Joy for HOBM and Norths; Upper Hutt, Tawa, Wests and Avalon miss out in third round scorcher

For Hutt Old Boys Marist and Northern United there was much to celebrate on Saturday night after they had each grabbed significant Swindale Shield wins. But not so for Upper Hutt, Tawa, Avalon and Wests who each let chances for vital competition points slip from their grasps at the end of their matches in third round action that was played in beautiful sunshine and perfect conditions.

Hutt Old Boys Marist grabbed a popular win for their Hutt Recreation Ground supporters in beating cross-river rivals Petone 27-20 and winning back the McBain Shield after four straight losses for this interclub trophy, while Norths signaled an ominous warning for the rest of the competition with their clinical 48-10 demolition of fellow heavyweights Marist St. Pat's away at Evans Bay Park. ?

There was heartbreak for Upper Hutt who went down to Oriental Rongotai in the closing stages of their match at home at Maidstone Park. Upper Hutt conceded a late try and conversion from the sideline to lose 25-27.

Tawa, Avalon and the Wests Roosters will rue missed opportunities for all-important competition points taken from their games.

At William Jones Park, Tawa lost 32-35 to Wainuiomata but missed a penalty kick in front of the posts on fulltime that would have given them a draw.

At Fraser Park, Avalon showed they won't be easy beats this year in their 18-29 to last year's beaten Jubilee Cup finalists Poneke. Avalon, who had? trailed just 6-10 at halftime and 11-13 early in the second half, were on track for at least a bonus point for their efforts but were denied on fulltime when Poneke second five-eighth Tolly Auva'a scored their third try and extended the margin beyond seven points.

At Nairnville Park, it was a similar story for the beleaguered Wests Roosters who had fought back from a 19-point deficit to close to seven points against Old Boys University only for the students to score again at the end and win 27-15.

There were also a couple of close results in the lower grades, notably MSP's hard fought 16-13 victory over Norths in the Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield at Evans Bay Park in the curtain raiser to the main event. MSP first five-eighth Ryan Setephano danced through Norths' defence to score the match winning try to keep MSP unbeaten after three weeks.

Also unbeaten in the Harper Lock Shield are Poneke and HOBM - Poneke defeating Stokes Valley 46-5 and HOBM holding on to beat Petone 31-22 in the curtain raiser to the McBain Shield match.

Elsewhere in Senior 1, OBU held off recently relegated Johnsonville 26-22 at Nairnville Park, Paramata-Plimmerton grabbed their first win of the season in style by beating Tawa 52-22 at Ngatitoa Domain and Rimutaka bounced back from their one-point defeat to Petone last week with a 54-14 smouldering of Ories.

In the Senior 2 National Mutual Cup, there was one close result, one default and four comfortable victories in the six matches.

The close result saw the previously winless Wellington Axemen overcome the previously unbeaten Upper Hutt 25-18 at Hataitai Park. Norths' top team might be a menacing machine but their third XV was a no show and defaulted to MSP, handing the maximum competition points to MSP.

At Newlands Park, OBU ran through Wests 49-0, at the Hutt Recreation Ground, the home side brought up an even half century against Petone in prevailing 50-0, at William Jones Park, Wainuiomata beat Johnsonville 42-19 and at Fraser Park, Avalon inflicted a 42-22 defeat on Poneke.

In the Swindale Shield, if Wellington club rugby fans weren't convinced of Norths' credentials for a three-peat of first round titles they will be now, following their third humbling of their opposition in as many weeks.

This time it was MSP, the last side to win three Swindale Shields in a row between 1994-96, and on their home patch. Fielding a strong side to challenge Norths including the king of Evans Bay Park Fa'atonu Fili who has delayed his trip to Japan due to the recent earthquakes there, were simply no match for Norths' power, pace and sheer audacity on the counterattack.

Norths created tremors of the earth of their own in the second half, adding to a 20-0 lead at the break with four further tries to put the result beyond doubt.

It had been close early on and Norths had only led 6-0 after 30 minutes, before scoring two converted tries late in the first half, including one on halftime, to extend their advantage. The first was scored by openside flanker Josh Hunt, in support of a break by second five-eighth and 2010 New Zealand Secondary Schools' halfback TJ Perenara, while the second was created from a turnover and scored by veteran wing Peato Lafaele following up his own kick and chase.

MSP narrowed the deficit to 20-5 early in the second half when 2010 New Zealand U20 prop Jeff Allen crashed over on the shoulder of first five-eighth Fili following an attacking lineout and concerted pressure.

But Norths fullback James So'oialo caught MSP napping by taking a quick tap penalty instead of kicking for goal, leading to their third try through the forwards and a 27-5 advantage. Perenara scored their bonus point try from another turnover to make it 34-5 and the game was in the bag. MSP replied through left wing Jope Nabou, but Norths answered with two more seven pointers.

At the Hutt Recreation Ground, Hutt Old Boys Marist bagged a vitally important win to get their season back on track following two consecutive losses to Norths and Ories.

The Eagles played with more hunger and composure than Petone. They also defended well, particularly later in the second half when a possible comeback win was on the cards.

Both sides contributed to a high paced, expansive game, but it was HOBM that was the more accurate of the two, and this was summed up in the decisive try of the game that saw HOBM replacement?left wing Eroni Ekevati pounce on a Petone dropped ball from a kick-off and sprint through to score in the corner.

At the time, Petone halfback Sam Hall had just slammed a long-range penalty to close the score to 19-10 and the game was on tenderhooks. But Petone's error in receiving the next kick-off and HOBM's resulting try put them ahead 24-10 and Petone were now two converted tries behind.

