Wellington?s darkest day lit up by competitive third round matches

Northern United were the biggest winners of the day on Saturday,beating MSP B 60-0 in the Hardham Cup.

They're back. Defending Jubilee Cup champions Tawa earned their most important win of the season today on the shortest day of the year, beating the home side 19-12 in front of several hundred hardy spectators at the Petone Recreation Ground.

Tawa's opening win of the 2014 Jubilee Cup, following their opening round 15-45 loss to a Hurricanes-laden Ories and last week's comeback 19-19 draw with Wainuiomata, puts them back on track to make the semi-finals with two consecutive home matches coming up against Old Boys University and Marist St. Pat's.

In an absorbing arm-wrestle, Tawa's forwards battered into their Petone's counterparts all match, the Koroi brothers Taniela and Joketani, lock Pati Gaualofa and No. 8 TJ Fermanis all particularly impressive, and fullback Randall Bishop kicked four penalties to put them ahead 12-5 with about five minutes remaining.

Out of the gloom, centre Alfred Pelenise made a telling break to score a try and seal victory, before Petone second five-eighth Nick Grigg broke through late to set up a try for Petone No. 8 Josh Hrstich.

In beating Petone, Tawa also took home the Bill Brien Challenge Trophy, which Petone won off them towards the end of the Swindale Shield round.

?Another second five-eighth, Isaiah Petelo, won the Jubilee Cup match today at Evans Bay Park.

Hard running Marist St Pat's midfielder Petelo ran through to score the match winning try with just a few minutes remaining as MSP beat neighbours Ories 26-23.

Ories, who brought a strong scrum and disruptive lineout to his contest, led 23-19 and thought they had done enough to beat MSP up to that point. A lively first half had turned into a battle of attrition in the second half as Ories first five-eighth James Proctor had kicked a penalty for his side's only points of the second half. Proctor also scored two tries for a personal haul of 18 points from the match.

Both sides scored two tries apiece in the first half as Ories led 20-16 at the turnaround. MSP had led 16-5, before a momentum shift saw Ories score 15 unanswered points.

The other two Jubilee Cup games in the Hutt Valley were also hard fought battles.

At William Jones Park, Wainuiomata held off Old Boys University 23-16 and Hutt Old Boys Marist pipped the Upper Hutt Rams 12-11 at Maidstone Park.

With the wind, Wainuiomata scored two tries through lock shahn Eru and right wing Josh Robertson-Weepu kicked a penalty and they led 13-5 at halftime.

OBU kicked two second half penalties after the break to cut the home team's lead to 13-11, before Wainuiomata scored two tries through jinking first five-eighth John Monu and extend their lead to 23-11 and also give them a four-try bonus point win.

OBU scored their second try at the end to earn what could be a crucial bonus point.

HOBM openside flanker Jason Risdon scored the game's key try against the Upper Hutt Rams. With the Rams clinging to an 11-7 lead after scoring their points through two Liam Berry penalties and a try to debutant centre Troy Mohr, Risdon came up with the winning score.

The win for Jubilee Cup frontrunners HOBM is their third in succession, while the loss for the Rams is their third and they are most likely out of semi-final now.

HOBM also won their opening three matches of the Jubilee Cup last year to qualify second before eventually losing 27-30 to Ories in a 100-minute semi-final. They also won three on the trot in 2007, the year they last won the Jubilee Cup.

Match report of the Upper Hutt Rams - Hutt Old Boys Marist match below.

In the Hardham Cup today, Northern United well and truly buried the ghosts of their opening round loss to OBU B with a 60-0 over the other B side in the competition, MSP B. Eight players scored Norths' 10 tries. ?

At the other end of the scale, Johnsonville won another tight one in the dying moments, pipping Paremata-Plimmerton 20-19 at Ngatitoa Domain.

Paremata-Plimmerton thought they had done enough to win their first Hardham Cup game at home, leading 14-12 midway through the second half and then 19-15 late in the match. Paremata-Plimmerton had also led 14-0 at halftime.

Poneke and Avalon both made it three from three, to probably both qualify for the semi-finals.

At Hataitai Park, Poneke beat the Wellington Axemen 21-5, the Axemen slumping to their second loss in three Hardham Cup games. Wing James Solomon scored two tries.

At Fraser Park, Avalon turned the tables on the only side that has beaten them all year, OBU B, winning 30-12. Avalon scored four tries to be on a maximum 15 points after three rounds of this year's Hardham Cup.

In third round Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup action, the beleaguered Wests Roosters beat Ories 20-19 on Ian Galloway Park, to register their first win of the season.

Home side Petone beat defending champions Tawa 15-5 in a desperate struggle in the early game on the Rec.

