HOBM, Tawa and Wainui shine brightest in round eight cracker

Hutt Old Boys Marist, Tawa and Wainuiomata emerged from the pack as significant winners in a cracking eighth round set of Swindale Shield matches on Saturday.

At the top of the table, HOBM created the boilover of the round and paved the way for a probable Northern United Swindale Shield victory in three weeks by sweeping aside Oriental-Rongotai 46-5 at the Hutt Recreation Ground. In the battle for the top eight, Tawa and Wainuiomata all but cemented their places for the upcoming Jubilee Cup round with respective bonus point wins over Poneke and the Wests Roosters. At Lyndhurst Park Tawa launched a blistering second half comeback to topple Poneke 42-35 while Wainui buried the Wests Roosters 47-3 away at the Cage.

In an action-packed round of matches, frontrunners Norths earned their eighth straight victory with a 59-10 win over Johnsonville at Helston Park, Marist St. Pat's continued their solid form to sink Old Boys University 33-11 at the Basin Reserve and a Cory Jane-inspired Upper Hutt went down in a thriller 23-24 to Petone at Maidstone Park.

With three rounds remaining, Norths (39 points) now have a nine-point lead at the top of the table to joint second placed HOBM and Ories (30). If Norths can fend off the Eagles' challenge in next week's ninth round the Swindale Shield title will likely be theirs with two weeks to spare.

Wainuiomata (seventh, on 20 points) and Tawa (eighth, on 19) occupy the last two Jubilee Cup places with Upper Hutt and OBU (13) both six points back in ninth equal and probably unlikely to catch these teams.

Tailenders the Wests Roosters and Johnsonville can plot their Hardham Cup courses, both too far back to finish any higher than ninth.

Hutt Old Boys Marist's 40-point win over Oriental-Rongotai was as surprising as it was emphatic. All fans expected a tough, close encounter between the previously second place Ories and fourth placed Eagles. But instead it was one-way traffic as the home side hit their straps early and kept their foot on the pedal throughout the entire match.

First five-eighth Dan Snee kicked two early penalties, before HOBM raced in and scored two tries to take a 19-0 lead. With Ories hooker Motu Matu'u in the sinbin, his opposite Keith Murray crossed and then winger Dakuninata went over after stand-in fullback Leka Tuapola ran back a kick in general play.

HOBM scored a third try to right wing Brad Hines to lead 24-0 at the break, before a quickfire double to halfback Josh Raulini midway through the second half put the result beyond doubt. Ories came back with a try to second five-eighth Johnny Sola, but HOBM had the last say with tries to Tuapola and skipper Polonga Pedro.

At Lyndhurst Park, Tawa earned a spectacular victory over Poneke after being seemingly down and out early in the second half. Trailing 7-18 at halftime and then 7-35 early in the second half, they came roaring back with five unanswered tries over the final quarter of the match.

The injection of fresh legs and an increasing confidence levels paved the way for a win that saw Tawa score 35 unanswered points and completely overrun their red and black visitors.

The introduction off the reserves bench of an entire new front row and blindside flanker and the shifting of New Zealand Sevens star Nigel Hunt from centre to halfback all at once in the 50th minute paid dividends for Tawa.

With a spring in their step, Tawa's dangerous backs roared into life and they scored two quick converted tries, then another, then another to suddenly be on level terms with Poneke - Eighteen year old winger George Tilsley racing in to score his second consecutive hat trick in the process.

Second five-eighth Shaun Treeby scored the match winning converted try under the posts with two minutes to play and Tilsley almost grabbed a fourth try on fulltime but was cut down in full flight.

At Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt were desperately unlucky not to take a similar victory against Petone, going down by a solitary point in a close game. Upper Hutt outscored Petone four tries to three, but couldn't convert any of their tries, including the vital conversion of returning replacement winger Greg Tweddle's second try at the end that would have won the game.

