In the final analysis, the boot of Jon Elrick, as he has done so often, was decisive, even though he was not 100 percent off the tee. Takapuna thus clinch the 'Big Willie Trophy', named after former Takapuna player Willie Halaifonua, who lost his life after the 2013 fixture between the two clubs.
Manawatu halfback Jamie Booth scored two tries and former Bay of Plenty midfielder Cory Aporo another as East Coast Bays tipped over North Shore 29-19, usurping the Les Pearce Memorial Shield in the process. It was not enough to push Bays into the top four, but they are poised, three competition points behind Shore. Matt Hodson scored 14 points for Bays, including a try. Bays were fired up and were determined to keep Shore at bay.
Bottom-placed Silverdale proved the surprise package of the day, pushing table-topping Western Pioneers to 18-16. A double to Pita Volavola was gold for the Pioneers, while former Poverty Bay No 10 Clayton Kiwara kicked three goals for Silverdale.
Glenfield got their campaign back on track with the biggest margin of the day, defeating a Northcote side 43-24 that never gave the chase away but were ultimately outgunned and outclassed. Michael Little and Matt Peri each scored a brace.
With only 10 points now separating the top six teams, and the front-runners being knocked off in successive weeks, the competition is proving very even.
Auckland
(Alan McEvoy Memorial Trophy)
Pakuranga 28 Manukau 18
University 44 Ponsonby 15
Grammar TEC 39 Waitemata 5
Marist 22 Papatoetoe 13
(Portola Trophy)
Eden 35 Otahuhu 14
College Rifles 44 Maungarua 5
East Tamaki 33 Waitakere City 10
A strong final quarter saw Pakuranga to a 28-18 Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup win over Manukau Rovers at Bell Park on Saturday.
Three tries came from the home side in that period: to big wing Safata Savea, who bounced off two would-be tacklers, then to the opposite wing Samuela Tupou in the corner, stemming from superb hands by prop Elisi Pulu, and a long run and well-timed pass by flanker Adam Darracott. Alesio Petelo-Vili put the bonus point icing on the cake, latching onto a Aula Silipa break to finish in the corner, right in front of the grandstand bar. In between times, Manukau prop Toketa Fatai was sent off by referee Richard Loten for foul play.
Earlier, a physical Manukau had rattled Pakuranga, and centre Stacey Ili was able to cut capers out wide. He opened the scoring off a scrum in just the fourth minute as the Rovers pack muscled up and their disciplined defensive line harried the Pakuranga offence.
Messy Pakuranga play at the back saw Rovers wing Sosaia Tuihalanoingue cross and the alarm bells were sounding.
But Pakuranga clawed their way back into the contest in the second spell, conceding less turnovers and slowly gaining field position. They were helped when Manukau flanker Laulea Fangufangu was binned for infringing, and then began the final quarter flurry.
The win moved Pakuranga into the top four of the Alan McEvoy Memorial Trophy standings.
The most eye-catching result was University's 44-15 crushing of Ponsonby. No 8 Matt Matich, with two tries, and fullback Simon Healy, who crossed for one, were the standouts for the students, while Ponsonby's Rieko Ioane scored his sixth try in three premier games.
Grammar TEC pumped Waitemata 39-5, scoring six tries in the process. Marist will be happy with a bonus point 22-13 win over Papatoetoe.
In the second tier Portola Trophy, Eden beat Otahuhu 35-14, and College Rifles repelled Maungarua 44-5. East Tamaki's 33-10 win over Waitakere City included two tries to 2014 North Otago wing Tenina Sauileoge.
Counties Manukau
(McNamara Cup)
Onewhero 30 Waiuku 13
Pukekohe 22 Karaka 16
Patumahoe 23 Ardmore-Marist 22
Bombay 52 Manurewa 26
Despite finishing the game with 13 men, Pukekohe beat Karaka 22-16 to lift the Counties Power Cup.
