Women's much anticipated decider and Swindale Shield ramps up
At the conclusion of today's round there is only a month left in the round robin of the Swindale Shield increasing the importance of all fixtures.
The match with the most immediate impact on the possible semi-final line-up this weekend is Marist St Pats hosting Tawa.
MSP was bumped off the top of the table by Hutt Old Boys Marist, failing to use a sizable first-half breeze. Tawa arrested a two-game skid by scoring 50 against Johnsonville.
The MSP scrum went backwards against the Eagles and Tawa with the Coburn brothers and Hugo Plummer in the second row will note that fact. In the backs, veteran Trent Renata typically drives Tawa from first-five while Aidan Morgan is a glimpse of what the future might look like.
MSP haven’t lost at Evans Bay Park this season and with an abundance of riches in the loose forwards and greater polish than seven days ago will fancy their chances of returning to the winners’ circle. Expect a cracker.
At the opposite end of the table, Paremata-Plimmerton hosting Avalon should be a beauty. The Wolves have had a horror run lately conceding 170 points in the past fortnight. However, two losses by less than 10 points suggests they should compete with Paremata-Plimmerton who have scored six tries in their last two games and won two matches on the bounce prior to that. Chris Lafaele and Taisson Lealaisalanoa are two quality locks expected to shine in a keen forward battle.
The Poneke forwards were keen in taming Ories 20-15. Julian Savea had little impact as the street kids kept their season alive. Hooker Andrew Jones and lock Galu Taufele will led a determined assault this weekend at Jerry Collins Stadium against Northern United. Nine points outside the top four, Poneke simply has to stop Norths six game winning streak to stay alive in 2020.
Norths have scored 42 tries and in young Sam Clarke seem to have found a capable pair of hands at first-five. Losi Filipo scored two tries against Upper Hutt and is in fine form. Norths have real power in the pack and the likes of Waylon Baker and Bruce Kauika-Petersen are in commanding form.
The two teams meet for the Cyril Collett Memorial Shield.
Old Boys University were in commanding form in their 78-5 defeat of Avalon and should have little hassle in accounting for Wellington. OBU have scored more tries (46) and points (328) than any other club. Shamus Hurley-Langton is on fire with nine tries spearheading forwards that could produce five Lions.
OBU defends both the Bill Brien Challenge Shield and the Dean Gifford Memorial Cup in this match, after the former OBU and Wellington police officer who passed away earlier this century.
Wellington were brave against Petone, but fell to eventually fell to a large defeat. Sam Gard’ner, Ben Strowger-Turnock and Issac Bracewell will be keen to impress the Lions selectors. That trio have been consistent performers for Axemen all year.
There should be plenty of heat in the meeting between Petone and the Upper Hutt Rams. Josh Southall, Iona Apineru and Josh Houston-Tupou are among the former Rams to have arrived in the Village in 2020. Petone have won six in a row and Willie Fine scored three tries against the Axemen, his best effort back from injury. Upper Hutt should challenge Petone in the forwards with the likes of Jack Wright, Aidan Woodward, and Murphy Taramai as good as any, but Petone should have too much firepower, especially strong off the bench.
This game is for the Ted Connolly Cup.
Wainuiomata denied Hutt Old Boys Marist a place in the Jubilee Cup semi-finals last year with an epic 28-19 win in the last round. Wainuiomata could repeat history if they topple the Eagles. HOBM are in sixth place on 25 points, four adrift of semi-final position. The Eagles 24-22 success over MSP was built upon a sturdy scrum and better use of the wind. Jarred Adams on the loosehead side was a welcome addition while Rei Manaia produced a mighty shift in his 100th and the shirtless tackling of Josh Brown was a metaphor for Hutt’s desperation. Wainuiomata got back on track with a 63-19 win over Paremata-Plimmerton. Second-five Tyler Tane scored 38 points and four tries at second-five. His potential duel with Swindale Shield leading scorer Brandyn Laursen will be a beauty. The Wainuiomata pack will have to work their hearts out to get a result at the Rec. If Hurricanes lock Liam Mitchell is available again it will greatly aid the visitors' cause.
Two losses by a combined margin of nine points has properly put Oriental Rongotai out of Jubilee semi-final contention in 2020. The Magpies goal-kicking has been a concern converting only 12 of their 25 tries. Ories should have the measure of the Johnsonville Hawks but Andrew Ellis making an appearance against his former club and young loosehead PJ Sheck testing himself against his Ories opposites, who include Alex Fidow at No. 8, should be highlights.
Ories and Johnsonville play for the Ash Pointon Cup, after the player who who passed away in 2017 after playing over 250 games for Ories and Johnsonville combined in the 1980s and 1990s. He played 167 Senior 1/Premier games after leaving Rongotai College in the late 1970s, starting at lock and moving to the flanker and finally No. 8. After the 1988 Ories Centennial and with a newly purchased house in Newlands and a young family, Ash transferred to Johnsonville where he clocked up just over 100 games and was a big part of them regaining Premier status. After retiring following Johnsonville's winning of the Swindale Shield in 1997 Ash returned to Ories and spent three years coaching the Miramar club’s successful second side. He retired from coaching but then returned to assist their Hardham Cup winning Premiers in 2007. He was also the Wellington Pride coach in the early 2000s.
Oriental Rongotai and Northern United meet at the Polo Ground in a 'virtual' Premier Women's title decider in the feature match of all other grades.
In an abbreviated Premier Women's season, defending champions Ories and Norths meet in the ninth and deciding round of the Rebecca Liua'ana Trophy, which will be awarded to this season's winner, with the championship deciding Tia Paasi Memorial (division 1) and Izzy Ford (division 2) Cups in abeyance this year.
Heading into the season showdown, both teams are unbeaten having achieved maximum points from each of their seven scheduled games so far. Although Ories are on 25 points and Norths 23 owing to the latter being docked two points for breaching the WRFU Youth Player Policy at the start of the season. This means that Ories can win the trophy with a draw or a win without a bonus point. They haven't conceded a single point all season so far, so Norths will need to find a way through their defences as well as prevent them scoring points themselves.
Statistically, these two sides have won six of the past Premier Women's Championships. Since Ories' first win in 2014, Ories has won 84 of 94 games played and have scored 4803 points and conceded 932, with an average winning score of 51-10. Since 2013, Norths have won 90 of 105 games, scoring 4,668 points and conceding 1,147, with an average winning score of 44-11.
Head to head, since 2012, Ories and Norths have played each other 22 times. Ories have won 12 of these and Norths 10 and the average winning score has been 25-24.
Timena Tuma’ai will also be playing her 100th Premier Women's match for Ories in the final. The daughter of Ories men's legend Fa'avae, Timena has been with the side all through their rise to prominence over the past several seasons. She started as a wing and fullback, but moved closer to the action in 2016 where she has played many of her games at first five-eighth. She has also played for the Pride and Pride Sevens sides, earning 22 caps in the Women's NPC between 2013 and 2018.
As well as the Women's decider, there are three other matches to conclude the Rebecca Liua'ana Trophy season.
HOBM head into the last round in third (on 23 points), but they have the bye, meaning that the Petone Ponies (20) can seal third if they beat fifth equal OBU (18) at Nairnville Park. MSP (18) will also be looking to leapfrog either Petone and OBU into fourth if they can beat winless Poneke at Kilbirnie Park. Avalon (10) host Paremata-Plimmerton (12) on Friday night in the fourth match.
All Premier Reserve, Colts, Under 85kg Restricted, Reserve Grade & Presidents Grade matches have been postponed today.