In the first stanza, Jon Elrick, playing his 171st game for Takapuna, controlled proceedings with his boot in the No 12 jersey, while blindside flanker Josh Fraser led the way in the pack. Blues squad member Matt Duffie showed his aerial skills from fullback, and scored a try.
Former All Blacks Sevens rep Murphy Taramai, having transferred from Wellington, was strong for Northcote behind a scrum that often got dominated.
Takapuna had stretched their lead to 30-10 before Northcote stormed back and were hot on attack before losing the ball at the death and Takapuna kicked to touch to take the win.
East Coast Bays celebrated Slade McFarland's 200th premier game by over-running 2015 semifinalists Western Pioneers 47-15, with rep players Irwin Finau and Jona Tuitoga among the tryscorers, and Cory Aporo slotting six conversions. McFarland himself played 30 minutes off the bench and will look ahead to No 201 next weekend as Bays return to Windsor Park to face Silverdale.
As predicted, the Massey v Glenfield fixture at Moire Park was a tight tussle, with the home taking the points with five tries and a 30-24 scoreline. Michael Little of Glenfield and Matt Vaega of Massey offered an enticing midfield match-up which did not disappoint, but Massey's bench and a stronger final 10 minutes carried the defending champions to victory.
North Shore shrugged off the torrential rain in Warkworth, hitting their straps in the second spell to power to a 49-13 win over Mahurangi. Daniel Hilton-Jones scored a double and there were tries to 2015 Wairarapa-Bush loan player So'otala Fa'aso'o, in his Harbour club debut, and his old St Kentigern First XV teammate Dillon Wihongi.
Marist showed signs of life after a challenging 2015, though they finally fell 41-17 to Silverdale, for whom Darren Wigg scored a try in his 100th game for the latter club.
Auckland
(Waka Nathan Challenge Cup)
Semifinals
Waitemata 35 Papatoetoe 20
Pakuranga 12 Marist 8
(Pollard Cup)
Semifinals
Suburbs 30 Eden 29
College Rifles 52 East Tamaki 10
Counties Manukau
(Challenge Cup)
Ardmore-Marist 21 Onewhero 17
Patumahoe 100 Drury 3
Waiuku 15 Te Kauwhata 3
Bombay 25 Pukekohe 24
Manurewa 37 Papakura 13
Karaka 63 Weymouth 8
Josh van Lieshout should be fit and full of running from his stint with the All Blacks Sevens, and the loose forward did just that with his four try haul in Patumahoe's 100-3 shellacking of Drury to remain the only unbeaten team after four rounds of the Challenge Cup.
They ran in 16 tries, including a hat-trick to Harley Jenkins, and built on a 52-0 halftime advantage. Riley Hohepa kicked 10 conversions. Openside flanker Craig Jones was another in top touch.
Ardmore Marist held on to defeat a spirited Onewhero 21-17 at Bruce Pulman Park.
The home side led 21-7 at halftime, with Lolohea Loco dotting down in the corner and No 8 Sione Hifo and Karl Ropati also scoring in the first 40. But a halftime rev-up by Onewhero coach Adam Cathcart saw his side claw their way back into the match. Ardmore-Marist's top performers were fullback Preston Elama and loose forward and co-captain Onosa'i Auva'a.
There were dramatic scenes on the hill, as Bombay stole a 25-24 victory off Pukekohe right on fulltime. The home side trailed 8-6 at halftime and they were down for almost the whole second half as well, before they managed to score a converted try at the death after some strong impact from the bench.
Halfback Liam Daniela was again to the fore, as were No 6 Miracle Tulua-Taito and Sam Vaka and Patrick Masoe, both of whom scored tries, in the backline.
A depleted Waiuku did it tough, 15-3 over Te Kauwhata, with wing Bryce Vaireka scoring a brace after the scores were locked 0-0 at oranges. Halfback Joe Dawson and No 7 Ethan James were standouts.
Karaka took the five points on offer against Weymouth, coming away with a 63-8 win after a dusty first half. Kali Hala bagged a hat-trick and Harry Luteru a double, while Orbyn Leger kicked 18 points. Lock and 2015 Counties Manukau Under 19 rep Harry Fitzsimons had a sound game.
Manurewa picked up their first win of the season with a 37-13 bonus point score over Papakura at Mountfort Park.
The home side got off to a strong start and led 20-8 at halftime. Gene Te Amo and Ta'avili Patea both scored two tries each.
