Crunch fourth round in Jubilee and Hardham Cups for playoff hopefuls

This weekend marks the halfway point of the Jubilee and Hardham Cup round-robins, with three rounds played so far and three to follow after tomorrow. Results and competition points are at a premium, and its already make-or-break time for some teams.

Most club matches are at earlier kickoff times this weekend due to the Hurricanes vs Crusaders match on Saturday night.

Jubilee Cup

Only three sides have won two or more of their matches, unbeaten teams Hutt Old Boys Marist and Wainuiomata, along with Marist St Pat's, a testament to how competitive and combative the Jubilee Cup is. Heading into this weekend one number that all teams might have on their mind is 19, which has been the amount of competition points needed to make the semi-finals in each of the past three seasons, while the two before that needed was 22 and 20 respectively.??

Two of those three sides, HOBM and MSP, clash at the Hutt Rec is what is probably the highlight match of the round. Both sides were narrow winners last time out, with the Eagles hanging on after a Jason Risdon try against the Rams while Isiah Petelo's twinkletoes effort was the late winner against Ories, so they would probably each appreciate some more breathing space than that this week. Each also has their share of game-breaking talent, so much may depend on the field position that respective first-fives Glen Walters and Fa'atonu Fili can provide. The two met for the Father Cleary Shield back on Easter Monday, with MSP prevailing 38-25 at Kilbirnie Park. ?

Over the hill, Wainuiomata took top spot on points difference with their ‘away' win at William Jones over OBU. Tomorrow they return to being the home side, with Oriental-Rongotai the visitors. Unlike the week before against Tawa, Wainui didn't let a halftime lead slip against the Goats and put the game out of reach with both John Monu and Shahn Eru scoring their second tries and will take a large stride towards returning to the semi-finals with a win here. After letting a great chance to do the double over MSP slip, Ories will know that a loss in this one would mean plenty of work over the last three games if they want a chance of fourth consecutive finals appearance. The two met in the first week of the season when they battled to an error-ridden 13-all draw.

At Lyndhurst Park, the home side Tawa take on OBU, having ended their winless streak - and reclaimed the Bill Brien Challenge Cup - when beating Petone last Saturday. Their opponent tomorrow is Old Boys-University, and while defeat for either side will not be the end of their seasons, it will make for a lot of effort needed over the remaining weeks for qualification. The return of Taniela Koroi has galvanised the pack, while fullback Randall Bishop was on song with the boot in the absence of James So'oialo. The Goats grabbed what could be a vital point last weekend and will rely heavily on the experience of the Kennedy brothers, Ian and Ross, in this one. Their previous Swindale Shield meeting was only decided on full-time with Greg Mullany kicking a long-range penalty to nab an 18-16 victory.

At Maidstone Park, the Upper Hutt Rams host Petone in what might be something of the dance of the desperate. The Rams are winless and need to win their remaining matches, accumulate bonus points and defy history if they want to qualify. The Villagers suffered their second narrow loss in succession and will know that a third will put their aspirations in jeopardy, and will want a repeat of their 34-22 win in the Swindale Shield round.

All matches are 2.15 pm kick-offs

Hardham Cup

The table is a little clearer in the Hardham Cup, with two sides each on three, two, one and no wins respectively. That will change this week as the matches involve top and bottom four contests.

Leaders Avalon host Norths at Fraser Park in a match-up of 1st v 3rd. The home side avenged their only competition loss of the year to date in beating OBU 30-12 last Saturday and are looking like a composed outfit. A second win over a Premier side will all but seal a semi-finals place. That is likely to be far easier said than done though as the visitors followed that first-up blip against OBU by dispatching Wellington and were simply rampant against MSP in winning 60-0; and in Perry Hayman have the competition's current top points scorer.

The other match-up of top four sides is at Kilbirnie Park where Poneke takes on Johnsonville. The home side has looked largely untroubled so far, backing their solid defence to keep their opposition at bay while doing enough with the ball themselves to put points on the board. Their key is the loose forward trio of Nathan Iro, Greg Foe and captain Galu Taufale. The Hawks only left it until the 78^th minute last week to get past a brave Paremata-Plimmerton side, with Kane Le'aupepe's close-range effort keeping coach Mason Lawrence's blood pressure in check. The two sides last met at Helston back on the Opening Day of the season, with Poneke kicking their way to a 15-10 win.