Led by busy No. 8 Thomas Benson, props Simon Malaelu and Taniella Raikubula and experienced blindside Polonga Pedro, HOBM were super competititve in the forward exchanges. Their backs were electric on attack and their first raid into Petone's 22 in the 10^th minute immediately paid dividends when they spread the ball across both sides of the field and centre Jamie Ross hit fullback Steve Honey with a lovely long pass and he glided in to score out wide.

A Honey stab kick into the same far corner led to their second try that saw them go 12-0 up after 30 minutes. Petone lock Brad Shields did well to get back in cover defence but he was bundled into touch, forcing an attacking lneout for HOBM. Petone slapped the lineout back on their own side, but untidily, and Benson pounced on the loose ball and crashed through to score.

Petone had themselves spent a long time in the attacking zone for no reward. After several phases they finally stretched HOBM's defence out wide and the athletic Shields stepped inside his marker and galloped 20 metres to for a converted try in reply to make it 12-7 at halftime.

The Eagles started the second spell with purpose and were soon rewarded when tighthead prop Raikubula punched over for a seven-pointer to make it 19-7.

Petone added a penalty, but HOBM responded immediately through Ekevati. Both teams then traded penalties and HOBM led 27-13 after 65 minutes.

Aided by fresh legs, including a new first five-eighth on the field in Hayden Cripps, Petone upped their tempo but the Eagles' defence was up to the task. Eventually Petone scored again, through Cripps who burst through close to the action following an attacking lineout drive. Hall's conversion made it 27-20, but the clock was ticking down and the home side was able to maintain territory and hold on until referee Noble-Campbell blew fulltime.

Late in the game at Maidstone Park, Ories first five-eighth Trevor Marama flew through a gap and combined with mobile locks Dan Reddish and Vailele Tauloa to tie the score up and create a winning chance against Upper Hutt. Maramara, who missed several kicks during the game, then dramatically nailed the sideline conversion in front of a packed grandstand and Ories won their third game on the trot.

Earlier in the second half, Upper Hutt fullback Jason Woodward rejected an easy penalty kick and instead took a quick tap to score the home side's third try. This try put Upper Hutt ahead 25-8 and Ories looked gone.

However a resilient comeback produced a lucky escape. Dan Reddish sparked the revival when he cantered through a large hole to reduce the deficit to 10. The arrival of speedy substitute

Andre Pakau added some much needed dazzle to the Ories backline. After being denied for an off the ball indiscretion by a teammate, Pakau made a 50 metre break which resulted in a try to right wing Ambrose Curtis to close the deficit to 25-20.

Earlier, despite some heat from the Ories scrum the hustle of the small Upper Hutt forwards had earned the home side a deserved lead. James Wall is not the tallest lock in the competition but one of its most abrasive and Campbell Beckett was tireless at No. 8.

Unlike Upper Hutt, Wainuiomata kept their noses in front of Tawa and held on for their first win of the 2011 season.

Both sides set out to play positive rugby and made their intentions clear early. Wainuiomata scored first through left wing Teru Time for a 7-0 lead. Tawa hit back through fullback Randall Bishop, but Time scored again to give his side a 15-10 lead. With lock James Saolele cooling off in the sin bin, Tawa kicked their second penalty of the half and went into halftime trailing by just 13-15.

But Wainuiomata broke the game open early in the second spell through two tries to substitutes Jason Love and Matt Sole and they now led 25-13.

Both sides crossed again, including a try to Salolele making up for his earlier 10-minute spell, and Wainuiomata extended their lead to 32-18. Two converted tries to Tawa, the second their bonus point try, saw them come right back and set up a tense finish. Halfback Frae Wilson nudged Wainuiomata's score ahead by three, but Tawa first five-eighth Phillip Finau was unable to tie the scores up at the end and Wainuiomata won the Chris Stirling Cup for the first time.

Still in the Hutt Valley, Poneke faced a gritty Avalon and only sealed their victory late in the match when Tolly Auva'a crossed at the end. Avalon kept in touch throughout and trailed just 16-11 and 24-18 at various stages in the second half, only for Poneke to deny them a bonus point at the end.

Avalon had led 6-0 early through a penalty to first five-eighth Stephen Cross and a long-range dropped goal to Joyner Keys, before Poneke got ahead through a Jeremy Te Huia penalty and a converted try to openside flanker Masefau Leuluniu in his 100^th Premier game. This made it 10-6 to Poneke at halftime.

The run of play remained tight after the interval and it took two penalties to Te Huia to keep Poneke in front after Keys scored the game's second try for Avalon. No. 8 Misipalauni Moananu crossed for Poneke's second try and Te Huia kicked his fourth penalty, but Avalon remained in the hunt when left wing Falani Sanele found the tryline.

OBU and Wests met for the Omar Cup at the current home of the students and former home of the Roosters Nairnville Park.

Wests, boosted by overseas professionals Kane Thompson and Ace Tiatia, put up gallant fight against OBU, who had Southland Ranfurly Shield winner Seminar Manu in their midfield.

OBU led 22-3 at the end of a first half that also featured three sinbinnings - Tiatia, Thompson and OBU No. 8 Steve Akaula - But OBU also scored three tries. Skipper and hooker Dylan Johnson burrowed over from a forwards drive, openside flanker Andrew Smith scored in support of a piercing run by fullback Will Browbray, and Mowbray scored himself right on halftime.

However, Wests came back in the second spell to 22-15 behind through tries to Koju Shigeeda and Tiatia and a tight finish was shaping up until OBU left wing Tim Mowbray scored their bonus point try, which also denied the Roosters any points.