That means that even though the competition is only at the halfway stage, Massey, Western and Silverdale, together with North Shore, seem the likely semi-finalists, such is the gap that has opened between them and the other sides.
Shore, however, were pushed hard on Saturday before beating East Coast Bays 27-23, in a game which ended abruptly near full-time when a brawl broke out and from which rival props, Alex Woonton and James Penman received red cards.
Takapuna's prolific goal-kicker Jon Elrick achieved yet another individual century for a season by scoring 17 points in his side's easy 74-5 win over Marist, who along with Mahurangi will be demoted to reserve grade for the second round.
North Shore 27 East Coast Bays 23
Massey 92 Glenfield 6
Silverdale 52 Mahurangi 17
Western Pioneers 52 Northcote 17
Takapuna 74 Marist 5
Auckland
Pakuranga was not at its best but the defending champion was still too strong for Marist in a 22-0 shutout on a windswept day at the latter's home ground in Panmure.
It didn't look like Pakuranga would miss midfielder TJ Faiane, about to join the New Zealand Under 20s' camp, when some sharp, slick work saw centre Hayden de Villiers open the account after just two minutes. Pakuranga had continuity, field position, Mitchell Hunt running the cutter with his silky skills and No 8 Joe Edwards making a vigorous impression on his comeback trail. But the halftime score was just 10-0. Marist's pack defended with aggression, and Pakuranga hooker David Adams was sent to the sinbin.
In the second stanza, play broke up and got very loose. The highlights were two tries to wing Safata Savea, converted from lock. The first was a breakout down the left flank from assists by second five Caleb Hall and fullback Nick Smith. For the second, Savea bolted 40m after shrugging off two would-be tacklers from a poor clearance by Marist. The home team had a couple of chances to break its duck, but coughed up possession.
In other action, Papatoetoe sprung a major upset, a 20-6 win over Grammar-TEC at Orakei Domain wresting the Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup from the new club entity after just a week's tenure. Papatoetoe has always revered this trophy and has not held it since a successful run in 2011-12. The south Aucklanders are slowly working their up the Alan McEvoy Memorial Trophy standings.
There was celebration for Maungarua, which scored its first victory of a trying season, a hefty 70-14 win over Waitakere City. Eden was also in better form, beating East Tamaki 51-10, while Ponsonby, with a hat-trick to wing Pryor Collier, defeated Otahuhu 55-7 and University repelled Manukau Rovers 58-12. College Rifles won a significant and tight 16-15 result over previous log leader Waitemata.
Pakuranga 22 Marist 0
College Rifles 16 Waitemata 15
University 58 Manukau 12
Ponsonby 55 Otahuhu 7
Maungarua 70 Waitakere City 14
Eden 51 East Tamaki 10
Papatoetoe 20 Grammar-TEC 6
Thames Valley
Competition frontrunners Te Aroha College Old Boys had the bye on Saturday, giving the other clubs are chance to catch up in the race to make the top six teams which will contest the championship later on in the season.
Second placed Waihi travelled to Whitianga but were beaten 15-13 by a determined Mercury Bay side. The home side's big forward back did the work up front to give their team the winning edge. At Whangamata, the beach boys continue to chase that elusive first win of the season but were beaten again, this time 31-11 by the visiting Waihou team.
In the local derby played at Thames, Hauraki North gained bragging rights for a few weeks after heading the host club by 25-18.
Paeroa West 27 Ngatea 18
Waihou 31 Whangamata 11
Mercury Bay 15 Waihi 13
Hauraki North 25 Thames 18
Bay of Plenty
While Te Puke Sports wrapped up the Baywide Premier first round trophy on Saturday they had to withstand a spirited performance from Rangiuru, in the Te Puke local derby at Centennial Park.
Rangiuru, who earned promotion to the premier ranks last season, belied their position at the bottom of the standings entering the last game of the premier first round, to serve it up to the competition leaders in the first half. Trailing 5-10 at the break, Te Puke Sports dug deep in the second spell to run in two further touchdowns to win a hard fought 21-15 victory. Jono Kitto, Sipa Moimoi and Robert Jones grabbed tries for Te Puke Sports with Patuara Beil and Wi Kendall touching the ball down for Rangiuru.
Mount Maunganui moved back into second place, entering the second half of the season, with a 43-24 win over Whakarewarewa at Blake Park. The Mount opened the scoring in the opening minute when Teddy Stanaway waltzed over the try line, with the bonus point (four tries) coming in the first half, which resulted in the home side leading 31-5 at the break. Although Whaka posted three touchdowns in the second half to pick up a bonus point, Mount Maunganui went on to take out the encounter 43-24.
The upset of the weekend was provided by Greerton Marist, who beat defending Baywide premier champions Tauranga Sports, in front of a big crowd at Greerton Park. Tauranga Sports led 14-9 at the break, before Greerton stormed back into the encounter to post a 28-24 victory. With both sides running in three tries apiece, the difference was the boot of Greerton kicker Tim O'Malley who slotted 3 penalty goals and converted two tries.
Opotiki, who are the sole Eastern Bay of Plenty representative in the premier competition, got their Baywide campaign back on track with a comprehensive win over Rangataua in the Eastern Bay. After leading by 12 at the break, they went on to grab a solid 39-19 win. Rotoiti and Te Puna were unable to be separated at Emery Park on the shores of Lake Rotoiti, with the match finishing in a 15 all draw. Te Puna stalwart Daniel Schuster crashed over for his second try in the last play of the game, with the conversion attempt just shaving past the posts, which resulted in the points being shared.
