Takapuna surprised an under-strength Western Pioneers team 19-9, showing that if they can keep their best side on the paddock they could do more than be the spoilers as the competition moves into the business end of the season. Their four points reduced the gap on the five teams ahead of them and they will take a lot of confidence from the way they fronted against the one-time competition leaders. Loose forward Jordan Manihera scored one of the two Takapuna tries, while Jon Elrick added the extras. Matt McGahan kicked two penalties and a dropped goal for the Pioneers.
North Shore have been up and down all year, and they again showed their better side, dismantling Silverdale 54-0 in a clinical display, despite the poor weather conditions. No 8 Leigh Thompson scored a brace, and fellow North Harbour reps James Hinchco and Brandon Nansen also got on the scoresheet, while Willie Walker slotted seven conversions of the eight tries.
Massey, with Nafi Tuitavake back from Crusaders duty and scoring two tries, pushed away early and never really looked under threat to beat Northcote 38-27. Tuitavake's brace was matched by Tito Sufia, while Renata Roberts-Tenana scored 17 points for Cote.
Auckland
(Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield)
Ponsonby 38 Marist 6
University 36 Papatoetoe 12
Manukau 19 Grammar TEC 13
Pakuranga 15 Waitemata 7
(Portola Trophy)
Eden 19 Waitakere City 3
Suburbs 29 Maungarua 14
College Rifles 36 Otahuhu 7
Ponsonby again clicked in the second half to over-run Marist 38-6 and stay in the hunt for a Gallaher Shield semifinal berth.
In wet and increasingly dark conditions, Ponies made hard work of the first stanza, as Marist poured the scrum pressure on and halfback David Osofua made judicious use of the box kick from the base. But the home side's cause was not helped when second five Paula Hala was yellow carded for stomping.
A searing break by Ponies left wing Pryor Collier and a pinpoint pass saw centre Rieko Ioane cross for the first of his two tries. That originated from a poor Marist clearing kick.
Ponies turned at 8-6 to the good, but they were a more controlled outfit in the second 40 minutes. Blindside flanker Leo Ngahe scored after setting up a movement with a long charge. He was one of Ponies' best, along with lock Sam Ulufonua and an authoritative display by veteran No 10 Murray Williams, who kicked seven from eight and plugged the corners. When Ben Meredith intercepted and bolted 50m for a try, Marist's resistance was broken. There was time for Ioane to score another for the bonus point, taking his tally to 10 in his first five premier games, and for former All Blacks halfback Kevin Senio, at 36, to come off the pine for the victors.
Elsewhere, the big upset was Manukau Rovers edging leaders Grammar TEC 19-13, with second five Juston Vaimalu running in two tries.
University got going in the second spell to defeat Papatoetoe 36-12, Kurt Eklund scoring a brace. Pakuranga stayed ensconced in the top four with an important 15-10 win over Waitemata, halfback Dwayne Polataivao scoring twice.
In the Portola Trophy, four tries to Joseva Ravouvou highlighted College Rifles' 36-7 victory over Suburbs, while Eden beat Waitakere City 19-3 and Suburbs were too good for Maungarua, 29-14.
Counties Manukau
(McNamara Cup)
Bombay 15 Pukekohe 10
Patumahoe 23 Manurewa 15
Ardmore-Marist 19 Onewhero 10
Karaka 40 Waiuku 10
Bombay have wrested the Counties Power Cup from Pukekohe with a 15-10 victory that keeps the contest for the top four finishing positions alive and interesting.
In difficult conditions, Pukekohe wing Sione Fifita scored two tries but they were matched by Bombay flanker Josh Allan and Kalolo Tuiloma, with Reece Joyce adding two goals.
Pukekohe lie third, seven points behind Karaka and Bombay, and ahead of Ardmore-Marist on points differential.
