New Champs Upper Hutt Seek Unbeaten Record, Tawa, Jville In Scrap For Eighth

Round 11 Preview Congratulations to Upper Hutt, winners of the 2005 Swindale Shield. Upper Hutt won their first Swindale Shield since 1990 last week with a round to spare. Northern United, the other remaining side in contention prior to last week, lost narrowly to Avalon in round ten, which gave Upper Hutt an unassailable six-point buffer at the top of the ladder heading into this week?s last round.

Upper Hutt fully deserves their win. After scraping past Petone 30-27 in round one they have set the pace. Highlights include beating Poneke 22-14 in round three, Norths 10-5 in round five and Avalon 38-13 in round seven. The boys in maroon have also entertained, averaging 31 points per game. While the Shield is already theirs, interest will be high to see if they can maintain their unblemished record and win all eleven Swindale Shield games when they host fourth placed Marist St. Pats in this week?s final round. If they can, then it will be a great achievement and will give them huge confidence heading into the Jubilee Cup.

Maintaining momentum will be key motivation for the other six sides already in the Jubilee Cup in round eleven. Of these teams, third placed Western Suburbs play fifth placed Petone at the Petone Recreation Ground, and sixth placed Poneke host wooden-spooners Old Boys-University at Kilbirnie Park.

Meanwhile, the contest for eighth spot is a two horse race between Tawa and Johnsonville. Tawa currently hold eighth position on 17 points, four points clear of Johnsonville on 13 points. Johnsonville will host Avalon at Helston Park, while Tawa will be welcomed by Norths to Porirua Park.

If these two teams finish equal on 17 points then who beat who determines who progresses to the Jubilee Cup. If that were to happen it would be Johnsonville, by virtue of their 15-14 win, when these teams met in round one. Of note Ories, are on 12 points and could also finish level with one or both of these teams, but Tawa?s 34-3 win over them last week served to shut out their chances.

The equation then is simple for Tawa. They need to collect two points against Norths, but up against the best defensive team in the competition this won?t be easy for them. To catch Tawa, Johnsonville must beat Avalon and then rely on Norths to deny Tawa either one or two points - depending on whether they themselves can beat Avalon and collect five points.

Elsewhere, Ories plays Hutt Old Boys Marist at the Polo Grounds in a prelude for the Hardham Cup.