Northcote overturned a 15-12 halftime deficit to beat Marist 31-15 and thus secured the bonus point.
Marist fired all the early shots, led by Hauwai McGahan and Cam Hey and a solid set-piece and defensive line, scoring tries to Adam Allison and Callan Venter. But a yellow card on Josh Hilton-Jones saw Northcote gradually regain the initiative in the second spell.
Takapuna put together one of their first full 80 minute performances of the season to dispatch Glenfield 62-12, with Josh Fraser's double one of the highlights among the eight tries. The prolific Jon Elrick kicked 10 goals for 22 points.
Ben Stewart scored two tries for North Shore, who defeated Kumeu 37-13 in the battle for the sixth/playoffs position. Shore now trail the westerners by one point on the table.
Silverdale maintained third place with an 82-3 shellacking of Mahurangi. Hamish Pomare ran in four tries, with David McMurtrie a hat-trick and Alistair Cargo a double. McMurtrie added 11 conversions for a personal haul of 37 points, taking him to a competition high 202 for the season.
One round remains before the July 8 playoffs.
Auckland
(Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield)
University 31 Pakuranga 12
Suburbs 37 Grammar TEC 22
Ponsonby 23 Manukau 18
(Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup)
College Rifles 34 Eden 24
(Portola Trophy)
Papatoetoe 15 Waitakere City 6
East Tamaki 60 Mt Wellington 0
Marist 22 Waitemata 18
University have taken a big step forward towards Gallaher Shield semifinals qualification after a 31-12 home victory over Pakuranga.
Blues loose forward Steven Luatua was a welcome presence at blindside flanker in his first outing for Varsity in several seasons and he gave an industrious first half with several strong carries before departing at 63 minutes. But it was No 8 Uini Fetalaiga and lock Lyndon Dunshea who were most prominent as Varsity controlled the early tempo, despite playing into the wind. Their scrum was solid and they cleverly worked the short side and used short inter-passing among the forwards, much like the All Blacks did against the Lions. This paid off via the boot of Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald and tries to halfback Brenton Helleur, who used all his nous in the conditions and went over from an 8-9 scrum move, along with an intercept by wing Amos Pogia.
At 18-0, it felt like game over. But Pakuranga worked their way back into the contest through two tries to wing Sam Shearer as the visiting pack started to gain parity. Shearer might have had a third but for a grassing tackle by Helleur. Blues centre TJ Faiane hardly touched the ball on attack for Pakuranga.
Varsity were able to keep their noses in front, if not with their first stanza control, and then finished in style through a late try to fullback Sam Lawson.
In other Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield action, Suburbs went 4-0 in the second round with a six tries to three, 37-22 win, over Grammar TEC.
Ponsonby kept their semifinal hopes alive with a tight 23-18 victory over Manukau Rovers, who led 13-11 at the break. Auckland loose forward Josh Kaifa scored a double for Manukau.
College Rifles put six tries on Eden and took the 34-24 win plus retaining the Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup. Loma Iloahefaiva scored a hat-trick, and Tumua Manu a double.
In the Portola Trophy, Papatoetoe beat Waitakere City 15-6 and Marist edged Waitemata 22-18. East Tamaki, with Paea Filimoeatu crossing for a hat-trick, cleaned out Mt Wellington 60-0. - Campbell Burnes
Counties Manukau
(McNamara Cup)
Patumahoe 21 Manurewa 14
Karaka 16 Ardmore-Marist 8
Onewhero 40 Papakura 14
Pukekohe 40 Te Kauwhata 0
Bombay 29 Waiuku 14
Pukekohe will need to defeat competition leaders Bombay this weekend to maintain their slim semifinal hopes.
This follows their 40-0 shutout of Te Kauwhata which featured a brace to Jordan Gibbons and a try to former Steelers and Chiefs loose forward Sam Henwood among a staunch defensive effort. Pukekohe remain fifth but eight points astray of Ardmore-Marist.
A late try to Siua Fotofili sealed a tight 16-8 Karaka victory over Ardmore-Marist in slippery, boggy conditions.
Patumahoe had to work hard to see off a spirited Manurewa 21-14 in a scrappy game in the wet at Patumahoe. The result sees Patumahoe all but secure a home semifinal. The visitors, however, played the better rugby for long periods and the home side incurred several penalties. A win against Waiuku this weekend will seal a home semifinal for Patumahoe.
Onewhero continued their strong second half showings with a comfortable 40-14 win over Papakura, for whom Allen Herbert scored a brace. Onewhero finished most of their opportunities and Nicholas Perez scored 13 points via try and four conversions.
