Takapuna are now 2-0 after another rugged victory, this time 29-20 at Glenfield.
As ever, the boot of Jon Elrick with 19 points was decisive, to complement the tries to Boyd Wiggins and Seb Langridge. The scores were locked at 17-all before Takapuna gained a measure of control in the second spell.
Takapuna are nicely positioned in the top four and are at home to Western Pioneers next Saturday.
East Coast Bays continued their strong start to the season with a five tries to three 35-17 win at home over Silverdale, successfully defending the Les Pearce Memorial Shield in the process. Among those who registered five-pointers were Irwin Finau and Tua Saseve.
Last season's NZ Barbarians Schools first five from Orewa, Lewis Gjaltema, scored a try for Silverdale, who fought back into the match after Bays were on fire in the opening 40 minutes, racing to a 27-5 lead.
North Shore are sitting at the top of the standings after a late try sealed the bonus point in their 31-18 win over Western Pioneers. Prolific tryscorer Pita Volavola scored the Pioneers' only try, in the second spell.
A double to Renata Roberts-Tenana helped Northcote to a solid, 34-9 result over Mahurangi, which keeps them in touch with the leaders.
Massey were harassed by an energised Marist in a scrappy first spell, leading just 10-3, both sides having a player sent to the sinbin. Massey were rather better in the second half but could not secure the bonus point.
Auckland
(Waka Nathan Challenge Cup)
Final
Pakuranga 27 Waitemata 23
(Pollard Cup)
Final
College Rifles 25 Suburbs 19
Pakuranga have won the first piece of club rugby silverware for 2016, taking the Waka Nathan Challenge Cup with a dramatic last-gasp 27-23 victory over Waitemata at Bell Park.
The home side trailed 23-15 with just four minutes to play after Waitemata No 8 Faasao Mulivai had crashed over, but after another try, Elisi Pulu burrowed over from close range to steal it for Pakuranga. This was their second Waka Nathan crown after 2011 when Wayne Pivac was coaching them.
Wing Mark Dickison scored in just the second minute for Pakuranga, but they could never shake the tenacious westerners, from whom centre Jerome Sio looked likely. His class break and pass for fullback Sam Aolele was the game's best constructed try in what was a lively affair.
Waka Nathan himself, resplendent in his Barbarians blazer, was on hand to present the trophy.
In the second tier Pollard Cup final, College Rifles defeated Suburbs 25-19.
Counties Manukau
(Challenge Cup)
Patumahoe 59 Te Kauwhata 5
Onewhero 64 Drury 12
Karaka 46 Ardmore-Marist 24
Papakura 25 Weymouth 3
Pukekohe 16 Manurewa 5
Bombay 26 Waiuku 13
Karaka's 46-24 win over Ardmore-Marist highlighted round five of Challenge Cup premier action.
A hat-trick to Karaka halfback Desmond Liaina and a brace to centre Cardiff Vaega complemented the good work of the pack, where No 8 Lepetimalo Lauese and Steelers hooker Sione Anga'aelangi, both shone and scored tries. First five Orbyn Leger, just named in the New Zealand Under 20s, showed his array of skills and kicked 11 points.
Pukekohe edged Manurewa 16-5 to cap hooker Mark Price's 200th game at the Colin Lawrie Fields. The veteran and former Steeler played the full 80 minutes of a tough struggle where Pukekohe dominated ball and field position but found the Manurewa defence hard to crack.
Papakura collected their first win of the season, defeating Weymouth 25-3 at Massey Park. They picked up five points for the four tries, with Dylan Watters scoring a double and Brockson Brown and Keanu Naden also crossing the white chalk.
Counties Power Cup holders Patumahoe extended their lead at the top of the Challenge Cup standings with a 59-5 win over Te Kauwhata. They ran in nine tries to one in the victory, with John Tangi and Sam Furniss both scoring twice, and Joshua van Lieshout scoring a hat-trick to take him to seven for the season, topping that table with Liaina.
Onewhero got themselves back in the winners' circle after last week's loss to Ardmore Marist, running in 10 tries to two in a 64-12 win over Drury. Luke Makris extended his lead at the top of the scoring charts with 19 points. Onewhero now sit in second place, alongside Karaka and Bombay, on the Challenge Cup ladder.
Bombay were made to work hard by Waiuku in their match on the hill. The defending champions coming away with a scrappy 26-13 win. It was 8-5 to Waiuku at halftime, with Bombay taking a long time to get into the game. They have an injury concern, though, with halfback Liam Daniela, who scored a try, coming off the field early in the piece with a hip injury.
