Wainuiomata?s dream run continues; wins for Ories, Norths and Poneke in Jubilee Cup

Wainuiomata's fantastic 2011 season got even better when they beat Jubilee Cup super-club Petone 22-20 in the first round on Saturday. Wainuiomata streaked to a 19-10 lead midway through the second half with a sizzling try to wing Jason Love and then held on to beat the Villagers.

The green and blacks were joined in the first round winner's circle by Oriental Rongotai, Northern United and Poneke on a wet afternoon of rugby that was great for the start of the Jubilee and Hardham Cups.

Ories, Norths and Poneke grabbed contrasting wins. Ories flew away from Upper Hutt to win with a bonus point 38-7 against Upper Hutt, Norths scored a late try to pip Marist St. Pat's 13-8 and Poneke ground out a typically gutsy 23-0 win over Hutt Old Boys Marist.

There was a minor upset in the first round of the Hardham Cup, where Northern United B defeated a disappointing Wests Roosters at Onepoto Park. Also in the Hardham Cup, Avalon overturned Tawa 32-3 at Fraser Park, Old Boys-University overcame a spirited Rimutaka challenge to win 33-17 at the Hawkins Basin Reserve and Poneke B edged out first round Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield champions Hutt Old Boys Marist at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

Down the grades, Ories beat Petone 29-3 to win the Senior 3 JDR Cup with a week to spare.

Fresh from drawing with champions Norths in the last round of the Swindale Shield, Petone travelled over the hill to William Jones Park to take on Wainuiomata who were coming off a one-point loss to Hutt Old Boys Marist.

The Villagers found themselves back pedalling early when veteran Wainuiomata first five-eighth Earl Va'a caught them napping by taking a quick tap free kick and racing over to score the first try.

Petone blindside wing Belgium Tutagaloa was sinbinned and the home side's halfback Frae Wilson scored in the corner off a scrum, making it 12-3.

Petone hit back with a converted try to close the gap to two points at halftime, but Wainuiomata left wing Jason Love scored a long-range counter attacking try that proved to be the winner. Petone came back but Wainuiomata added another penalty and held on for their first win of the second round and their second this year against Petone after beating them 36-33 for the Darren Larsen Cup at the end of April.

Champions Norths used their get out of jail free card against Marist St. Pat's who would've beaten them if they had taken their opportunities.

Norths sustained two yellow cards throughout the match, front rower John Fata and blindside flanker Aiden Cains both asked to spend 10 minutes on the sideline for separate incidents. But a resurgent MSP couldn't turn this advantage and all the pressure they created into points.

In a tense battle, MSP hooker Liu Taituave scored their only try, crossing early in the first half. First five-eighth Trent Vatselias added a penalty against two penalties to Norths fullback James So'oialo and MSP appeared heading for an 8-6 victory.

But a mistake by MSP centre Apoua Stewart in clearing a kick from his line was seized upon by Norths and Hurrricanes prop Jacob Ellison and he scored the match winning try late in the match.

At the Eagles' lair, Poneke fired into life against a disappointing Hutt Old Boys Marist who were out passioned by the red and blacks.

Poneke were already on top when Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles took the field for Poneke for the start of the second half, joining tyro teammates prop Reg Goodes and lock Joe Latta and the veteran Moananu brothers, Luni and Palauni, and openside flanker Masefau Leuluniu. Young and old combined in a strong performance in the forwards, particularly around the fringes.

They were well-marshaled by halfback Ruki Tipuna, who kicked well all game for his loosies and wings to chase, while first five-eighth Jeremy Te Huia gave them the early edge on the scoreboard with a dropped goal and a penalty.

The game came alive early in the second half when Poneke counterattacked from a ruck on their side of halfway and prop Goodes, running like a back, charged into open space towards the line. He was tackled short, but fullback Ambrose Plaister scored the game's decisive try from the next play.

Fifteen minutes from time, HOBM blindside Polonga Pedro was sinbinned in front of his posts, Te Huia kicked the penalty and the result was sewn up. Replacement Presley Tufaga sealed the win with an intercept and runaway try.

HOBM were left ruing several points scoring chances that went begging, although No. 8 Deon Carney had a whale of a game in a beaten pack and fullback Steve Honey was lively.

Ories announced themselves as serious Jubilee Cup contenders with a similarly dominant win over Upper Hutt at home at Ma'a Nonu Stadium.

Ories hit the front early and raced to a 28-7 lead at the halftime interval. First five-eighth Trevor Marama scored his second try after the break and finished with 18 points in the six tries to one victory.

There was no shortage of drama and emotion in the Hardham Cup, and it was just week one.

In the early game at Onepoto Park, Norths B claimed the first major scalp of the competition in beating the Wests Roosters two tries to nil. Lock Nathan Iro and wing Semesa Coka scored the two tries, while first five-eighth Dudley Parsons slotted three penalties.

There was also a minor upset in the other early game at the Hutt Recreation Ground where fourth placed Poneke B qualifier tipped over first round Senior 1 champions Hutt Old Boys Marist B.

In a low scoring match in slippery conditions that were made more treacherous when a heavy shower of rain swept throgh early in the second half, Poneke pulled clear from a 3-0 halftime lead with two further penalties to first five-eighth Chris Thomsen in the 48th and 63rd minutes.

Now needing to score twice in the final 15 minutes, the Eaglets upped their intensity but Poneke's midfield and close quater defence held firm and they made several handling errors.

Earlier, Poneke dominated territory in the first half but all they could show for their endevour was a Thomsen penalty from dead in front of the sticks in the 25th minute, a glorious nudge.

In the feature clash of the Hardham Cup, Avalon reversed their narrow loss to Tawa just the week before by winning comfortably against them at Fraser Park. Lock Aquila Alatini got the ball rolling for Avalon with a try from a forward drive. They added another try and two penalties and led 16-3 at halftime.

Fullback Joyner Keys extended their advantage to 19-3 soon after the interval and from there the home side pulled clear for what could be a hugely important win for their semi-final hopes at the end of July.

At the Basin Reserve, newcomers Rimutaka gave Hardham Cup favourites OBU a good run and showed they are serious Premier challengers. In a close match, OBU only made sure of their victory midway through the second half after skipper and hooker Dylan Johnson scored their third try and first five-eighth added the conversion and then a penalty to make it 26-10.

Replacement back Beau Brown sealed the win towards the end with his side's fourth try, before Rimutaka came back to score a second seven-pointer at the end.

Earlier, Rimutaka fullback Matene Te Whetu had crossed in response to the game's opening try scored by OBU wing Luke Fiso and the students led just 8-7. OBU centre Luke Harvey then scored a second try but Rimutaka kicked a penalty to stay in touch at 10-16 behind at the break.

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