Much at stake for all teams this weekend

It's the penultimate round of matches in both the Swindale and Harper Lock Shield competitions, with both having been shaken up by results that went somewhat against the form book in round nine.

Both titles could potentially be decided this weekend, as could the fields for both the Jubilee and Hardham Cups.

This week is also the ‘College at Club' round of the season, where a number of College matches will take place at club venues as the prelude to senior club matches. For more information on this, including which college games are involved and where, check the Club Rugby story from yesterday.

Premier Swindale Shield

In terms of Jubilee Cup qualification the pivotal game of the round is at Kilbirnie Park where ninth-placed Norths face home side Poneke. While the Red and Blacks cannot qualify for the Jubilee Cup themselves following their loss to the Upper Hutt Rams last weekend, they could consign Norths to joining them in the Hardham Cup as well should they prevail.

For Norths (20 points) the situation is relatively straight-forward. If they win they will remain in contention and could potentially leapfrog OBU (who they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over owing to their last-minute 29-28 win on Easter Monday) ahead of their final round clash with the Upper Hutt Rams. If they fail to get two competition points this Saturday then HOBM, Petone, Ories and Wainuiomata will all have secured Jubilee Cup places irrespective of their own results, as will the Rams if they beat Johnsonville. If Norths lose, then their only hopes will be that OBU or the Rams have also lost.

The two sides play for the Cyril Collett Memorial Shield. Collett played for Norths predecessor club Porirua in the 1950s while his sons Paul and Bruce played for Porirua and Poneke respectively in the 1970s. First played for in 2008 it is held by Poneke following their 22-17 back on the opening day of last season.

At the top end of the table the status quo remains intact with Tawa five points ahead of MSP. What few expected was for both sides to have lost last weekend for that to be the case. The competition leaders (39) head into the city to take on Old Boys-University (24) at the Basin Reserve, with the Billy Goats finally making an appearance this season on one of ‘their' home grounds. Tawa will be wanting to prove that last week's loss to Petone - the first time they've been toppled at Lyndhurst since MSP beat them there in round 10 of the 2012 Swindale - was nothing more than a blip, and can win the Swindale Shield outright on Saturday should they better MSP's result; otherwise it will go down to the last round clash between the top-two next weekend. A win for OBU will be enough for them to go through if Norths lose, but any other combination of results will mean their fate will go down to the final weekend.

On the other side of Mt Victoria Marist St Pat's (34) venture to Hataitai Park for the second week in succession, this time as the visitors to take on bottom-side Wellington. The Axemen will have a point to prove as they seek their second win of the season and could end MSP's Swindale hopes if they do, or even deny them a full swag of competition points. The Scarlets will be looking for redemption after last week's loss to Ories, which saw them play the second-half with 14 men after the 39^th minute dismissal of lock Nemani Waaka for a tip-tackle.

The remaining games are all in the Hutt Valley. Out at Maidstone Park the Upper Hutt Rams (25) play host to Johnsonville, where the home side could secure Jubilee Cup rugby in their maiden season. A win combined with a Norths loss will make that a certainty, as will any other result that puts them six competition points ahead of the Porirua side. Any other outcome will mean next week's clash between the two sides could take on sudden-death proportions. Johnsonville's loss last weekend relegated them to the Hardham Cup, but like Poneke they can still yet have a say in which side joins them.

Third-placed Wainuiomata (28) make the trip over the hill to face Hutt Old Boys Marist (26). The visitors made it five wins on the trot when they accounted for Johnsonville at home last weekend, and may relish the quality of the Hutt Rec's main field given the poor state their home ground has once again deteriorated too. The Eagles once again left it late to get past Norths and will want to give themselves, and their supporters, fewer nerve-jangling moments this week.

Over the river at the Petone Rec the home side (27) will put the newly-won Bill Brien Challenge Cup on the line for the first-time when they host Oriental-Rongotai (27). Both sides defeated top-two opposition last weekend and will look to keep the momentum gained from those victories intact. Ories will bring the interclub Jim Brown Memorial Trophy with them for this clash, having retained this last year with their 45-15 victory.

