Mamea brothers fire Wainuomata to historic win at Evans Bay Park

It was a Mamea triple act at Evans Bay Park on Saturday with the brothers, wing Isaiah, midfielder Tau and blindside flanker Genesis, helping to fire Wainuiomata to an emphatic 44-27 win over Marist St. Pat's and to a spot in the Jubilee Cup round starting in a fortnight.

The Mameas and openside flanker Greg Leolofi, continuing his hot 2011 club rugby form, were at the heart of the six tries to four win for the green and blacks to seal a historic spot in the top eight in their fifth season of trying since earning re-promotion to the Premier grade at the end of 2006.

With a four point buffer to current joint eighth placed MSP and Old Boys-University, Wainuiomata can't miss out on a Jubilee Cup place from here, as MSP and OBU meet in next week's final round and will cancel each other out.

Two of the Mamea brothers, Isaiah (2) and Tau scored tries, as did Leolofi, while the third brother Genesis was a powerhouse throughout as Wainuiomata also earned their first ever win over MSP in the modern era in five attempts.

The win for Wainuomata lifted them to sixth and they could conceivably finish as high as third behind champions Norths and either Poneke or Oriental-Rongotai, who meet in the last round, if they beat HOBM next week and Petone are sunk by Norths.

In a terrific weekend for the Wainuiomata club, their Senior 2 side also beat MSP, 23-14, and they are top of what's been an evenly contested National Mutual Cup points table with one round to go.

At the same time, the big loss for MSP has put their Jubilee Cup spot in jeopardy and they will miss out on the top eight if they lose to Old Boys-University in next week's final round and seventh placed Upper Hutt beats the eleventh placed the Wests Roosters.

Similarly, OBU will also be fighting for their place in the top eight, making their Hurricanes - Lions curtain raiser next week at Nairnville Park a real epic, one that could also have reverberations down the grades as both these clubs' Senior 1 sides are still in the equation to make the Hardham Cup.

OBU kept themselves in with a chance by beating Oriental-Rongotai 27-24 in a thriller at the Hawkins Basin Reserve, the students coming back to pip Ories with a late try and conversion after trailing 24-20

Despite losing at the end, bonus points have kept Ories in second place and they are officially the second team behind Norths to have qualified for the Jubilee Cup no matter what happens next week, courtesy of their five point buffer to joint eighth place Upper Hutt and MSP and their wins earlier in the round-robin over these two clubs (decided on the who beat who scenario).

Upper Hutt gave themselves every chance to qualify for the Jubilee Cup round next week when they play Wests with a convincing 49-25 win over Avalon at Fraser Park.

While not official until next week, Hutt Old Boys Marist should be safely through to the Jubilee Cup round next week after comfortably beating the Wests Roosters 47-27 at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

Despite going down to Tawa 15-16 courtesy of an injury time penalty to the home side's fullback Randall Bishop, Petone too should be safely through to the Jubilee Cup round.

The same goes for Poneke, despite losing to champions Northern United 18-3 and thus failing to pick up any competition points in their match at Porirua Park.

The Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield is as enthralling as the Swindale Shield. With one round to play.

Hutt Old Boys Marist are the new champions having defeated Johnsonville 24-22 and opened up a five point buffer at the top of the table to second placed Petone. But even if they take no points from their last round encounter with ninth placed Paremata-Plimmerton and Petone beats third placed Norths with a bonus point they will still win thanks to their 31-22 win over Petone back in round three.

Below second placed Petone on 37 points are three teams all on 34 and a further two still in the mix to make the Hardham Cup. This means that next week six teams are still in the mix chasing three available spots for the Hardham Cup.

Additonally, either sixth placed OBU or seventh placed MSP could also make it but be turned away at the gates if their top side misses out on the Jubilee Cup round.

In other penultimate round Harper Lock Shield matches, Petone beat Tawa 47-7, MSP beat Paremata-Plimmerton 52-12, OBU beat Ories 46-19 and Rimutaka beat Stokes Valley 34-12 for the Snow Buchanan Memorial Trophy. In a much closer affair, Poneke pipped Norths 14-12 away at Porirua Park.