Thames Valley
(Silcock Shield)
Tairua 44 Thames 0
Waihou 13 Waihi Athletic 10
Mercury Bay 36 Paeroa West 16
Hauraki North 25 Te Aroha COBRAS 22
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide)
Tauranga Sports 41 Arataki 3
Te Puna 10 Whakarewarewa 10
Mount Maunganui Sports 36 Rangataua 17
Whakatane Marist 58 Opotiki 10
Rotoiti 27 Paroa 10
Te Puke Sports 39 Greerton Marist 36
Waikato
Fraser Tech 40 Hamilton Old Boys 24
Otorohanga 59 United Matamata Sports 5
Hamilton Marist 36 Te Awamutu Sports 14
Melville 27 University 20
Hautapu 40 Morrinsville Sports 0
King Country
Waitete 22 Waitomo 14
Taupo Sports 126 Bush United 0
Pio Pio 43 Taumarunui Districts 0
Kio Kio United 32 Tongariro 24
Taupo United 15 Taumarunui Rugby and Sport 8
East Coast
TVC 34 Hicks Bay 7
Tokomaru Bay United 43 Tawhiti 3
Ruatoria City 28 Tokararangi 14
Hikurangi 11 Waiapu 10
Poverty Bay
OBM 6 YMP 6
HSOB 30 Waikohu 22
Pirates 16 Ngatapa 14
Hawke's Bay
(Tui Nash Cup)
Napier Old Boys-Marist 27 Central 19
Clive 26 Tamatea 3
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 48 Napier Technical 6
Hastings Rugby and Sports 32 Taradale 18
MAC 26 Havelock North 11
Taranaki
Clifton 39 Tukapa 10
Stratford 33 Coastal 27
New Plymouth Old Boys 34 Spotswood 8
Southern 26 Inglewood 25
Wanganui
Marist 34 Pirates 0
Taihape 40 Kaierau 28
Border 47 Ruapehu 17
Utiku OB 36 Ratana 12
Manawatu
Varsity 34 Feilding Old Boys 6
Linton Lions 43 Old Boys-Marist 36
Kia Toa 61 Freyberg 5
Te Kawau 19 Feilding 12
(Easter Monday)
College Old Boys 34 Linton 12
Kia Toa 30 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 15
Old Boys-Marist 22 Te Kawau 17
Feilding 31 Freyberg 27
Wairarapa-Bush
(Moose Kapene Cup)
Martinborough 20 Marist 19
Carterton 48 East Coast 19
Eketahuna 13 Pioneer 12
Greytown 29 Gladstone 21
Horowhenua Kapiti
Foxton 22 Shannon 6
Levin College Old Boys 20 Toa 14
Levin Wanderers 24 Athletic 18
Waikanae 28 Paraparaumu 20
Wellington
(Swindale Shield)
Old Boys-University 23 Marist-St Pat's 19
Oriental-Rongotai 86 Johnsonville 3
Wainuiomata 27 Paremata-Plimmerton 3
Poneke 32 Hutt Old Boys-Marist 23
Avalon Wolves 32 Wellington 29
Northern United 24 Upper Hutt Rams 23
Tawa 18 Petone 15
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy division one)
(Nelson Bays)
Kahurangi 28 Nelson 13
Wanderers 72 Waimea Old Boys 0
Marist 24 Stoke 24
(Marlborough)
Harlequins 22 East Coast 23
Waitohi 50 Renwick 5
Central 37 Moutere 20
West Coast
South Westland 42 Grey Valley 7
Wests 16 Marist 5
Canterbury
(Metro)
Lincoln University 44 Christchurch 10
New Brighton 48 Marist Albion 17
University 22 Shirley 11
Linwood 29 Belfast 27
Sumner 26 Burnside 8
HSOB 16 Sydenham 3
Mid Canterbury/(Canterbury Country)
Rolleston 25 Methven 17
Lincoln 24 Saracens 16
Southbridge 35 West Melton 0
Glenmark 57 Hampstead 7
Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 62 Kaiapoi 5
Oxford 27 Prebbleton 17
Waihora 11 Darfield 6
Ohoka 46 Hornby 35
Ashley 36 Southern 30
Rakaia 19 Celtic 13
South Canterbury
Harlequins 16 MacKenzie 14
Waimate 42 Old Boys 22
Temuka 50 Geraldine 11
Celtic 33 Pleasant Point 13
North Otago
Old Boys 71 Valley 5
Athletic Marist 57 Excelsior 6
Maheno 20 Kurow 20
(Central Otago)
Cromwell 33 Arrowtown 25
Maniototo 13 Roxburgh 11
Matakanui Combined 40 Alexandra 10
Wakatipu 22 Upper Clutha 12
Otago
(Metro)
Green Island 29 Alhambra-Union 28
Kaikorai 34 Dunedin 32
Southern 50 Zingari-Richmond 29
Harbour 45 Pirates 24
Taieri 27 University A 10
(South Otago)
Toko 24 Crescent 19
Clutha 55 Clinton 15
Clutha Valley 51 Owaka 12
Lawrence 38 Heriot 18
Southland
Woodlands 32 Blues 14
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 30 Marist 0
Pirates Old Boys 37 Star 21
*Buller kicks off their premier club season on April 9.