One-win sides Wellington and OBU B clash at Hataitai Park in what shapes as a must-win game for both teams. The Axemen endured yet another frustrating afternoon against Poneke and after last year's run to the Hardham Cup final there must be some doubts that they can do it again. The Goats seconds were kept in check against Avalon, but will relish the chance of claiming a second Premier scalp of the campaign.

Finally Paremata-Plimmerton and MSP B face off at Ngatitoa Domain. The upset was on for the home side when fullback Ryan McLean crossed for his second try playing into the wind in the second half, but their efforts were undone by Johnsonville's late winner. MSP's second side has been comfortably beaten in their first three outings, but they were all against the current top-three; so both sides will be looking to notch their first wins of the competition.

All four matches also kickoff at 2.15 pm

Senior 1 Ed Chaney Cup

The fourth-round of this competition is highlighted by the clash of the two remaining unbeaten sides, Petone and midseason-promoted Poneke, in the early game at 12.00 pm at Kilbirnie Park with the winner potentially able to make a break on the field.

Elsewhere the third-placed Upper Hutt Rams are against Norths at Maidstone, Tawa face the winless Axemen at Lyndhurst and HOBM take on the Wests Roosters at the Hutt Rec, with the latter having notched their first win of the season last weekend. All of these matches are 12.30 pm kick-offs. The final match is between Wainuiomata and bottom side Ories at Mary Crowther Park at the slightly earlier time of 12.15 pm.

College Premier

Westpac Stadium is the scene for the one top-four clash in the College Premier 1 competition when third-placed St Pat's Town meets fourth-placed Hutt International at 5.15 pm in the curtainraiser to the Super Rugby match. Town beat St Bernard's last Saturday, while HIBS fell to leaders Silverstream.

Earlier tomorrow in 2.30 pm kick-offs, struggling Wellington College will look to get somewhat back on track when they host St Bernard's, while Scots should have few issues with their trip to bottom side Naenae. The round will conclude next Wednesday when Rongotai heads to Silverstream for their annual traditional clash, with Stream coming off only their second loss of the season, beaten mid-week by Palmerston North Boys' High.?

In Premier 2, leaders Wairarapa are at home against winless Aotea, while the second-placed Silverstream 2nds travel to play Paraparaumu in a pair of 1.00 pm kickoffs. The 2.30 pm kickoffs have mid-table sides Hutt Valley HS and Upper Hutt meeting, Tawa at home against Kapiti College, and Porirua facing the Wellington College 2nds.

Other grades

The four Women's Victoria Tavern Trophy matches have first-round winners Old Boys-University and Norths meeting at Prince of Wales, Avalon hosting Oriental-Rongotai at Fraser Park, and Wainuiomata making the trip to Delaney Park to play Stokes Valley, all at 11.30 am. The fourth match is at Redwood Park at 12.00 pm between competition minnows Tawa and Poneke.

In the Senior 2 HD Morgan Cup, leaders Avalon and Norths meet ahead of their senior sides' clash at Fraser Park at 12.30 pm. The other matches at 12.30 pm have HOBM, who are also unbeaten, at home to MSP on the Hutt Rec while the Upper Hutt Rams host Petone at Maidstone. The only 2.15 pm kickoff is for Johnsonville's visit to Stokes Valley at Delaney Park.

In Colts Division 1 John E Kelly Cup action, there is a clash of unbeaten teams OBU Green and Petone Blue at Kelburn Park. HOBM, who are also unbeaten in this round, travel to the Polo Ground to take on Ories; and Wellington face Norths at Hataitai with all three games kicking off at 12.30 pm. The fourth match between MSP and OBU Black was scheduled for tonight at Te Whaea, but has been postponed.

Lastly, the details of the second round Under 85s competition have been confirmed after much feedback and discussion on proposed formats. It will now see two 9-team pools, Division 1 for the Paul Potiki Shield - which you will be able to follow here on Club Rugby - and Division 2 for the Moody Cup, with a round-robin format, with the two teams on the bye each week scheduled for a non-competition challenge match between them in order to maximise the amount of games this grade plays. Playoffs are scheduled in both divisions, but may be reduced to a straight final if weeks are lost to weather.

In the Division 1 matches this weekend the Upper Hutt Rams take on Waikanae tonight on the Maidstone artificial, while tomorrow the Poneke Cavs host Eastbourne at Kilbirnie at 12.30, the OBU Spartans face the MSP Blues at Te Whaea at 1pm, and at 2.15pm the Tawa Titans visit Avalon at Fraser Park. The OBU Bunnies are drawn to play the MSP Greens for their bye week match.