Tawa still in front after dramatic day of Swindale Shield rugby

Above: OBU wing Tim Smith has beaten his marker and is setting off for a try.

Today's dramatic eighth round of matches in Wellington Premier rugby played under clearing skies did little to lift the cloud of uncertainty around the cluster of teams bidding for top-eight Jubilee Cup places at the end this month.

One thing is certain from today's explosive set of matches, played to big crowds, is that leaders Tawa and second placed Marist St. Pat's have officially qualified for the Jubilee Cup. Both teams are sufficiently ahead of current ninth placed Northern United that they will make the Cup round.

Defending champions Tawa are still unbeaten and remain clearly established at the top of the table after defeating Ories 22-15 at the Polo Ground.

Marist St Pat's are clearly second after their 33-23 win over Johnsonville away at Helston Park in front of a massive crowd on the home team's Old Timers' Day.

But the next seven teams are within just six points of each other with just three rounds to play to find the eight sides to contest the prestigious Jubilee Cup throughout June and July.

The Wellington Axemen are currently last but are still alive to make the top eight.

Wainuiomata lead the chasing pack, after beating Northern United 33-26 for the Alf Keating Memorial Trophy. The loss pushes Norths outside the top eight.

In other games today, Poneke enjoyed an Old Timers' Day and Spud Lindsay Memorial Trophy 21-20 win over the Axemen at Kilbirnie Park, Hutt Old Boys Marist defeated Old Boys University 33-17 and Petone beat the Upper Hutt Rams 34-22 on their Old Timers' Day at the Petone Recreation Ground.

All matches today were dripping with drama.

None more so than at the Polo Ground where, in a replay of last year's Jubilee Cup final, Ories and Tawa fought out a first half arm-wrestle and Tawa led 3-0 at the break courtesy of a Randall Bishop penalty.

The bumper crowd were expectant at the turn, and they got what they came for with Ories breaking the match open in the third quarter with two stunning tries against the run of play.

First, halfback Peter Fa'atau, resplendent in bright boots, intercepted a Tawa pass and scuttled half the length of the field to score under the bar to make it 7-3.

Second, centre Paulo Aukuso combined with replacement wing Tuga Mativa to score a length of the field try to push their lead out to 12-3.

Tawa were dominating though, and they broke through twice through halfback turned pivot Phillip Finau and through replacement flanker Sam Tuala to take a 15-12 lead. Ories answered with a penalty to fullback Hayden Whelan even it up at 15-15, before the electric George Tilsely ran away to score the match winner in the dying minutes for Tawa.

At Kilbirnie Park, the Wellington Axemen held on to beat Poneke 36-33 in a close curtain-raiser.

The main match saw Wellington take a 10-0 lead through a 40-metre try to centre Paddy Hughes and the Axemen led 10-6 at halftime turning with the wind.

Wellington advanced the scored to 20-9, but Poneke hit back with a try to make it 20-16 to Wellington with about 15 minutes to play. Poneke No.8 Nathan Iro barged over to score the match winning try and Poneke took the win for wing Ben Huntley's 100th match for the red and blacks.

Fullback Tomasio Alosio and lock Steven Bradshaw each scored tries as HOBM took a 14-3 lead over OBU in their Wood Cup clash at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

Eagles left wing Chase Tiatia dashed in for the first of two tries and his opposite Tim Smith scored for the Billy Goats and HOBM led 19-10 at halftime.

A lively match came alive on 60 minutes when Tiatia crossed for his brace, extending the lead to 26-10. Halfback Luke Campbell crossed for OBU, but Parataiso Silafai-Leaanaa also scored for HOBM and the home side took the points.

Across the river, Petone celebrated hooker Eugene Smith's 150th Premier start by pulling clear of the Upper Hutt Rams in another match that was super-close for long periods.

Wainuiomata's John Monu scored the first try of the game and his side took a 13-3 lead over Norths. Norths hit back to level the scores 13-13 at halftime, before Wainuiomata extended their advantage to 28-13 with two quickfire tries. This buffer proved enough and they held on to win and deny Norths any competition points.

At Helston Park, the home team came out all guns blazing. The? Hawks were always in touch, at 13-9 down at halftime and then 21-20 midway through the second half. But MSP kicked into life later in the contest and won with a bonus point. A full report of this match is at the bottom of this article.

Avalon continue to dominate the Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield competition.

Avalon, who are 14 points ahead of fifth placed Paremata-Plimmerton, are a point shy of having wrapped up a Hardham Cup place after they beat Pare-Plim 57-7 today. Avalon have now piled on 385 points and conceded 66 in just eight matches.

