Northcote, who have battled a crippling injury toll this season, engineered the upset of the round, lowering the Western Pioneers 31-29, though Western scored four tries to three. Renata Roberts-Tenana was again in good form, scoring 21 points, including 16 from the boot. Prop Nic Mayhew, another to make his Blues debut earlier this month, also dotted down.
Western were at time lacklustre, but still secured two bonus points. Prolific threequarter Ritchie Ah Chong was again among the tryscoring, as was Matt McGahan, who also added four goals.
East Coast Bays moved into the top four for the first time in many weeks, but had to do it tough after trailing cellar-dwellers Silverdale 17-8 at the break. They are now 9-4-1, the same record as Glenfield, and one competition point clear of Western, so the final two weeks of the regular season should see a bunfight for those three clubs scrapping for two semifinal berths.
Auckland
(Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield)
Waitemata 27 Papatoetoe 17
Manukau 35 Ponsonby 32
Pakuranga 20 University 10
Grammar TEC 22 Marist 16
(Portola Trophy)
East Tamaki 34 Suburbs 19
College Rifles 34 Waitakere City 8
Eden 31 Maungarua 12
Waitemata are presenting a solid case for inclusion in the Gallaher Shield semifinals after a 27-17, home bonus point win over a depleted Papatoetoe.
The result celebrated the 100th premier match of first five Dusan Hakaraia, and the Auckland rep cricketer showed some nice touches on attack and kicked three goals.
The Waitemata pack came under some scrum heat from Papatoetoe, but No 8 Ari Hunt made several bustling charges, though he is not a fan of passing the ball.
Waitemata led 15-3 at the break and 20-3 early into the second stanza, before withstanding a storming Papatoetoe comeback.
The visitors had already lost halfback James Johnston to what looked a bad leg injury, and then Waitemata's backs cut some capers, scoring tries to centre Karl Siemsen and wing Jared Klaver, the latter a sweet team try. Left wing Junior Simi looked sharp. Fullback Phoenix Hunapo scored a second half double, the first off a well executed backs move and the second when he outpaced the defence from a long kick by Klaver.
Papatoetoe never gave up, and prop Sione Mau and No 8 Mike Tafili were prominent in the closing quarter, helped by the sinbinning of Waitemata replacement Sam Ioane. Wing Junior Kiria's try came from a classy chip and regather from No 10 D'Angelo Leuila.
Waitemata are now firmly in the top four, but the semifinals race is still murky with two rounds to play.
Manukau won a famous 35-32, 10-try thriller over Ponsonby, Rovers' second big away win in two weeks, and they are now up to fifth on the table.
Pakuranga beat University 20-10, the students' second home defeat in three weeks. All Black Charlie Piutau ran freely and effectively from fullback in his 40 minutes, and two tries to halfback Dwayne Polataivao provided the tangible reward, as Pakuranga move up to second.
Grammar TEC stay atop the standings after a 22-16 win over Marist.
In the Portola Trophy, East Tamaki upset Suburbs 34-19, scoring five tries in the process, while fullback Gareth Marsden scored a try in his 100th premier match as College Rifles beat Waitakere City 34-8. Eden defeated Maungarua 31-12.
Counties Manukau
(McNamara Cup)
Pukekohe 36 Waiuku 5
Ardmore-Marist 20 Bombay 19
Karaka 26 Patumahoe 8
Manurewa 14 Onewhero 6
The Counties Power Cup has changed hands once more after Ardmore-Marist tipped over Bombay 20-19 in an absorbing, tense contest.
There were two tries in the match, one apiece, both going to the props. For Ardmore-Marist, Jeremiah Fatialofa, son of the late Peter Fatialofa, scored first, while Jonathan Taumateine, just back from Samoan Under 20s World Cup duty, slotted the extras with five penalty goals. Lock Viliame Rarasea performed strongly. Bombay bookend Kalolo Tuiloma scored his side's sole try, while first five Piers Francis scored in three different ways.
Despite the loss of the silverware, Bombay remain second on the log, with Ardmore-Marist in fourth and safely into the semifinals with two rounds to play.
Pukekohe scored a solid 36-5 win over Waiuku, picking up five tries to remain third.
Patumahoe have hit the skids, falling to their second loss in as many weeks with a 26-8 reverse to leaders Karaka. Jimmy Tupou, back from Crusaders duty, played well for the vanquished, for whom Sam Furniss scored their sole try.
Karaka relied on tries to Desma Liaina and Sione Anga'aelangi and the accurate boot of Kieron Rollinson, who slotted 16 points.
Manurewa, though bottom of the top eight, recorded their sixth win of the season, 14-6 over Onewhero, thanks to a Gene TeAmo try and three penalties by Mark Talaese. Onewhero stay sixth on the standings.
Manurewa second five Mark Selwyn and flanker Stephen Briscoe stood out for the victors.
Thames Valley
(Jordan Cup)
Mercury Bay 30 Paeroa West 12
Te Aroha COBRAS 27 Waihou 24
Hauraki North 48 Waihi 5
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide premier)
Opotiki 19 Paroa 5
Rotoiti 33 Waikite 5
Tauranga Sports 54 Whakatane Marist 22
Whakarewarewa 46 Te Puna 26
Te Puke Sports 41 Greerton Marist 22
Mount Maunganui Sports 32 Rangataua 27
Tauranga Sports continued their Baywide Premier unbeaten run, when they defeated Whakatane Marist in the Eastern Bay of Plenty on Saturday.
The Western Bay side grabbed their ninth successive bonus point, for four tries or better, as they eventually surged past Whakatane Marist 54-22.