Mt Maunganui 43 Whakarewarewa 24
Opotiki 39 Rangataua 19
Te Puke Sports 21 Rangiuru
Rotoiti 15 Te Puna 15
Greerton Marist 28 Tauranga Sports 24
Waikato
Leading sides University and Otorohanga both had solid wins on Saturday in round seven of the Waikato club competition.
At the University grounds, the host side maintained their lead at the head of the points table with a 34-17 win over Te Awamutu Sports. University scored three tries early in the first half then coasted to their win. For Te Awamutu, midfielder Robbie Fruean showed touches of genuine class at times in his first game back after a long break away from rugby because of illness.
Second placed Otorohanga romped in against bottom side Te Rapa at St Andrews Park, winning as they liked by 93-12, while third placed Hamilton Old Boys also had a big win, using their classy backline to good effect in whipping Hautapu 80-19 at Fred Jones Park.
In the other matches, Hamilton Marist beat Melville 22-8 at Collins Rd, and Fraser Tech continued to build form heading into the business end of the season, this week trouncing the visiting Morrinsville Sports side by 57-27 at Mill St.
University 34 Te Awamutu Sports 17
Fraser Tech 57 Morrinsville Sports 27
Otorohanga 93 Te Rapa 12
Hamilton Old Boys 80 Hautapu 19
Hamilton Marist 22 Melville 8
Other results
Northland
(Harding Shield sub-union rugby)
Northern Wairoa/Rodney 38 Bay of Islands 0
Whangarei 36 Mangonui 32
Counties Manukau
Te Kauwhata 16 Papakura 5
Patumahoe 37 Onewhero 26
Manurewa 22 Drury 18
Pukekohe 25 Ardmore-Marist 23
Karaka 64 Weymouth 5
Bombay 18 Waiuku 15
Poverty Bay
Pirates 22 YMP 18
Wairoa Athletic 43 Horouta 6
HSOB 19 Ngatapa 16
Hawke's Bay
Napier Old Boys-Marist 34 Taradale 30
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 64 Tamatea 5
Havelock North 45 MAC 19
Clive 30 Central 25
Hastings Rugby and Sports 39 Napier Technical 7
Taranaki
Spotswood United 28 Tukapa 19
Coastal 22 Clifton 17
New Plymouth Old Boys 42 Inglewood 11
Southern 35 Stratford 27
Wanganui
Pirates 47 Marist 22
Ruapehu 18 Taihape 11
Ratana 20 Utiku OB 19
Kaierau 11 Marton 7
Manawatu
Kia Toa 34 Te Kawau 30
Varsity 44 Feilding 12
College Old Boys 48 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 7
Old Boys-Marist 37 Freyberg 12
Horowhenua Kapiti
Paraparaumu 28 Shannon 18
Waikanae 12 Wanderers 11
Athletic 41 Levin College Old Boys 10
Wairarapa-Bush
East Coast 30 Carterton 12
Eketahuna 42 Marist 38
Martinborough 13 Gladstone 10
Greytown 30 Pioneer 17
Wellington
Petone 31 Tawa 27
Oriental-Rongotai 23 Marist St Pat's 16
Hutt Old Boys-Marist 33 Northern United 31
Old Boys-University 31 Wellington 22
Wainuiomata 23 Johnsonville 10
Upper Hutt Rams 37 Poneke 20
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy)
Waitohi 36 Central 18
Kahurangi 29 Stoke 12
Waimea OB 23 Nelson 17
Harlequins 25 Moutere 23
Wanderers 73 Awatere 12
Wakatu Marist 95 Renwick 16
Buller
Ngakawau 30 Westport 20
White Star 52 Reefton 5
West Coast
Kiwi 42 South Westland 0
Grey Valley 36 Wests 26
Blaketown 37 Marist 19
Canterbury
New Brighton 25 HSOB 23
Lincoln University 19 University 13
Marist Albion 35 Burnside 6
Sydenham 32 Christchurch 27
Shirley 47 Belfast 17
Sumner 26 Linwood 16
Canterbury Country/Mid Canterbury
Methven 71 Hampstead 0
Prebbleton 23 Oxford 21
Darfield 22 Ashley 15
Rakaia 26 Southbridge 12
Lincoln 55 Saracens 7
Waihora 25 Glenmark 3
West Melton 17 Celtic 17
Southern 18 Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 15
South Canterbury
Temuka 29 Harlequins 23
Mackenzie 16 Celtic 14
Pleasant Point 54 Geraldine 14
Waimate 43 Old Boys 12
North Otago
Old Boys 45 Kurow 22
Excelsior 31 Maheno 24
Athletic-Marist 24 Valley 9
Otago
(Dunedin)
Taieri 41 Dunedin 11
Southern 37 Harbour 22
University 51 Green Island 31
Kaikorai 39 Pirates 21
Alhambra-Union 23 Zingari-Richmond 15
Southland
Star 32 Midlands 31
Pirates-Old Boys 27 Eastern-Northern Barbarians 19
Marist 22 Blues 6
Woodlands 55 Te Anau 7 (crossover)
