Tawa celebrate maiden Swindale Shield, while Northern United face the drop

Above: Leading the charge. OBU fullback Jesse Johnson sets off on a run with teammates in tow in OBU's 63-28 over Petone. As well as discovering some hot form of late, the Billy Goats are safely through to this year's Jubilee Cup after finishing ninth in both 2011 and 2012.

Tawa have won the Swindale Shield for the first time in the club's history.

But they must wait a week to find out if it's theirs alone or whether they will have to share it with Oriental-Rongotai after failing to win with a bonus point in a lively tenth round fixture against defending first round champions Hutt Old Boys Marist today.

Tawa won the match 23-17, but scored one try shy of the four they needed to win the Swindale Shield outright with a week to spare.

Oriental-Rongotai, who comfortably defeated Hardham Cup bound the Wests Roosters 65-12 at Ian Galloway Park, could yet share the first round title with Tawa if Ories score four or more tries at home against Petone next week and Tawa come up empty handed against MSP at Lyndhurst Park in their last round clash.

It's unlikely though, as Tawa saw off a stern challenge by HOBM on their Old Timers' Day to win today. They went desperately close at the end to scoring what would have been their fourth try, and there were times in the match where they had to dig deep and show all their character and commitment ?that had carried them to eight wins in nine matches thus far.

Their discipline was terrible. They conceded far too many penalties for a champion side and two yellow cards as a result could have cost them. They only led 11-3 at halftime turning into the cool wind.

They won the match by scoring two sparkling tries in the first 10 minutes of the second half.They ripped the ball wide from a ruck on halfway and scored straight after the kick-off. Fullback Randall Bishop came up into the line and openside flanker Sam Tuala linked well with try-scorer Jeff Makapelu who beat his marker and scored to make it 16-3. They took the direct route with their next try, blindside flanker Joketani Koroi driving over to give them a 20-point lead.

With plenty of time left, HOBM came back and scored two converted tries, to second five-eighth Alexis Time and lock James Wall. Tawa had a second player in the sin-bin and the Eagles were right back in it.

With the pressure on, Tawa regained possession and territory and held on to the end, almost scoring a fourth try two minutes from time.

On the other side of the coin are Tawa's neighbours Northern United, who lost at home to Wainuiomata and face the very real prospect of relegation to the Hardham Cup for the second half of the season.

Wainuiomata won the match 30-20, and with a six-point buffer to ninth placed Norths they are safely through to the Jubilee Cup round.

Wellington's most successful club of the decade between 2003-2012 are all but guaranteed five points from their last round match against Rimutaka but will it be enough?

Not if Poneke beat OBU next week at Nairnville Park. If that happens then Norths will miss the Jubilee Cup.

Against Wainuiomata they were out-muscled and lost five tries to two. Wainuiomata hit their straps early and raced to a 20-0 lead before halftime and eventually led 20-7 at the turnaround. Norths came back after halftime when fullback Johnny Teleaga scored his second try, closing the margin to just five points. However, Wainuiomata powered away at the end? to claim the Alf Keating Memorial Trophy.

The other significant winners of the tenth round of the Swindale Shield were Old Boys University, who, after two consecutive ninth placed finishes in the first round, are safely through to the Jubilee Cup round as well.

The Billy Goats, playing at Wellington College on their Old Timers' Day, tore into Petone and smashed them 65-28. The winning margin could have been greater if not for a late flurry by Petone.

Finally, OBU cut loose. They pulled ahead 28-14 at halftime with the wind in their favour and then raced away in the second half. Eight individuals scored tries, while first five-eighth Hamish Buick scored 23 points. OBU won the Marc Verhoeven Memorial Trophy for the first time too, after last year's inaugural match for it ended in an 18-18 draw.

Marist St Pat's also have a six-point buffer to ninth placed Norths, and they too will be defending their Jubilee Cup title in the second half of the season.

As expected, MSP put on a show against lowly Rimutaka, beating them 99-5 at Evans Bay Park. Six of their players scored two tries apiece in the 17 tries to one victory. Fullback Andrew Wells scored 24 points and they led 48-0 at halftime.

Upper Hutt left Poneke realistically needing to beat OBU next week to guarantee their place in the Jubilee Cup after racing away at the end to win 31-19.

Upper Hutt left Poneke hanging after scoring two very late tries. Poneke were ahead 20-19 when wing Mitchell Browne and fullback Jordan Simpson-Heft crossed to both steal the win and deny Poneke any competition points.

In a lively encounter, Poneke had scored first through lock Darren West, but Upper Hutt had scored through wing Joyner Key who capitalised on a Poneke dropped ball near halfway and crossed in broken play. Poneke led 14-13 at halftime, and then again 20-19 late in the match. Upper Hutt won the interclub Alby Makeham Shield after the former Wellington halfback.

For Poneke, they can beat OBU in the last round and make the Jubilee Cup round. They can also draw with OBU or lose and collect two bonus points and they will qualify ahead of Norths on the tie-breaker of their 22-17 win over Norths in the opening week of the season.

The other match of the penultimate round of the Swindale Shield saw Ories cruise past the Wests Roosters to win 65-12 and retain the Keith Mettick Memorial Cup.

The bonus point win means that Ories can earn maximum points next week against Petone and still harbour hopes of sharing the Swindale Shield should Tawa stumble against MSP.

It was close early on as Wests made a good account of themselves, scoring the game's first try and trailing just 12-22 at halftime.

But like last week, Ories drank from the turbo cup at halftime and piled on over 40 second half points. They eventually won 10 tries to three.

The Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield was also filled with drama today.

Previous leaders the Wellington Axemen met a 14-17 defeat to fellow Hardham Cup hopeful Avalon.

Johnsonville defeated MSP 26-16, meaning they are the new leaders with one round to play.

Johnsonville are on 43 points, Wellington 41 and Avalon 38.

In another significant 10^th round Senior One result, OBU and Petone drew 15-15, placing OBU on 36 points and Petone 32. The leading four teams go through to play in the Hardham Cup, meaning that OBU and Petone are fighting it out for that place next week. OBU are in the box seat, however,? as they play lowly Poneke while Petone plays Wellington.

In other Senior 1 results today, Paremata-Plimmerton beat Tawa 17-7and? Wainuiomata beat Norths 16-10.

In the Senior 2 National Mutual Cup, Hutt Old Boys Marist just need to draw or beat Johnsonville in next week's final round to win the title ahead of second placed Ories and their nearest challenger who are three points adrift.

HOBM beat fourth placed Avalon 37-10 today, while Ories defeated mid-table Norths. HOBM and Ories have already confirmed their spots in the Senior 1 higher Ed Chaney Cup for the second round.

In other Senior 2 round 10 games, third placed OBU beat Petone 24-7, mid-table Johnsonville kept MSP rooted at the bottom of the table with a 38-21 win, Wests had a 20-17 win over Wainuiomata and Poneke beat Stokes Valley 21-7.

In opening round Premier 1 First XV rugby, Wellington College beat HIBS 33-6, St Pat's Silverstream beat Naenae College 67-7, Rongotai College edged Porirua College 31-24 and Scots College beat St Pat's Town 45-23.

For full Swindale Shield game-by-game match reports from round nine click here

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