Whakatane Marist roared into action in the opening minutes of the encounter to lead 10-7. The visitors absorbed the pressure and took a 21-10 advantage into the halftime break. The Western Bay side ran in eight touchdowns with Tauranga Sports kicker John Dodd adding seven conversions. The Marist tries were awarded to Tristam Healy, Jona Sawailau and Malakai Vulakoro.
Rotoiti cemented fourth place in the standings after beating Waikite 33-5 in the Sulphur City. Zac Hohneck grabbed two touchdowns for the victors, with Sioli Alofi and Joe Royal also dotting the ball down. The Rotorua lakesiders also were awarded a penalty try by the referee to give them a valuable bonus point in the race to the playoffs.
Defending Baywide title holders Mount Maunganui Sports had a game of attrition with near neighbours Rangataua at Te Ariki Park. Trailing by three at the break, Mount Maunganui ground out a hard fought 32-27 win. Zar Lawrence, Brett Ranga, Ben Tyler, Owen Karatai and Mason Walker crossed for the winners, with Reuben Poraka, Pararihi Lovett and Tute Grant scoring tries for Rangataua.
Whakarewarewa lurk just outside the top eight after getting past a game Te Puna 46-26. The Western Bay visitors used a strong breeze in the first half, to good effect, to lead 19-14 at halftime. However, Whakarewarewa unleashed their heavy artillery in the second 40 minutes to post a further 32 points. Te Rangi Fraser, who leads the Baywide try scoring stakes, added another touchdown in the second half to take his season tally to 17.
Te Puke Sports had an arm wrestle with Greerton Marist in the first half and trailed 10-12 at the break. The 2011 and 2012 Baywide titleholders dug deep in the second spell to take home a 41-22 victory. Opotiki had plenty to celebrate on Saturday evening after grabbing their third win of the season, when they won an Eastern Bay derby, defeating Paroa 19-5.
Waikato
Hamilton Old Boys 30 Otorohanga 25
Melville 34 Fraser Tech 7
University 51 Te Awamutu Sports 7
Hautapu 57 Morrinsville Sports 12
Hamilton Marist 61 United Matamata Sports 20
King Country
Waitomo 42 Kio Kio United 14
Coast 26 Waitete 11
Taupo Sports 34 Taumarunui R & S 5
Taumarunui Districts 10 Tongariro 7
Taupo United 32 Bush United 20
East Coast
Hicks Bay 25 Ruatoria City 22
Tokararangi 22 Waiapu 16
Poverty Bay
OBM 75 Pirates 5
HSOB 20 Ngatapa 8
Hawke's Bay
Havelock North 25 Hastings R and S 22
Napier Pirate R and S 54 Clive 12
Taradale 39 Central 29
MAC 23 Napier Technical 17
Napier Old Boys Marist 97 Tamatea 5
Taranaki
Clifton 37 Spotswood United 13
Inglewood 35 Coastal 14
Southern 17 NPOB 13
Tukapa 50 Stratford 19
Wanganui
Marist 38 Kaierau 17
Border 41 Pirates 7
Ratana 24 Utiku OB 17
Ruapehu 41 Taihape 22
Manawatu
College Old Boys 53 Linton Army 10
Varsity 82 Freyberg 5
Feilding 19 Old Boys-Marist 15
Kia Toa 32 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 20
Wairarapa-Bush
(Moose Kapene Cup)
Pioneer 24 Eketahuna 17
Greytown 26 Gladstone 22
Marist 71 East Coast 0
Carterton 30 Martinborough 28
Horowhenua Kapiti
Paraparaumu 15 Shannon 10
Waikanae 64 Athletic 20
Wellington
(Jubilee Cup)
Old Boys-University 29 MSP 20
Wainuiomata 37 Wellington 20
Oriental-Rongotai 22 Hutt Old Boys-Marist 22
Petone 31 Tawa 30
Tasman
(Nelson Bays)
Waimea OB 67 Stoke 12
Marist 27 Nelson 13
Wanderers 47 Kahurangi 12
(Marlborough)
Harlequins 30 Waitohi 18
Central 30 Renwick 12
Buller
(Life Members' Trophy)
Westport 64 Old Boys 0
White Star beat Reefton by default
West Coast
Marist 60 Grey Valley 10
Blaketown 45 South Westland 17
Kiwi 45 Wests 20
Canterbury
(Metro, Hawkins Cup)
Lincoln University 45 Sydenham 7
Christchurch 40 University 23
Marist Albion 34 New Brighton 21
HSOB 51 Linwood 22
Burnside 34 Shirley 13
Sumner 36 Belfast 19
(North Canterbury)
Glenmark 23 Oxford 6
Ashley 28 Kaiapoi 23
Saracens 43 Ohoka 17
(Ellesmere)
Waihora 27 Hornby 6
Southbridge 37 Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 10
Lincoln 22 Darfield 14
Rolleston 20 Prebbleton 0
Mid Canterbury
(Watters Cup)
Rakaia 30 Celtic 19
Methven 21 Southern 19
North Otago
Old Boys 68 Maheno 12
Athletic Marist 59 Valley 13
Excelsior 44 Kurow 32
Otago
(Metro)
Taieri 15 Southern 8
University A 57 Zingari-Richmond 10
Alhambra-Union 49 Green Island 21
Dunedin 34 Kaikorai 23
Harbour 42 Pirates 5
(Central Otago)
Alexandra 35 Upper Clutha A 15
Wakatipu 18 Arrowtown 3
Maniototo beat Roxburgh by default
Southland
Woodlands 6 Pirates-Old Boys 3
Star 26 Eastern-Northern Barbarians 19
Midlands 36 Blues 27