With seven bonus points from eight matches, MSP are second in this grade after beating the Wests Roosters 24-10 for the Viv Haigh Memorial Cup.

Tawa are third after overcoming Ories 23-5, ahead of OBU who defeated HOBM 45-11 in the early match at the Hutt Rec. Norths defeated Wainuiomata 27-16 and Petone edged the winless Upper Hutt Rams 22-18.

The Wellington Axemen are now leading the Senior 2 National Mutual Cup competition, beating Poneke 36-33 in the early game on Kilbirnie Park No. 1.

Poneke led this match 12-8 at halftime courtesy of four penalties to first five-eighth Chris Thompson.

The Axemen got their noses ahead 14-12 with two penalties early in the second half and then took a 26-12 lead with tries to centre Numi Mika and fullback Steve Johnson.

However, Poneke came back to ensure a close result, and they are second on the points table just two points adrift of the Axemen.

HOBM are in third, having played one extra match, after they lost 12-43 to Old Boys University.

In the lowest scoring result of the day across the top three grades, Petone edged out Stokes Valley 12-5. Avalon beat Norths 48-10 and Johnsonville defeated MSP 16-10.

Premier Women's fifth round Fleurs Trophy matches were all one-sided. Old Boys University defeated Poneke 90-0, Wainuiomata beat Tawa 55-0, Norths defeated Avalon 57-0 and Ories beat Stokes Valley 71-0.

MSP too good for Johnsonville

Helston Park was baked in sunshine and there was plenty of support from the Old Timers, but MSP got the job done 33-23.

Johnsonville coach Mason Lawrence mentioned during the week that six frontline players were unable to play. But for a slightly weakened team, the Hawks certainly didn't disgrace themselves.

MSP got off to a good start with early dominance in possession being rewarded with points. Wellington club rugby stalwart and former Lions rep Fa'atonu Fili kicked 2 penalties to put them 6 - 0 up.

Shortly after, Johnsonville hit back.

Second five Hiro Nakata, who played for Honda Heat in Japan, replied with a penalty.

MSP provided a breakout attack, the ball was swung wide from Cardiff Vaega to Andrew Wells, he chipped and chased, appearing to have scored a crucial try. But referee Scott Kennedy ruled a knock on. The large contingent of MSP supporters howled.

Moments later, Johnsonville found their way towards the MSP try line. After many phases, Kane Le'aupepe burrowed over. An almighty roar went up around Helston Park.

Penalties rounded out the first half. Fili and Nakata kicked three each and Johnsonville went into the half time break 13-9 up.

After a sleepy first 40, MSP began to click into gear in the second half. Big number eight Pago Haini ghosted past some would be tacklers, and scored to the right of the posts. Fili added the extras to make the scoreline 16-13.

Mistakes began to creep into Johnsonville's game and Cardiff Vaega pounced, making his second line-break of the match. Although the one game Hurricane could have easily scored himself, he fed a cheeky offload to former Wanganui representative Sam Scown.

Just as MSP began to look like pulling away, Fa'atonu Fili put up a rather aimless defensive bomb. The ball was taken by livewire Johnsonville halfback Jack Taulapapa.

Taulapapa jinked and jived past the defenders and en route to scoring he out-sprinted MSP halfback Peter Sciascia. This brought the crowd to their feet and both sets of supporters marvelled at how a linebreak followed by a try could be created out of absolutely nothing. Taulapapa has a big future ahead of him.

Johnsonville were back as Nakata added the conversion, 21-20 down midway through the second half.

Both sides began to make mistakes and the game began to lose shape.

However after first five Callum Gill booted the ball into touch, MSP rumbled over with Sefo Setefano getting his name on the score sheet.

MSP were up 28-23 after Fili missed the conversion and Nakata put Johnsonville right back in it with a penalty.

Andrew Wells scored in the left corner with just under 5 minutes to go. His try was bittersweet as he limped off what looks to be a very serious foot injury. Wells has been in good form for MSP this season and his loss will be a serious blow.

Johnsonville tried in vain to score towards the end but Rocky Leofo knocked the ball on. Fili booted the ball into touch to secure the win for MSP.

MSP made the most of their opportunities and were outstanding on attack. Johnsonville had plenty of chances as well to score but couldn’t capitalise on the amount of penalties they received. Mistakes and a committed MSP breakdown didn’t aid the Hawks.

MSP halfback Peter Sciascia is currently living with the Lawrence family. The conversation will be interesting around the table!

Johnsonville head to William Jones Park next week to face a red hot Wainuiomata. MSP take on Ories at Hataitai Park.