Patumahoe picked up their ninth win of 2015, 23-15 over Manurewa, though both teams scored two tries apiece. Fotu Lokotui had a strong game, scoring a try, while Riley Hohepa was also prominent, and kicked five crucial goals.
Ardmore-Marist and Onewhero had an entertaining tussle, with the former eventually winning 19-10 to remain fourth on the McNamara Cup log. A Sione Hifo try saw them to a 5-3 halftime advantage. Steelers loose forward Onosa'i Auva'a extended their lead seven minutes into the second half with a try off some good work by the forwards. Then Joseph Ikenasio nabbed a loose ball to run 30 metres and score. Lock Viliame Rarasea had a standout game in his blazer match.
Onewhero played some good attacking rugby late in the game but couldn't close the gap enough. They got on the scoresheet through a try to Richard Judd with Vaughan Holdt adding the extras.
Ardmore-Marist will be praying for no injuries to their players involved in the midweek Counties Cavaliers match against the Bay of Plenty Wasps.
Karaka again flexed their muscle with a convincing 40-10 victory over Waiuku. Karaka got off to a strong start in which they dominated the first half. They opened the scoring after 10 minutes through some quick phase ball which resulted in Chiefs squad member Cardiff Vaega getting across the line out wide. Five minutes later they were in again, a quick tap allowing Russell Coutts to charge over to give them a handy advantage.
The third try came through a sweeping move in which the backs and forwards worked well together to put Vaega across for his second. No 8 Siulongoua Fotofili drove over from a scrum to secure the side's fourth try and a 32-0 halftime lead. He was a standout for his side, damaging with ball in hand. Early in the second half, leading tryscorer Tavite Gadeisuva added another to take his season tally to 18.
Waiuku came to play in the second 40, winning more ball and applying plenty of pressure which did result in two driving tries to James Faiva and Daniel Fitzharris.
Thames Valley
(Jordan Cup)
Paeroa West 30 Hauraki North 27
Waihou 25 Waihi 7
Te Aroha COBRAS 30 Mercury Bay 8
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide premier)
Te Puke Sports 40 Rangataua 0
Whakatane Marist 20 Te Puna 16
Mount Maunganui Sports 68 Paroa 0
Opotiki 33 Waikite 6
Whakarewarewa 27 Rotoiti 20
Tauranga Sports 49 Greerton Marist 14
A hard-fought Baywide premier battle at Emery Park on the shores of Lake Rotoiti on Saturday resulted in Whakarewarewa defeating arch-rivals Rotoiti 27-20.
Whaka centre Te Rangi Fraser continued his tryscoring spree when he touched the ball down in the opening minutes for his 16th touchdown of the season. Doug Edwards celebrated his 100th game in the Whaka uniform when he grabbed the visitors' second try.
The visitors led 18-13 at the break, before Chanse Perham scored his side's second touchdown to take Rotoiti to a 20-18 lead. Three penalty goals from Whaka kicker Ryubyn Vaipo gave Whakarewarewa the 27-20 victory. The Whaka win reversed the Rotoiti victory in the Rotorua championship during April and returned the time-honoured Tai Mitchell Shield to Puarenga Park.
Defending Baywide premier titleholders Mount Maunganui Sports surged into third place in the qualifying competition, posting 68 unanswered points against Paroa. Mason Walker and Danny Kayes dotted down twice for the winners with Doug Law, Leigh Hughes, Sam Mayes, Logan Gies, Zar Lawrence and Jonty Wood also scoring.
Tauranga Sports cemented their place at the top of the standings after running in eight tries on the way to beating Greerton Marist 49-14 at the Tauranga Domain. Tauranga left wing Lewis Hancock showed plenty of pace and picked up his side's player of the day award. The Tauranga Sports' touchdowns were awarded to Dan Crowther, Rikki Abraham, Lewis Hancock, Jesse Acton, Hamish Gosling Jeff Thwaites, Dan Stroud and Nic Evemy. Joe Key crossed for Greerton's sole try with Tim O'Malley slotting three penalty goals.