The win cements Pukekohe in third spot, just behind the leaders Bombay and Karaka, with five rounds to play before the McNamara Cup semifinals. Three goals to the leading scorer in the competition - Nathan de Thierry - complemented tries to lock Sam Marcel, prop John Tu'ungafasi and second five Jarrod Stevenson. Pukekohe kept Karaka scoreless in the second advantage, though they had men in the sinbin.
For Karaka, Tautalafa Mata'afa scored their sole try, while Kieron Rollinson added the extras. Jamie Gilbert-Clarke was again prominent.
A penalty goal in the dying throes saw Patumahoe continue their winning ways with a 23-22 result over Ardmore-Marist, who picked up two bonus points but were not as accurate off the tee as Patumahoe's Riley Hohepa, who landed the winning kick. Josh van Lieshout scored a brace for the victors, but Ardmore-Marist's prop Feta Luamanu bolted 30m for a try which raised a big cheer from the sidelines.
It was a Piers Francis bonanza as the former Auckland and Waikato five-eighths chalked up 27 points in Bombay's 52-26 win over Manurewa. The six tries to two win included a score to former Auckland No 8 Ben Masoe, and carries Bombay to the top of the log.
Onewhero moved up to sixth after beating Waiuku 30-13, fullback Josh Turner enjoying himself with two tries and four goals in match which featured a clutch of yellow cards.
Thames Valley
Hauraki North 34 Te Aroha COBRAS 26
Paeroa West 12 Waihi 7
Mercury Bay 14 Waihou 10
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide premier)
Te Puke Sports 82 Waikite 0
Tauranga Sports 76 Paroa 7
Greerton Marist 36 Rangataua 20
Te Puna 45 Opotiki 15
Mount Maunganui Sports 31 Whakarewarewa 20
Rotoiti 55 Whakatane Marist 24
Defending Baywide premier champions Mt Maunganui Sports were the big mover on the standings after defeating Whakarewarewa in a replay of last year's title-decider, played at Blake Park.
Mt Maunganui opened the scoring early, when Matt Axtens crossed for the first of the home team's five touchdowns, with Whakarewarewa rebounding with a try awarded to Te Rangi Fraser. The home side led 19-10 at halftime before dotting down twice in the second spell, to have an 18-point advantage. With the clock ticking down, Whaka scored their third try, with Mt Maunganui taking out the encounter 31-20 to move into fourth place on the standings.
Competition front-runners Tauranga Sports picked up their sixth successive bonus point victory, defeating Paroa in a game of two distinct halves. The competition leaders led by just a solitary point at the break, 8-7, before running in 10 second half touchdowns, to post a 76-7 victory. Jesse Dodunski and Jason Harvey both picked up trebles with Ati Olive (2) Paula Hopoi, Dan Stroud and John Dodd also dotting the ball down. Tauranga Sports' No 6 Dan Crowther had an outstanding game and was awarded his side's player of the day prize.
The biggest victory of round six came at Murray Salt Stadium in Te Puke, where Te Puke Sports trounced Waikite 82-nil, after leading by 44 points at halftime. Bryn Uriarau grabbed three tries while Curtis Deane, Matt Cole and Jono Kitto all scored a brace of touchdowns. Acting Te Puke Sports skipper Matt Wallis picked up his side's player of the day with a non-stop display throughout the game.
Rotorua sub-union titleholders Rotoiti continued their season run of form with a solid victory over Eastern Bay visitors Whakatane Marist. The Rotorua side led 26-6 at the halfway stage of the encounter before going on to post a 55-24 victory. Te Puna got their Baywide campaign back on track to move into sixth on the standings after defeating Opotiki 45-15, with Greerton Marist winning the Western Bay derby against Rangataua with a 36-20 victory.