Thames Valley
(Silcock Shield)
Mercury Bay 10 Tairua 6
Waihou 56 Thames 0
Paeroa West 20 Te Aroha COBRAS 15
Waihi Athletic 24 Hauraki North 22
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide)
Tauranga Sports 20 Rangataua 5
Te Puke Sports 23 Whakarewarewa 15
Mount Maunganui Sports 23 Greerton Marist 16
Te Puna 30 Rotoiti 13
Opotiki 28 Paroa 6
Whakatane Marist 26 Arataki 5
Waikato
United Matamata Sports 50 Te Awamutu Sports 22
Hamilton Marist 28 Fraser Tech 25
Melville 38 Hamilton Old Boys 10
Hautapu 42 Otorohanga 31
University 67 Morrinsville Sports 14
King Country
Waitete 16 Pio Pio 9
Taupo Sports A 71 Tongariro 0
Bush United 44 Taupo Sports B 43
Taumarunui R & S 23 Taumarunui Districts 22
Taupo United 55 Kio Kio 32
East Coast
Uawa 70 Tawhiti 0
Ruatoria City 18 Hikurangi 14
Tokararangi 58 Hicks Bay 8
TVC 64 Waiapu 14
Poverty Bay
Waikohu 20 Ngatapa 12
HSOB 12 YMP 8
Old Boys-Marist 18 Pirates 6
Hawke's Bay
(Tui Nash Cup)
Clive 17 Taradale 5
Havelock North 23 Central 21
Napier Old Boys-Marist 18 Napier Pirate R and S 15
Hastings R and S 30 MAC 30
Napier Technical 25 Tamatea 16
Taranaki
Coastal 53 Clifton 3
NPOB 39 Tukapa 14
Southern 29 Stratford 23
Spotswood United 36 Inglewood 33
Wanganui
Kaierau 30 Marist 13
Pirates 60 Ratana 24
Taihape 48 Ruapehu 0
Border 57 Utiku OB 14
Manawatu
College Old Boys 21 Old Boys-Marist 16
Varsity 43 Freyberg 12
Feilding 36 Linton Lions 30
Kia Toa 31 Te Kawau 27
Wairarapa-Bush
(Moose Kapene Cup)
Pioneer 30 Greytown 22
Marist 24 Eketahuna 20
Gladstone 3 East Coast 3
Carterton 42 Martinborough 13
Horowhenua Kapiti
Levin College Old Boys 8 Athletic 6
Paraparaumu 30 Foxton 8
Toa 20 Shannon 14
Waikanae 48 Levin Wanderers 18
Wellington
(Swindale Shield)
Tawa 48 Avalon Wolves 10
Oriental-Rongotai 48 Wainuiomata 37
Old Boys-University 17 Paremata-Plimmerton 6
Wellington 90 Johnsonville 12
Marist St Pat's 29 Upper Hutt Rams 17
Northern United 26 Poneke 18
(April 6)
Wellington 23 Marist St Pat's 9
Wainuiomata 31 Hutt Old Boys-Marist 5
Upper Hutt Rams 20 Tawa 15
Poneke 62 Johnsonville 7
Avalon Wolves 23 Paremata-Plimmerton 10
Old Boys-University 30 Petone 24
Oriental-Rongotai 19 Northern United 3
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy division one)
(Nelson Bays)
Marist 26 Nelson 11
Wanderers 47 Stoke 18
Waimea Old Boys 29 Kahurangi 22
(Marlborough)
Moutere 44 Renwick 40
Waitohi 53 East Coast 0
Harlequins 32 Central 25
Buller
White Star 41-22 Reefton
Westport 17-16 Ngakawau
West Coast
Kiwi 55 Marist 6
Wests 17 South Westland 12
Blaketown 44 Grey Valley 10
Canterbury
(Metro)
Lincoln University 39 Sumner 21
Linwood 28 Shirley 24
Christchurch 50 Belfast 12
Marist Albion 40 HSOB 17
Sydenham 13 University 12
New Brighton 53 Burnside 7
Mid Canterbury/(Canterbury Country)
Kaiapoi 23 Methven 18
Southbridge 45 Saracens 26
Glenmark 40 Lincoln 12
Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwell 52 West Melton 3
Hampstead 20 Rolleston 5
Waihora 20 Southern 0
Ashley 42 Prebbleton 8
Celtic 45 Hornby 27
Darfield 50 Ohoka 14
Oxford 19 Rakaia 17
South Canterbury
Harlequins 38 Waimate 15
Celtic 36 Temuka 25
Old Boys 18 Geraldine 10
MacKenzie 23 Pleasant Point 22
North Otago
Valley 17 Excelsior 13
Old Boys 50 Kurow 24
Athletic Marist 32 Maheno 12
(Central Otago)
Arrowtown 23 Wakatipu 21
Cromwell 24 Upper Clutha 22
Matakanui 30 Roxburgh 28
Clyde 22 Alexandra 3
Otago
(Metro)
Harbour 55 Green Island 17
Dunedin 79 Zingari-Richmond 7
Kaikorai 64 Pirates 10
University A 35 Southern 10
Taieri 42 Alhambra-Union 26
(South Otago)
Crescent 30 Owaka 6
Heriot 40 Clinton 34
Lawrence 30 Clutha Valley 18
Clutha 57 Toko 17
Southland
Marist 16 Star 11
Pirates-Old Boys 33 Woodlands 31
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 25 Blues 20
*Auckland kicks off their competition proper on April 16.
