Wainuiomata capture second Hardham Cup with 31-10 final win over Avalon

An ecstatic Wainuiomata won their second Hardman Cup since 2007 with a comfortable 31-10 victory over Avalon in the final at Westpac Stadium on Sunday. In an open game of rugby, Wainuiomata were the more organised and threatening team throughout and emerged deserving victors against gallant surprise finalists Avalon.

Waiuiomata scored the first try of the game after 15 minutes when athletic former New Zealand U20 lock Shahn Eru bustled over following a long period of attack deep inside Avalon territory.

Avalon's left winger Liddy Ah Wong threatened with the few chances he had and almost responded instantly to Eru's try. Gathering a defensive clearance at his own 10 metre line, Ah Wong ventured diagonally across field and then blasted into wide open space before being crunched by Michael Williams at the 22.

Sporadic breaks and a Rawhiti Smallman penalty was the best that Avalon could offer on attack in the first half though and shortly after they fell further behind. An overthrown Blake Gemmell lineout landed in the long firm hands of Shahn Eru who fended through a crowd of players and lumbered away 15 metres to score.

Eru became the second lock in three years to score two tires in a Hardman Cup final after Na Ioane achieved the feat for Tawa against Wainuiomata in 2008. Eru's twelfth try of the season also confirmed him as the top try scoring forward in Wellington club rugby in 2010.

Speaking of try scoring feats, Wainuiomata's most prolific try scorer in the last three seasons has been Jason Love. The wiry, speedster has scored 27 times since
2008 and shortly before halftime he made it 28 tries in the last three years when he crossed after some expansive attack saw him unmarked in the corner.

Up 17-3 at halftime, Wainuiomata invited Avalon back into the contest when openside flanker Greg Lealofi was sinbinned midway through a largely error-ridden second half. However a silly high tackle on Jason Love allowed Frae Wilson, who missed three kicks in the first half, to make it 20-3.

Another penalty made it 23-3 before Avalon finally breached the Wainuiomata defence at full-strength with 12 minutes to play.

Colossal prop Errol Weston received the ball near the line and used his large frame to bash over close to the posts. Smallman's conversion made it 23-10 raising hopes of an improbable comeback.

Frae Wilson dashed that prospect however when he fetched the ball from the base of a ruck and appeared set to make a typical snipping dart. Instead Wilson retreated a step and pounded a 35 metre dropped goal to make it 26-10.

The industrious Wainuiomata forwards had the last say of the game when an aggressive scrum saw Genesis Mamea barrel over. Final score: Wainuiomata 31-10.

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