Old Boys University and Poneke three from three in Swindale Shield
Old Boys University and Poneke have both made it three wins from three to start the season after the first of two midweek Swindale Shield rounds played tonight.
In fine, mild conditions, OBU and Poneke prevailed in contrasting style to also keep their opposition pinned to the bottom of the table. OBU were made to work hard by a determined Petone side at Evans Bay Park in winning 30-24 and, after an even start to their contest, Poneke eased passed Johnsonville 62-7 at Wakefield Park.
A desperate Petone now turns and faces Hutt Old Boys Marist on Sunday in their annual McBain Shield clash. Petone just have Paremata-Pilmmerton and Johnsonville below them on the table, after the previously winless Upper Hutt Rams broke their duck tonight with a fighting 20-15 win over Tawa at Fraser Park.
The Hutt Old Boys Eagles will also want to bounce back fast on Sunday, after they were well beaten by Wainuiomata tonight. Wainuiomata won their clash at Maidstone Artificial 31-5.
Avalon and Oriental-Rongotai are the third and fourth unbeaten sides so far. After drawing with each other in round one on Good Friday and winning on Saturday, each battled hard for their wins tonight. Avalon quelled a spirited Paremata-Plimmerton side 23-10 at Ascot Park, whilst Ories inflicted Northern United’s first defeat of the season in a messy 19-3 win in neutral Johnsonville.
By their own admission, Marist St Pat’s will want to bury the highlights reel of their 9-29 defeat to the Wellington Axemen at Te Whaea tonight, their second straight loss. MSP were left to rue a high error count and found themselves behind 6-17 at halftime. Captain Issac O’Connor also left the field injured as the Axemen pulled clear in the second stanza.
For Wellington, wing Paddy Hughes continued to score tries by twos – he scored his third consecutive brace to start the 2016 season.
At Island Bay, Johnsonville were in the contest early against Poneke and when their wing Jacob Walmsley scored an intercept try they were ahead 7-6.
But the next period of play was a tale of two locks, Johnsonville losing their academy lock Anthony Pettett to concussion and Poneke centre-turned-lock Cole Stewart making a big break in centre field up into the 22 that set up their first try of the night.
From there, the floodgates opened, Johnsonville dropping off tackles and Poneke racing to a 28-7 halftime lead. Other highlights included a powerful burst by prop Tevita Falekakala, who had a strong match, and a dazzling 50 metre solo try on halftime by debutant fullback Nick Robertson.
Johnsonville, whose first five-eighth Jesse Krafft arrived in Wellington from South Africa this afternoon, lost their other lock to injury in the second half, Frenchman Bernard Guyader. Poneke were able to bring on a rampaging Greg Foe off the bench in the second half and they won comfortably.
Wainuiomata have moved up to third in the Swindale Shield standings after comfortably taking care of HOBM.
It was Hutt who made the better of the starts, scoring the opening try through a break down the right flank which was finished off by centre Francis Tanuvasa.
Wainui, though, would shut out Hutt from there on out as they went on to score four tries to secure a well-earned bonus-point victory.
First to cross the chalk was standout fullback Fa’atau Mamea, shortly followed by New Zealand U20s squad-member Peter Umaga-Jensen who also had a stellar outing.
The Umaga-Jensen try came shortly after a yellow card to Hutt halfback Josh Raulini as Wainui held a 14-5 advantage at the break.
Umaga-Jensen was again the trouble-maker for Hutt as he broke down the left, chipped ahead and went to score as the ball travelled into the in-goal, only for Hutt wing LA Moemai to intentionally tap the ball dead, seeing yellow for the offence as well as Hutt being awarded a penalty try.
Frae Wilson waltzed his way over shortly before Wainui hooker Dion Lealofi also went to the bin for striking an opponent, though the game was over at this stage as Wainui topped off the match with a penalty goal and 31-5 victory.
Wainui’s backline wreaked havoc as the trio of Mamea, Umaga-Jensen and Michael Lealava’a found their way around the Hutt defence with too much ease. Umaga-Jensen was especially impressive as he made big metres with every touch of the ball, carting defenders around on his back.
Forwards Greg Lealofi, Ben Tupuola, Jarimar Schuster and Bernie Taulealo were Wainui’s best as they took advantage of a disorganised Hutt pack.
Hutt’s Ope Peleseuma was strong before being substituted, while replacements James O’Reilly and Sheridan Rangihuna brought life to their team when they entered the playing field.
At Alex Moore Park, wholehearted Ories captain and tighthead prop Whetu Henry led his side to a hard-fought victory over Norths.
Ories’ dominant scrum set the platform for a strong forwards effort. No.8 Tau'alupe scored from a win against the feed in the first-half, a half which also saw Ories bomb several chances to score.
Norths threatened to rally early in the second spell when Hayman kicked a penalty and missed another, but poor hands and discipline by both sides ensured a stalemate until Henry scored on fulltime.
As well as their set-piece work, Ories flanker Tuakana Metuarau was full of bustle and locks Karl Dumelow and Ola Va'ai were industrious. Wing Andrew Ellis was lively and competent. Mafi was excellent in a losing cause, lock Fala Tuala and openside Tewhenua Pohipi tried hard.
The Upper Hutt Rams came back from 12-0 down to beat Tawa, desperation seeing them home after two early losses. Flanker Mitchell Markov, a former Rimutaka breakaway, had another busy match.
First five-eighth Jordan Aquila (2) and second five-eighth Ben Peni found gaps in Paremata-Plimmerton’s line to score all three of Avalon’s tries in their second consecutive win, against Paremata-Plimmerton. Avalon led 13-3 at halftime and kept their noses in front throughout a tight and willing second half.
The fourth round of the Swindale is this coming Saturday and Sunday (McBain Shield).