Fielding a backline containing Cory Jane at centre, Upper Hutt snapped at Petone's heels all game after the Villagers raced to a 7-0 after barely a minute's play when right wing Sam O'Leary crossed in the corner.

Upper Hutt replied in kind with a try to right wing Stuart Van Rensburg, Petone pulled clear again with their second converted try to veteran Hutt Valley halfback Mitchell Forbes, before Upper Hutt completed a whirlwind first half to score a length of the field team try to left wing Anthony Davidson to trail 13-14 at the break.

Petone pulled clear in the second half with a penalty to fullback Ben Aoina and a third try to openside flanker Matetaki Kafatolu to lead 24-13, ahead of the home side coming back with two tries of their own - but couldn't convert either of them. It could come back to haunt them over the next three weeks.

At the Basin Reserve, Marist St. Pat's safely booked their Jubilee Cup berth with their fifth straight win and probably consigned OBU to the Hardham Cup with a six tries to one win to retain the Jack Lamason Memorial Cup.

Halfback Anthony Bradshaw and left wing JP Tocker each scored two tries in the comfortable win as MSP pulled clear from an early 5-5 scoreline.

OBU left winger Will Mowbray's early try proved the students' only try as hooker Ged Robinson and Tocker followed up an early try to Bradshaw to take an 18-5 lead into halftime.

The match was held up for several minutes at halftime with veteran MSP prop Jonathan Hopgood having to be taken to hospital by ambulance for precautionary reasons with a neck injury.

After the break MSP scored three more tries, to Bradshaw, Tocker and Hopgood's replacement, U20 World Cup prop Jeff Allen. Lima Sopoaga kicked two penalties in response for OBU.

It was all one-way traffic at Helston Park for Norths who retained the Bert Barlow Trophy against a spirited but hapless Johnsonville. Norths were always in control and comfortably had their bonus point and a 26-3 lead by halftime.

Norths won by the margin of nine tries to one, with fullback Buxton Popoalii continuing his extraordinary strike rate with another four tries. Popoalii's try tally for 2010 is now 16 in eight games. Amazing. Right wing James So'oilao also continued his personal points scoring extravaganza with two tries and seven conversions for 24 points. So'oilao now has 155 points in eight games and is just 16 short of Ories first five-eighth James Proctor's record of 171 set in the first round last season.

For the second week running, the Club Weekly was Cage-bound where Piri Weepu inspired Wainuiomata to an impressive all-round team victory at Ian Galloway Park. The win edged them closer to an historic Jubilee Cup berth and consigned the Wests Roosters to their third straight Hardham Cup.

After a slow start, Wainuiomata upstaged the Wests Roosters on their Old Timers' Day with seven unanswered tries, including a withering four tries over the last 15 minutes of the first half that wrapped the result up by halftime.

First five-eighth Weepu was a key player in three of these four tries, having a direct hand in two and scoring the bonus point try himself on the 40-minute mark and then adding his third conversion to give his side a 26-3 at the break.

Turning with the strengthening northerly at their backs for the second spell, Wainuiomata added a fifth try almost straightaway. Then when Weepu handled twice in the build-up to their sixth try in the 55th minute the game was long past rescuing for the Roosters.

While Weepu had Wests on a string, much of the credit lay with Wainuiomata's hungry forward pack, led by hardworking lock Shahn Eru and openside flanker Greg Leolofi, and their enthusiastic, speedy outside backs. In contrast, Wests have issues across the park but especially let themselves down with some woeful handling and poor first-up tackling.

Scores were still locked at 0-0 after 25 minutes when Weepu unleashed a pinpoint cut out pass from an attacking lineout to flying fullback Tau Mamea, who burst through a hole and offloaded to right wing Michael Williams for the first try.

Wests replied with their only scoring play of the day, a penalty to first five-eighth Chris Brown, before Williams ran in his brace when Weepu handed him a pass in broken play near halfway and he threaded his way through traffic for a great long-range try.