Scores were locked up at 0-0 until just a few minutes before halftime when Petone kicked a penalty and then broke through to score a try from a sweeping movement from the re-start and they led 8-0 at halftime.

Tawa scored an early try in the second spell to close the margin to 5-8, but Petone's forwards muscled up, frustrating their oppostites in to too many errors at the breakdown. Following a penalty in Tawa's 22, Petone's second five-eighth cut through to score under the posts to effectively seal the game and make Petone the only unbeaten team through three rounds of the Ed Chaney Cup.

In two other tight Senior 1 struggles, promoted team Poneke held off the other promoted team Wellington 20-18 and HOBM defeated the Upper Hutt Rams 18-17. Wainuiomata beat Norths 43-14 in the other match.

Avalon and Hutt Old Boys Marist are the two unbeaten teams through three rounds of the HD Morgan Memorial Senior 2 competition.

Avalon edged Old Boys University 11-8 and HOBM made it a good day for the Eagles club, beating the Upper Hutt Rams 20-15.

In other Senior 2 games, Petone beat Stokes Valley 38-24 and MSP beat Norths 25-8. Johnsonville had the bye.

In the opening round of Victoria Tavern Premier Women's matches, defending champions Northern United dispatched newcomers Tawa 107-0. Norths led 50-0 at halftime.

Centre Vaine Marsters scored eight tries.

Old Boys University opened their second round account with a 52-5 over Stokes Valley, Ories defeated Poneke 60-0 and Wainuiomat beat Avalon 56-14.

In one U85kg Division 1 match played on Friday night at Te Whaea, the MSP Blues withstood a fierce challenge from the Poneke Cavs to win 10-0.

In U85kg action today, the Tawa Titans edged out the Onslow OBU Spartans 22-9, Simon Penny scoring a hat-trick.

In Premier 1 First XV rugby today, Scots College inflicted further misery on Wellington College winning 31-10 in the feature match of the day.

In the other three games, St Pat's Silverstream held off HIBS 28-10, St Pat's Town beat St Bernard's 38-21 and Rongotai made it two in a row in beating Naenae College 17-5.

HOBM edge Upper Hutt

By Jack Callender at Maidstone Park

In tough conditions at Maidstone, Jubilee Cup leaders Hutt Old Boys Marist scraped past the Upper Hutt Rams 12-11.

The game involved plenty of mistakes and superb defence from both sides.

Upper Hutt got first points on the board with Liam Berry nailing an easy penalty after HOBM infringed at the breakdown.

With 20 minutes gone in the contest, Upper Hutt built phase after phase and were entrenched deep in the HOBM half.

But Rams prop Calem Sua knocked the ball on and the Eagles swooped.

Deep inside their own half, the try from the end of the earth occurred. Quick hands from Tomasi Alosio and Ope Peleseuma put Chase Tiatia into space. The bustling winger darted down the sideline and fed the ball back to Alosio before he sprinted and dived under the posts for the first try of the afternoon.

Sheridan Rangihuna added the conversion and HOBM were up 7-3. Shortly after, Liam Berry added another penalty and the scoreline would be closed to one point.

HOBM went into halftime with the lead at 7-6.

The second half was to be like the first, a tight tussle.

Sheridan Rangihuna left his kicking boots somewhere at home because he missed two crucial penalties in the first 10 minutes of the second half. The Rams reserve prop was yellow carded and Upper Hutt suddenly began to fire up.

Left winger Jordon Simpson-Hefft put up a defensive bomb. He was like local All Black hero Cory Jane as composure was shown in re-gathering the high ball. He ran into space and passed the ball out to centre Troy Muhr, who pinned the ears back and out-sprinted Chase Tiatia to score in the corner. The majority of the 150 strong crowd were on their feet under the grandstand.

Berry would miss two kickable penalty attempts midway through the second half and this would come back to bite his team.

Unfortunately for the local fans, Upper Hutt conceded a penalty with 10 minutes to go and a quick tap from replacement halfback Nick Risdon led to the final try of the afternoon scored by his brother and dynamic openside flanker Jason Risdon.

The conversion was missed but HOBM had their noses in front with a 12-11 lead.

Despite a late flurry of pick and go's from the Upper Hutt forwards in the last couple of minutes, the Eagles defence held firm and forced a mistake.

Rangihuna kicked the ball out and the game was won. The win was built on an outstanding defensive effort and a willingness to shut down the Upper Hutt pack at the breakdown.

HOBM are now top of the table on 12 points with Wainuiomata. They face their Catholic foes Marist St Pats next Saturday at the Hutt Rec.

Upper Hutt remains anchored at the bottom and face a stern challenge when Petone travel north to Maidstone.

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