of the year.

Along with Norths, Poneke are unbeaten after three weeks and will want to keep their record intact when they venture to Ian Galloway Park to tackle the Wests Roosters on their home patch. Stung by the Norths juggernaut, the Roosters will want to shore their defence back up and get stuck in up front to defeat their red and black visitors on the occasion of their coach Richard Watt's 100^th game in charge.

The Cederwall Memorial Cup is also on the line between Poneke and Wests this weekend. Poneke are the current holders of this Cup that is decided by the results across the top three grades, in this case Premier, Senior 2 and Presidents.

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The Cederwall Cup is in honour of the Cederwall sporting family of dad Don (Harry) and three sons Brian, Grant and Don (deceased), all Wellington representative or Wellington B players as well as Wellington cricket representatives, who played their rugby for Poneke and Athletic from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. Grant is the current assistant coach of Poneke

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In Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield action this week, early leaders Oriental-Rongotai travel to Lyndhurst Park to play Tawa at 1.15pm in the match of the round. Ories and Tawa are one of six teams out of 12 who have won two out of their opening three games and the outcome of this will see the winner steal a march on many of the other contenders.

Second placed Old Boys-University can cement their Senior 1 title credentials with victory over Paremata-Plimmerton who are only team yet to win, at Nairnville Park at 1.15pm.

Third placed Hutt Old Boys Marist meet Petone who grabbed their first win of the season against Paremata-Plimmerton last week, Avalon host Poneke at Fraser Park at 3pm after suffering their first defeat of 2010 to Norths last week, while Stokes Valley hosts Norths at Delaney Park at 3pm and Rimutake entertain MSP at Maoribank Park at 3pm on their Old Timers' Day.

Elsewhere, National Mutual Cup Senior 2 leaders Old Boys-University are chasing their fourth consecutive win? of the year when they face Paremata-Plimmerton at Martin Luckie Park at 1.15pm.

OBU overcame Hutt Old Boys Marist last week by two points, who are after their third win against Wellington at the Hutt Recreation Ground at 1.15pm.

In other Senior 2 games, Poneke play the Wests Roosters at Ian Galloway Park at 1.15pm after being defaulted to by Upper Hutt last week, Upper Hutt host MSP at Maidstone Park at 1.15pm, Wainuiomata and Norths meet at William Jones Park at 1.15pm and Petone chase their first win against Avalon at home at 1.15pm.

Two defaults meant just one Fleurs Trophy Women's Premier match taking place last week. In the three scheduled matches in round four, Petone and Eketahuna meet at the Petone Rec, MSP and Norths play at Evans Bay Park and Stokes Valley host Wainuiomata at Delaney Park. All women's matches are at 11.30am. Old Boys-University has the bye.