A Wests dropped ball in midfield was scooped up by Tau Mamea who burst up the shortside and offloaded to his brother and second five-eighth Isaiah Mamea. Isaiah kicked ahead and forced Wests first five Brown to run the ball into touch in the corner. From the lineout, Wainuiomata hooker Blake Gemmell drove over in the corner and Weepu converted from the sideline for a 19-3 lead.

Wainuiomata swept on to attack with the last act of the first half and Weepu scored his try after some quick recycling inside the Roosters' 22.

Halfback Frae Wilson, who was sideline getting his head patched up throughout the scoring frenzy, re-entered the action and slipped through to score Wainuiomata's fifth try after the break. Wainuiomata kicked off and won the second half re-start and it was all too easy for Wilson with the line open.

Wainuiomata defended well over the next 15 minutes as Wests pushed hard inside their territory. Back on attack, Weepu then created half a chance for Isaiah Mamea on the right wing with a kick-pass, before quickly helping to swing play across to the other side of the field to flanker Daniel Olive and lock Eru and hand their sixth try for left wing Jason Love. Weepu's conversion near the fence made it 40-3

Wests fought on, but again Wainuiomata absorbed their pressure and almost scored a try with a length of the field breakout from under their sticks. This led to second five Isaiah Mamea strolling through for their final try at the end.

Senior 1

Northern United and Hutt Old Boys Marist continued their run at the top of the Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield title with bonus point wins, while defending champions MSP slipped up at the hands of Old Boys-University and have dropped from third to fourth.

Northern United made no race of in winning 44-7 against Paramata-Plimmerton in their Ivan Hargreaves Trophy match on the home side's Old Timers' Day at Ngatitoa Domain.

Hutt Old Boys Marist also earned their seventh win in eight matches by beating previously fifth placed Oriental-Rongotai 31-12 at home at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

Norths and Hutt continue to have a five-point lead at the top of the table to nearest challenger Avalon and meet next week at Porirua Park at 1.15pm in a possible title deciding match for the Harper Lock Shield spoils.

Avalon were also impressive in shutting out Stokes Valley 44-3 at Fraser Park to win the Roger Mildenhall Cup and inch closer to a Hardham Cup berth and a chance to earn re-promotion to next year's Swindale Shield.

MSP's 12-15 loss to OBU could prove decisive. In an intensifying battle to finish inside the top four and make the Hardham Cup round, MSP are joined in fourth on 25 points by Poneke who edged out Tawa 15-7 at Redwood Park.

In the round's other match, Petone grabbed their first win of the season when they beat Rimutaka 25-7 at Maoribank Park.

Senior 2

There's also no change to the top of the Senior 2 National Mutual Cup standings, with Norths still out in front followed by Avalon and Poneke.

Norths were expected to win comfortably against neighbours and eleventh placed Paremata-Plimmerton, but instead were pushed close and won 27-17.

Avalon were also made to work hard for their 23-15 victory over the Wellington Axemen, who were unlucky not to at least register a bonus point and who slipped from fourth to seventh.

Third placed Poneke grabbed a bonus point 44-19 win over Hutt Old Boys Marist to edge one point closer on the table to frontrunners Norths and Poneke.

Upper Hutt climbed two spots to fourth with their 22-3 win over Petone, who continue to prop up the table with eight straight losses.

In two mid-table clashes, Wainuiomata overcame the Wests Roosters 34-17 and MSP defeated OBU 20-14.

In the U21 Divison 1 grade for the Paris Memorial Trophy, Petone suffered their first loss in five games and also lost their position at the top of the points table. Petone went down 19-18 to MSP, who themselves had lost by a solitary point to OBU the week before.

With four wins and a draw in five games, Norths are the new leaders after defeating Upper Hutt 38-5 and earning a four-try bonus point in doing so.

In two other U21 matches, HOBM smoked OBU 48-9 and Ories edged out Poneke 24-19 to keep Poneke winless.