Shore started with a hiss and a roar, scoring four first half tries, two of which went to threequarters Daniel Lee and Daniel Hilton-Jones, both named in North Harbour's side for Wednesday's match against Northland in Waipu. Centurion halfback Luke Hamilton scored a nice try from an 8-9 scrum move.
But Takapuna made better use of the crosswind in the second half, with a number of effective midfield bombs and controlled use of the football seeing them come back into the contest with a fine try, after hooker Jamie Hinchco was yellow-carded. Takapuna's two tries went to Sam Houston and Nick Cargo, while Bryn Gatland, son of the soon-to-arrive Wales coach Warren Gatland, kicked five crucial goals. Stoic defence was the hallmark of this win, with North Shore hammering away but not finding any answers.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Western Pioneers v Mahurangi game was a typical hard, country game. Western, with plenty of errors creeping into their play, showed guts to keep out a determined Mahurangi. It wasn't fancy, but they did score five tries for the bonus point.
Marist again showed they are a team on the improve after another gritty first half performance that held an in-form Northcote at bay for long periods. But, as has been the recent script for Marist, the second half again took its toll, with Northcote getting the ball wider and the game opening up for Cote to ease away to the tune of 43-14 to hold second place. Tumanawa Tawhai scored a hat-trick.
Prop Salesi Ma'afu had his blazer presentation at the Massey club for 100 premier games after his club dispatched Silverdale 42-17 with some comfort, scoring six tries to three.
The Glenfield-East Coast Bays clash turned into a real nailbiter, which Glenfield took 13-8, scoring one try to Julian de Vos. The win keeps them in touch with the front-runners and importantly gets them within striking distance of Bays on the log.
Auckland
(White pool)
Pakuranga 20 Manukau 15
Ponsonby 42 Otahuhu 3
College Rifles 43 Eden 27
Grammar TEC 19 Te Papapa-Onehunga 3
(Blue pool)
Suburbs 20 University 11
Waitemata 29 Marist 5
Mt Wellington 33 Waitakere City 14
Papatoetoe 28 East Tamaki 0
University will not contest the Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield for the first time in living memory after falling to a 20-11 defeat to Suburbs at Shadbolt Park in a high stakes first round climax.
Needing victory to squeeze into the top eight round, University started with the requisite intensity, being held up early over the line and fired by two rocking big hits by centre Mike King on the Suburbs backs. But for all their field position, University could not post enough points, were often inaccurate from kickoffs and under pressure from the Suburbs scrum.
The home side worked their way back into the match, and dangerous centre Varasiko Duisokosoko crossed after a delicate chip over the top by first five and captain Carl Perry, who again controlled proceedings with authority.
Suburbs turned at 13-6 to the good, but one might have expected Varsity to be the more desperate side in the second stanza. It was not to be, though fullback Simon Healy did score a try for the visitors. Halfback Henry Saker was sinbinned, and Suburbs capitalised, lock Trope Yandall over from a driving maul. Their defensive wall held strong as Varsity, spurning shots at goal, threw everything at them. The upshot is that Suburbs top the Blue pool and move into the Alan McEvoy Memorial round with confidence.
Varsity still might have qualified, but other results went against them. The first was Waitemata, who toasted flanker Aaron Huddlestone's 100th premier game with a 29-5 victory over Marist, who dropped to third. Papatoetoe leapfrogged Varsity after dispatching their East Tamaki neighbours 28-0, D'Angelo Leuila scoring a brace.
Mt Wellington enjoyed their first win of the season, 33-14 over winless Waitakere City.
In the White pool, there were nervous moments for Pakuranga, who had to work hard to overcome Manukau 20-15 at Williams Park, and thus take fourth place.
Grammar TEC finished third in beating Te Papapa-Onehunga 19-3, while College Rifles finished 7-0 after a 43-27 win over Eden, which featured a double to halfback Kurt Davies and 18 points to first five Broc Hooper. Ponsonby placed second after hammering Otahuhu 42-3. - Campbell Burnes
Counties Manukau
(Second round)
Pukekohe 62 Manurewa 18
Onewhero 35 Papakura 5
Bombay 83 Te Kauwhata 14
Patumahoe 46 Waiuku 12
Ardmore-Marist 64 Weymouth 13
Pukekohe put a slight dampener on the 100th premier game of Manurewa flanker Mark Selwyn with a decisive 62-18 victory at Colin Lawrie Fields.
It was relatively tight, 19-10, at halftime, before Pukekohe pulled away with a Jared Page hat-trick and 22 points from Joe Reynolds. Selwyn did have the satisfaction of scoring one of Manurewa's two tries.
At Massey Park, Onewhero were able to celebrated prop Robert Katu's 100th game for the club in style. They defeated a determined Papakura 35-5. Katu carried and scrummed well, but the other prop Ali Fahiua was adjudged player of the day, while hooker Andrew Jones was also solid.
On the hill, Bombay proved too good for Te Kauwhata, winning 83-14. The home side got off to a strong and commanding start and, by halftime, were leading 52-0. Bombay scored 13 tries in the victory, including a hat-trick to Tulele Masoe.
Patumahoe picked up a 46-12 win in Waiuku. Patumahoe first five Riley Hohepa had another outstanding game, scoring two tries and kicking four conversions and a penalty goal for 21 points. Hohepa combined well with Steelers halfback Kane Hancy, back from a stint in Portugal. The latter will play his 100th premier game for the club next weekend against Te Kauwhata.