Waikato
Te Awamutu Sports 27 United Matamata Sports 23
Otorohanga 41 Morrinsville Sports 3
Hamilton Marist 34 Melville 29
Hamilton Old Boys 30 Hautapu 15
University 29 Fraser Tech 13
King Country
Waitete 33-10 Tongariro
Pio Pio 60-10 Bush
Taumarunui Eels 50-10 Taupo United
East Coast
Tokararangi 57 Tawhiti 10
Hicks Bay 10 Tokomaru United 7
Poverty Bay
Pirates 15 Ngatapa 12
YMP 37 OBM 24
Hawke's Bay
Napier Pirate R and S 32 Taradale 20
MAC 25 Clive 12
Hastings R and S 32 Napier Old Boys-Marist 12
Central 34 Tamatea 22
Havelock North 25 Napier Technical 21
Taranaki
Clifton 25 Southern 22
Coastal 21 Stratford 17
Tukapa 31 Spotswood United 5
NPOB 18 Inglewood 0
Wanganui
Pirates 48 Marist 19
Ratana 26 Kaierau 14
Ruapehu 25 Border 14
Taihape 26 Utiku OB 21
Manawatu
Kia Toa 107 Freyberg 0
College Old Boys 35 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 13
Te Kawau 11 Old Boys-Marist 5
Linton Army 28 Varsity 21
Horowhenua Kapiti
Shannon 26 Athletic 13
Foxton 17 Levin College Old Boys 16
Wairarapa-Bush
(Moose Kapene Cup)
Gladstone 21 Eketahuna 5
Greytown 22 East Coast 3
Carterton 39 Marist 17
Pioneer 21 Martinborough 12
Wellington
(Jubilee Cup)
Tawa 16 Wainuiomata 14
Petone 34 Hutt Old Boys-Marist 28
Oriental-Rongotai 34 Marist-St Pat's 6
Old Boys-University 30 Wellington 22
Tasman
(Nelson Bays)
Kahurangi 23 Nelson 13
Wanderers 55 Stoke 9
Waimea OB 30 Marist 17
(Marlborough)
Central 18 Waitohi 13
Moutere 58 Renwick 15
Buller
(Life Members' Trophy)
Ngakawau 76 Reefton 0
White Star 34 Old Boys 5
West Coast
South Westland 38 Grey Valley 5
Marist 41 Wests 5
Kiwi 31 Blaketown 29
Canterbury
(Hawkins Cup)
Lincoln University 26 New Brighton 15
Burnside 38 Christchurch 27
Sydenham 66 Belfast 7
Marist Albion 69 Linwood 7
University 48 HSOB 41
Sumner 34 Shirley 17
Mid Canterbury/Canterbury Country
(Luisetti Seeds)
Cup semifinals
Methven 29 Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 20
Waihora 13 Oxford 13
Southern 43 Celtic 14
Glenmark 34 Southbridge 27
Trophy semifinals
Darfield 26 Rakaia 23
Saracens 15 Lincoln 14
Plate semifinals
Ashley 32 Prebbleton 20
West Melton 16 Hampstead 13
Plaque semifinals
Hornby 24 Ohoka 14
Kaiapoi 49 Rolleston 7
North Otago
(Citizens Shield)
Old Boys 58 Athletic Marist 13
Kurow 35 Valley 25
Excelsior 58 Maheno 8
Otago
(Metro)
University A 60 Dunedin 8
Harbour 59 Kaikorai 17
Southern 71 Green Island 3
Pirates 26 Alhambra-Union 16
Taieri 44 Zingari-Richmond 29
(Central Otago)
Maniototo 32 Upper Clutha A 5
Arrowtown 47 Cromwell 12
Roxburgh 3 Matakanui Combined 3
Wakatipu beat Upper Clutha B by default
Alexandra beat Wakatipu Wanderers by default
(South Otago)
Toko 78 Owaka 20
Clutha 20 Clinton 0
Heriot 35 Crescent 25
Southland
Star 35 Woodlands 28
Marist 33 Pirates-Old Boys 28
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 41 Midlands 10
