Big wins for Ories, OBU, Tawa in Wednesday night club rugby

Oriental-Rongotai, Old Boys University and Tawa each won contrasting but significant victories under lights tonight in the seventh round of the Swindale Shield to stake their claims as serious Jubilee Cup contenders later in the season.

Competition leaders and unbeaten OBU came through a tough encounter against Northern United at Fraser Park, conceding an early two-try deficit, running the lead down and then holding on to win 34-29.

After scoring virtually from the opening whistle and racing to a 14-0 lead, Norths extended their advantage to 22-15, before OBU scored through No. 8 Teariki Ben Nicholas, his fifth pushover try in two matches, and then through lock Will Mangos. Fullback Jono Ihaka ran half the length of the field to score what proved to be the match-winner and they then held on with a big defensive effort.

Oriental-Rongotai demolished Marist St Pat’s 54-21 at Wakefield Park in the biggest win of the night in terms of points scored, while at the other end of the scale, Tawa emerged from a forwards scrap and often meaningless kickathon with Poneke to eke out a 10-9 win at Porirua Park and cement their place well inside the ‘top eight’ at the halfway stage of the new 13-match first round Swindale Shield.

Ories beat MSP seven tries to two, fullback Ambrose Curtis bagging a double. Second five-eighth James Proctor was the catalyst behind the Ories machine, with his open-field kicks causing the MSP back three to scramble, which often saw Ories regain possession from the kick. The 21-9 half-time scoreline perhaps wasn't fair on MSP as they stuck in the game well, but five tries in the second 40 minutes capped a dominant half and an easy Magpies win.

Tawa’s best player on the night, lock Pati Gaualofa, scored the only try of the match with Poneke, barging over in the 10th minute after early forward dominance and some good early work by industrious hooker Lotu Nuku and busy No. 8 Tito Ioane.

Poneke came right back into the game, but were left rueing leaving four shots at goal out on the field - two in each half - and if any had gone over they would have won.

Wainuiomata moved up to third on the standings with a 20-8 win over plucky Avalon, their fifth victory of the season. In an error-ridden match. Avalon hooker Tufi Tufi scored the opening try, fending off the last defender in an exciting 25-metre burst.

Wainuiomata enjoyed ascendancy in the scrums and frequently disrupted the Avalon lineout. Gradually the green and blacks seized control of territory and fullback Josh Robertson-Weepu kicked two penalties and converted his own try before halftime. Two long-range bullet passes sent Wainuiomata wing Jason Love flying over early in the second-half for the key score of the match. The remainder of the fixture was scoreless, but not without moments of anxiety for Wainuiomata. In the 72nd minute captain Greg Lealofi  was yellow carded for an accidental head-high tackle on Sefo Aumua who was galloping into the clear at full pace. Moments later Corey Draper was dismissed after Wainuiomata conceded a succession of penalties while defending their goal line.

Similarly, the Wellington Axemen bounced back from their defeat to OBU on Saturday with an important 16-9 victory over Petone. In another closely fought match, the Axemen led 8-3 at halftime and held on to seal their place inside the top eight teams. Wellington scored two tries, to wings Tony Smith and Paddy Hughes. Petone remain on the outer, but they collected another bonus point and kept themselves within striking distance of the mid-table contenders.

The Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles and the Upper Hutt Rams both pulled clear to win their matches again winless Paremata-Plimmerton and Johnsonville respectively.

HOBM took their second win of the season in beating Paremata-Plimmerton 34-6, after holding a 12-6 lead late in the first half at Maidstone Park. Tries either side of halftime sealed HOBM’s win. They scored five tries, with five individuals crossing the whitewash.

The Upper Hutt Rams scored three converted tries in the first half, but also conceded two tries to lead Johnsonville 21-15 at halftime at Bernie Wood. But they clicked into gear and rattled on 32 unanswered points to notch a half century. Flanker Mitchell Markov scored three tries. Johnsonville also conceded their 500th point of the season in seven matches.