In the National Mutual Cup, Wainuiomata will take the title next week if they win their final round match in a virtual last round final against second placed Hutt Old Boys Marist, after beating MSP 23-14 in round 10. HOBM, who beat the Wests Roosters 34-31, will need to score four tries and beat HOBM to add the first round Senior 2 title to the Senior 1 trophy they have won with a week to spare.

Other National Mutual Cup results on Saturday saw Avalon beat Upper Hutt 33-19, Petone overcome Johnsonville 34-14, Poneke pip Norths 24-20 and the Wellington Axemen chop OBU 20-17 in another close result.

Back in the Swindale Shield result of the round, Wainuiomata were always in control of their match against Marist St. Pat's, scoring three first half tries and skipping to a 20-8 halftime lead.

First five-eighth Earl Va'a kicked an early penalty and right wing Tau Mamea scored a try to see them go 8-0 up, before MSP replied with a try to right wing Ryan Setefano after a clean break by openside flanker Sio Tuia.

Wainuiomata went further ahead when left wing Michael Williams crossed for his first try, while Isaiah Mamea scored his first try before halftime.

The green and black tide flowed early in the second half when Blindside Genesis Mamea combined with openside Greg Lealofi to score their fourth and bonus point try and super sub Piri Weepu, a handy addition to the playing 22, converted to take their lead to 27-8 with half an hour still to play.

MSP hit back with a converted penalty try, before Isaiah Mamea scored his brace. Two more tries to Lealofi and to Williams, his second, extended their lead to 41-15 and MSP had conceded 40 points for the fourth time this season.

MSP centre Hamish Baird and substitute prop Arden David each scored tries to mitigate the damage and also see MSP finish with four tries - the bonus point gained from this potentially crucial in the last round.

Through the tunnel at the Basin Reserve, MSP's opponent in the last round do or die encounter OBU came back to beat Ories in a match that saw Ories twice come back to take the lead.

OBU had gone 13-0 up when a cross kick by second five-eighth Seminar Manu had presented a try to hooker Dylan Johnson.

But Ories came roaring back into the match and scored two quickfire converted tries, to centre Paulo Aukuso and left wing Ambrose Curtis, for a 14-13 lead.

Ories protected this lead early in the second half and were pressing hard for more points when OBU right wing Will Mowbray intercepted a pass and took off down the other end of the field. First five-eighth Mike Newell backed up in support and he scored and converted a try to put them ahead 20-14.

But, with Julian Savea on the park since halftime and their new weapon Ma'a Nonu now stripped and? off the bench, the Miramar side weren't lying down. They scored twice more - to second five-eighth Paula Kinikinilau and replacement loosie Henk du Toit - and now held a 25-20 lead.

Neither of these tries was able to be converted and the students read their playbook once more and came up with a try to prop Mitch Andrews to go ahead 26-25. Newell then calmly stepped up and slotted the? conversion to add the icing on the cake.

It was similar grandstand finish at Lyndhurst Park where Tawa's fans were finally able to celebrate success in a close game, fullback Randall Bishop the hero by kicking the match winning penalty on fulltime to see his side pip Petone 16-15.

The left footed Bishop stepped up to take the winning kick 25 metres out and 15 metres in from the right hand touchline. It never looked like missing as his team mates and many supporters erupted with delight and Petone were left shaking their heads.

The Villagers thought they had snatched victory just two minutes earlier when Hurricanes first five-eighth Daniel Kirkpatrick had nailed a 35 metre dropped goal in front of the uprights to put his side ahead 15-13.

An error ridden, low scoring match had all unfolded in the final 15 minutes of play with Tawa clinging to a 10-5 lead that had remained unchanged since the 25^th minute. First, Petone right wing Belgium Tutagaloa scored a try in the corner from a blindside scrum move and Kirkpatrick converted from the right hand touchline to put the Villagers ahead 12-10.

This was followed by a Bishop penalty that went in off the upright after a galloping run up into Petone's 22 by openside flanker TJ Fermanis. Advantage Tawa 13-12.