Bombay remains atop the standings and booked a home semifinal with a 29-14 win over eighth-placed Waiuku, and also retaining the Counties Power Cup for another week. While the win wasn't easy, Jeff Marr's side got through the game without any major injury worries and took five points for the win, including a penalty try.
Thames Valley
Cobras 34 Thames 30
Mercury Bay 20 Hauraki North 14
Waihi Athletic 34 Waihou 12
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide premier)
Mt Maunganui 54 Whakarewarewa 19
Tauranga Sports 12 Te Puke Sports 9
Rangataua 27 Rotoiti 7
Te Puna 26 Greerton Marist 22
Waikato
Hamilton Marist 42 Fraser Tech 17
Otorohanga 27 Hamilton Old Boys 26
Hautapu 16 University 13
Melville 24 United Matamata Sports 10
King Country
Waitete 10 Taupo Sports A 5
Piopio 10 Waitomo 0
Taumarunui R & S 41 Taupo United 21
Kio Kio 17 Taupo Sports B 0
Taumarunui Districts 26 Bush United 5
East Coast
Waiapu 29 Tokomaru United 20
Hicks Bay 34 Tawhiti 0
Hikurangi 20 Ruatoria City 14
Poverty Bay
HSOB 16 Ngatapa 3 (Challenge Cup)
OBM 12 Athletic 5
Pirates 24 YMP 5
Hawke's Bay
(Tui Maddison Trophy)
Napier Old Boys-Marist 59 Napier Tech 7
Clive 33 Central 18
Hastings Rugby and Sports 31 Tamatea 24
Havelock North 61 MAC 0
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 28 Taradale 5
Taranaki
Stratford-Eltham 22 Inglewood 7
Spotswood United 22 NPOB 14
Tukapa 31 Clifton 22
Southern 17 Coastal 7
Wanganui
Pirates 74 Kaierau 0
Marist 50 Ratana 5
Ngamatapouri 19 Utiku OB 11
Ruapehu 17 Taihape 3 (Challenge Shield)
Manawatu
College Old Boys 25 Te Kawau 5
Varsity 64 Freyberg 3
Kia Toa 27 Linton 17
Old Boys-Marist 23 Feilding 15
Horowhenua Kapiti
Paraparaumu 26 Shannon 13
Wanderers 20 Athletic 18
Foxton 18 College Old Boys 14
Waikanae 15 Rahui 0
Wairarapa-Bush
(Tui Cup)
Pioneer 13 Marist 6
Eketahuna 23 East Coast 22
Greytown 14 Gladstone 10
Martinborough 24 Carterton 17
Wellington
(Jubilee Cup)
Wainuiomata 10 Petone 8
Tawa 30 Marist-St Pat's 29
Oriental-Rongotai 13 Northern United 10
Old Boys-University 19 Hutt Old Boys-Marist 17
(Hardham Cup)
Johnsonville 25 Avalon Wolves 19
Upper Hutt Rams 38 Paremata-Plimmerton 5
Poneke 20 Wellington 8
Tasman
(Marlborough)
Renwick 37 Waitohi 34
East Coast 28 Harlequins 17
Moutere 33 Central 17
(Nelson Bays)
Wanderers 54 Waimea Old Boys 7
Kahurangi 29 Nelson 27
Marist 37 Stoke 30
Buller
Westport 54 Ngakawau-Karamea 15
West Coast
(Muir Trophy)
Kiwi 34 Wests 20
Blaketown 29 South Westland 14
Marist 30 Grey Valley 22
Canterbury
(Metro)
Marist-Albion 28 Linwood 15
University 34 Burnside 27
Sydenham 45 New Brighton 14
Lincoln University 28 Christchurch 20
HSOB 25 Belfast 5
Shirley 26 Sumner 25
(Ellesmere)
Waihora 61 West Melton 19
Southbridge 58 Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwell 19
Prebbleton 22 Lincoln 17
Rolleston 20 Hornby 12
South Canterbury
(Hamersley Cup)
Harlequins 43 Pleasant Point 19
Celtic 16 Temuka 10
Geraldine 43 Old Boys 14
Waimate 34 MacKenzie 32
North Otago
Old Boys 55 Maheno 15
Excelsior 23 Kurow 13
Valley 22 Athletic Marist 19
Otago
(Dunedin Metro)
Dunedin 17 Alhambra-Union 5
Green Island 40 University 37
Harbour 23 Taieri 10
Southern 38 Zingari-Richmond 13
(Central Otago)
Upper Clutha 38 Matakanui Combined 10
Maniototo 40 Alexandra 13
Wakatipu 33 Clyde-Earnscleugh 6
Cromwell 39 Arrowtown 19
Southland
Pirates-Old Boys 24 Blues 19
Star 25 Woodlands 20
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 28 Marist 24