Patumahoe are depleted at the moment with injuries, with the likes of Sam Furniss out with concussion, but they will also be without props Sione Faletau and Kamaliele Sakalia, who have been selected to play for Tonga in the Pacific Nations Cup.
At Bruce Pulman Park, Ardmore Marist picked up a big 64-13 win over Weymouth. It was a very tight first half with the home side leading just 12-10 at the break. But they ran away with it in the second half, outscoring Weymouth 52-3. It was a day to remember for Lolohea Loco, the Ardmore Marist fullback running in five tries.
Thames Valley
(Jordan Cup)
Waihi Athletic 18 Hauraki North 14
Te Aroha COBRAS 52 Paeroa West 24
Tairua 26 Mercury Bay 7
Waihou 42 Thames 15
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide)
Mt Maunganui Sports 40 Whakatane Marist 15
Tauranga Sports 24 v Paroa 15
Rangataua 28 Rotoiti 20
Te Puke 46 Opotiki 0
Greerton Marist 22 Whakarewarewa 20
Te Puna 34 Arataki 20
Waikato
Morrinsville Sports 47 United Matamata Sports 15
Te Awamutu Sports 35 Otorohanga 32
Fraser Tech 24 University 21
Hamilton Marist 18 Hamilton Old Boys 15
Melville 26 Hautapu 23
King Country
Tongariro 35 Waitomo 0
Taupo United 29 Waitete 25
Taupo Sports A 51 Kio Kio 22
Pio Pio 66 Bush 12
Taumarunui R & S 63 Taupo Sports B 7
East Coast
Ruatoria City 12 Tokomaru Bay United 8
Hikurangi 28 Uawa 20
Poverty Bay
Waikohu 36 OBM 26
Ngatapa 16 HSOB 10
YMP 46 Pirates 16
Hawke's Bay
(Maddison Trophy)
Taradale 40 Havelock North 9
Napier Old Boys-Marist 51 MAC 12
Napier Technical 38 Central 27
Clive 35 Hastings Rugby and Sports 33
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 34 Tamatea 27
Taranaki
Coastal 38 Clifton 14
NPOB 14 Tukapa 12
Southern 37 Stratford 16
Inglewood 28 Spotswood United 3
Wanganui
Marist 49 Pirates 19
Taihape 43 Kaierau 15
Border 23 Ruapehu 21
Ratana 20 Utiku OB 14
Manawatu
(Centennial Cup)
College Old Boys 65 Linton Lions 7
Kia Toa 45 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 15
Old Boys-Marist 18 Te Kawau 11
Feilding 22 Freyberg 3
Wairarapa-Bush
(Tui Cup)
Carterton 30 Martinborough 0
Greytown 39 Pioneer 23
Eketahuna 18 Marist 7
Gladstone 24 East Coast 18
Horowhenua Kapiti
Athletic 32 Levin Wanderers 0
Shannon 24 Foxton 22
Levin College Old Boys 16 Toa 14
Wellington
(Swindale Shield)
Wellington 37 Hutt Old Boys-Marist 0
Marist St Pat's 66 Johnsonville 5
Wainuiomata 27 Northern United 24
Old Boys-University 39 Avalon Wolves 0
Petone 6 Oriental Rongotai 3
Tawa 68 Paremata-Plimmerton 0
Upper Hutt Rams 21 Poneke 15
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy)
Moutere 24 Stoke 23
Central 29 Kahurangi 24
Wanderers 19 Waitohi 5
Renwick 17 Waimea Old Boys 16
Marist 34 East Coast 10
Nelson 24 Harlequins 5
Buller
Westport 18-3 Ngakawau/Karamea
White Star 26-19 Reefton
West Coast
(Muir Trophy)
Kiwi 31 Wests 6
Blaketown 18 South Westland 8
Marist 27 Grey Valley 17
Canterbury
(Metro)
New Brighton 33 Linwood 7
Sydenham 40 Burnside 5
Christchurch 45 Marist Albion 5
Sumner 51 Belfast 14
University17 HSOB 14
Lincoln University 25 Shirley 9
Mid Canterbury/(Canterbury Country)
(Country Cup)
Quarter-finals
Southbridge 23 Ashley 10
Glenmark 25 Celtic 21
Waihora 19 Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwell 17
Rakaia 20 Lincoln 14
Playoffs (Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club Trophy)
Darfield 24 Kaiapoi 17
Saracens 19 Oxford 12
Playoffs (Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club Plaque)
Ohoka 27 Hampstead 15
Southern 29 West Melton 12
Playoffs (Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club Plate)
Methven 19 Prebbleton 8
Hornby 38 Rolleston 14
South Canterbury
Celtic 58 Temuka 24
Old Boys 15 Geraldine 8
Waimate 40 Harlequins 0
Pleasant Point 20 MacKenzie 10
North Otago
Old Boys 31 Excelsior 7
Kurow 18 Athletic Marist 11
Valley 23 Maheno 17
Otago
(Metro)
Kaikorai 23 Dunedin 15
Green Island 31 Alhambra-Union 24
University A 28 Taieri 3
Harbour 52 Pirates 10
Southern 38 Zingari-Richmond 5
Southland
Star 28 Blues 11
Marist 24 Pirates Old Boys 22
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 22 Woodlands 8