Petone dug deep and swept back into Tawa's end of the field, searching for a break in midfield or a hole through the forwards. Tawa's defence held though, as it had all game, as second five-eighth Hayden Cripps lined up a dropped kick. It missed, but from another raid Cripps handed the ball to Kirkpatrick who sent his droppie attempt through the poles. But Tawa had the last say, Bishop calmly kicking them back into the lead at the death and referee Dickson, in his 100^th premier game, blew for fulltime.

Earlier, the tone of the first hour was summed up with the very first act of the match that saw Tawa's kick-off go dead in goal. With both sides missing key forwards an often scrappy contest developed.

Tawa started strongly, Bishop kicking an early penalty and then right wing Maka Ioane chasing up a clever centring grubber kick by halfback Michael Teofilo after he made a break into space from a ruck on halfway. This was converted and Tawa led 10-0.

This try came with Petone a man down in the sin bin, with blindside Hayden O'Toole shown yellow for a professional foul, and after Tawa's blindside Filisione Kolomatangi had seemingly blown a certain try with the line open after he had done great work by charging down a clearing Petone box kick and Tawa hooker Thomas George had set sail.

A mistake in the Tawa backs on defence handed Cripps a try in the corner. Tawa throwing a couple of ragged passes from a defensive lineout just outside their 22 and failing to clear for touch. The ball was turned over and Cripps strolled in for the try. This was the last scoring until the drama-filled final 15 minutes, although Petone had the better of territory in the third quarter, only desperate Tawa defence keeping them out on at least two occasions.

The win for Tawa wasn't enough to keep their slim Jubilee chances alive, but if they can defeat fellow Hardham Cup bound Avalon in next week's last round they will go into the Hardham Cup with much confidence.

Upper Hutt put themselves in prime contention for the Jubilee Cup round after beating neighbours Avalon 49-25 for the Harper Vine Trophy on Avalon's Old Timers' Day at Fraser Park.

No. 8 and skipper Campbell Beckett was the individual star, bagging a hat trick of tries.

It was close early on, Avalon keeping in touch through the boot of first five-eighth Stephen Cross who eventually kicked six penalties. Upper Hutt prop Richard Wasley scored their first try and left wing Anthony Davidson their second, which took the to a 15-9 lead.

Becket scored his first try to help Upper Hutt to a 25-12 lead, but Cross kept banging over penalties and at 28-18 down the home side was still in touch. But a second converted try to Beckett sealed the result and him and first five-eighth Keelan Poi added further tries to see them to a big win at the end.

HOBM also enjoyed a comfortable win over the Wests Roosters, who again provided stern opposition for long periods but couldn't maintain it. When Wests centre Ahtuni Masum scored midway through the first half the Roosters led 11-8.

But HOBM took the lead for the final time through left wing Tupeni Kamakorewa and hard working No. 8 Thomas Benson scored just before the break and the Eagles led 21-11 at the halftime interval.

A high HOBM error rate stopped them from breaking free, a try to blindside flanker Polonga Pedro answered by two penalties to Wests fullback Liam Townshend and the home side now led 26-17.

From there, the game opened up and both sides through the ball around in the late autumn sunshine. HOBM added four more tries, including a double to left wing Leka Tupuola, but could only convert two of their seven total tries. The Roosters added two more and were unlucky not to come away with at least one more try and earn a bonus point.

Champions Northern United were presented with the Swindale Shield after their tenth straight win of the first round against Poneke for the Cyril Collett Memorial Trophy on their 21^st anniversary.

It wasn't all plain sailing for Norths and they will now need to beat Petone by a bonus point margin next week to equal their record total of 53 points that they set last year. The will also need to score over 100 points against Petone to beat the record 11-round total of 546 points that they piled on last year.

Poneke held them to an 18-3 scoreline, which was the score midway through the first half when second five-eighth Leon Ellison skipped in for their second try from a scrum turnover. Right wing Daley Harper had previously scored their only other try after his forwards had pushed Poneke's off their scrum ball.

Fullback James So'oialo kicked two early penalties and added one of the conversions, while Poneke first five-eighth Jeremy Te Huia slotted a penalty for his side's only points. The rest of the match remained scoreless as both teams slugged it out in an uninspiring contest.