A minor upset took place at Maramatanga Park where Eastern Bay visitors Whakatane Marist defeated Te Puna 20-16. Second placed Te Puke Sports ran over fellow Western Bay side Rangataua in a 40-0 victory, with Opotiki grabbing their second win of the season with a 33-6 win over bottom of the table Waikite.
Waikato
Hamilton Marist 25 Hautapu 19
Hamilton Old Boys 34 Te Awamutu Sports 26
Fraser Tech 24 Morrinsville Sports 14
University 17 United Matamata Sports 13
Otorohanga 19 Melville 14
King Country
Pio Pio 25 Taupo United 10
Taupo Sports 32 Kio Kio 20
Waitomo 18 Waitete 3
Taumarunui Eels 31 Coast 20
East Coast
Hikurangi 20 Tokararangi 12
Hicks Bay 32 Uawa 10
Ruatoria City 15 Tawhiti 10
Poverty Bay
HSOB 63 Pirates 3
Ngatapa 16 YMP 12
Hawke's Bay
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 22 Havelock North 22
Taradale 24 Hastings Rugby and Sports 15
MAC 30 Tamatea 20
Napier Old Boys-Marist 31 Central 5
Clive 16 Napier Technical 16
Manawatu
Varsity 41 Te Kawau 7
College Old Boys 29 Old Boys-Marist 6
Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 79 Freyberg 10
Wairarapa-Bush
(Moose Kapene Cup)
Eketahuna 15 Carterton 7
Greytown 21 Marist 16
Pioneer 16 Gladstone 14
East Coast 15 Martinborough 10
Wellington
(Jubilee Cup)
Marist-St Pat's 27 Hutt Old Boys-Marist 23
Old Boys-University 26 Wainuiomata 8
Tawa 31 Oriental-Rongotai 22
Wellington 27 Petone 17
Tasman
(Nelson Bays)
Marist 24 Stoke 17
Waimea 29 Kahurangi 19
Wanderers 35 Nelson 20
(Marlborough)
Waitohi 25 Moutere 22
Central 20 Harlequins 17
Buller
(Life Members' Trophy)
White Star 53 Westport 22
Ngakawau/Karamea 50 Old Boys 14
West Coast
Marist 24 South Westland 22
Blaketown 38 Wests 19
Kiwi 68 Grey Valley 26
Canterbury
(Hawkins Cup)
Lincoln University 46 University 31
Marist Albion 76 Sydenham 5
Christchurch 18 New Brighton 16
Shirley 18 Linwood 8
Sumner 24 HSOB 21
Burnside 16 Belfast 6
(North Canterbury)
Oxford 22 Ashley 20
Saracens 26 Glenmark 22
Kaiapoi 29 Ohoka 6
(Ellesmere)
Waihora 22 West Melton 3
Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 18 Hornby 13
Southbridge 38 Darfield 13
Lincoln 39 Rolleston 25
Mid Canterbury
(Watters Cup)
Celtic 12 Methven 6
Southern 32 Hampstead 17
South Canterbury
Celtic 30 Mackenzie 7
Old Boys 35 Geraldine 0
Waimate 22 Harlequins 13
Temuka 47 Pleasant Point 19
North Otago
Kurow 20 Old Boys 12
Excelsior 70 Valley 25
Athletic Marist 34 Maheno 32
Otago
(Metro)
Zingari-Richmond 51 Pirates 30
Southern 25 Dunedin 17
University A 29 Taieri 28
Kaikorai 44 Green Island 12
Harbour 50 Alhambra-Union 22
(Central Otago)
Maniototo 24 Wakatipu 3
Upper Clutha 31 Roxburgh 10
Arrowtown 41 Alexandra 17
Matakanui Combined 32 Cromwell 7
Southland
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 17 Marist 5
Pirates-Old Boys 81 Blues 7
Star 52 Midlands 12