The winners of these last two matches will qualify with a week to spare, while the losers will be very interested in the outcome of events at Kilbirnie Park. ?

All Premier matches are 2.15pm kickoff owing to the Hurricanes v Chiefs match at Westpac Stadium.

Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield

Like Tawa in the Swindale Shield, Avalon (40 points) lost their unbeaten record last Saturday when they were toppled by OBU. While the bonus point they got out of the match was enough to secure their place in the Hardham Cup, they left the door open for nearest challengers MSP (36) - who's bonus-point win over Ories also secured their Hardham place - to claim the silverware.? Those two sides meet at Fraser Park at 2.15pm on Saturday in what is almost a virtual final. If Avalon win they will claim the Harper Lock Shield with a week to spare, but if MSP wins the title will go to the final week.

In the race for the remaining two Hardham Cup spots, OBU (30) put themselves in the box seat when they toppled Avalon, and this week are in another top-four matchup when they face Tawa (28) at Ian Galloway in a 12pm kickoff. A win for either side will put them in a strong position to make it through, though OBU have the complication of their Premier side's fortunes to consider and Tawa have to face MSP next weekend.

Below this there is a real logjam with only four points covering the next five sides, all of who can yet still qualify, but know that a loss will probably be the end of their chances.

Paremata-Plimmerton (26) lost ground when they went down to the Upper Hutt Rams at home, and must right the ship when they face Norths (22) at Ngatitoa at 2.15pm in the annual Ivan Hargreaves Trophy match. The other three contenders are in action against the bottom three sides in 12.30pm kickoffs with the Rams (24) against winless Wests, Petone (24) - who like their Premiers beat Tawa last weekend - take on Ories, and HOBM (25) faces Wainuiomata at the Hutt Rec.

Women's Fleurs Trophy

The first round competition reaches its conclusion this weekend. In the 11.30am kickoffs unbeaten Oriental-Rongotai will claim the trophy if they beat Wainuiomata at Mary Crowther, but should the home side cause an upset Norths could snatch it given they have already banked the 5 points from their match after being defaulted to today by Stokes Valley. Elsewhere OBU takes on Avalon on the top ground at Prince of Wales, while winless sides Poneke and Tawa will battle it out on Kilbirnie #2 from 11am to see who can get their first win on the year.

Other grades

The race is well on for the two promotion places from the Senior 2 National Mutual Cup to the Senior 1 second round, with all games this weekend in the early timeslot. Wellington (34) remain top after their win over Johnsonville and this week take on OBU (28) at Hataitai with a win critical to each sides fortunes, though OBU's promotion chances also rest on the fortunes of their senior sides.

Poneke (33) ran up the year's biggest victory in any grade last weekend when they massacred Norths by 127-5 and, depending on results, could return to the top of the table when they welcome Stokes Valley onto Kilbirnie. Both Avalon (31), who play host to Petone, and HOBM (28) - who return from the bye to take on Norths - need wins and for one or both of the top-two to lose. Bottom-side the Upper Hutt Rams take on Johnsonville in a 12pm kickoff at Maoribank.

In the Under 85kg Division 1 JC Bowl there are four 2.15pm kickoffs. The Wellington Axemen and OBU Spartans meet at Prince of Wales and the Upper Hutt Rams and Eastbourne are at Maoribank. The two sides that are both 4-from-4, competition heavyweights the MSP Blues and Tawa Titans take on Stokes Valley at Delaney Park and the Poneke Cavs at Lyndhurst respectively; while there is a 3pm kickoff for the OBU Bunnies and MSP Reds at Te Whaea.

Defending champions OBU Green saw off the only other undefeated Colts Division 1 Paris Memorial Trophy side last week when they dispatched Norths 52-0. This week they face the second-placed Wellington Axemen at 12.30pm at Prince of Wales and could wrap up the title with a week to spare with a win. Mid-table sides Petone and Oriental-Rongotai meet at the same time on the Petone Rec, while the two Marist clubs - MSP and HOBM - clash on the St Pats artificial at 1.30pm. Norths host winless Poneke at Porirua Park at 1.45pm.