The big statement came from Massey, who dented East Coast Bays' top four aspirations with a decisive 51-10, eight tries to two, win. Bays hang on to fourth position, and will need to win at Northcote on Saturday to ensure qualification. Massey built on a 25-0 halftime lead. Tito Sufia scored a brace, and North Harbour reps Adrian Smith, Ray Niuia, Gerard Tuioti-Mariner, Nalu Tuigamala and Matt Vaega were also among the tries.
Northcote cut loose, beating Silverdale 48-13, Tu Tawhai with a hat-trick and doubles to Josh Cooke and James Doyle, while North Harbour captain and Blues rep Bryn Hall kicked 13 points as he returns from injury.
North Shore will have a home semifinal on July 18 after repelling the Western Pioneers 34-13, scoring five tries in the process. They could still qualify top if they convincingly defeat Massey in the final round at Vauxhall Road.
Auckland
(Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield)
University 26 Waitemata 21
Manukau 23 Marist 17
Grammar TEC 67 Ponsonby 12
(Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup)
Pakuranga 27 Papatoetoe 21
(Portola Trophy)
Suburbs 54 Waitakere City 7
College Rifles 20 East Tamaki 15
Otahuhu 22 Maungarua 20
University booked their Gallaher Shield semifinal berth, but they had to work overtime to secure a 26-21 victory over a committed Waitemata outfit at Colin Maiden Park.
First five Brenton Helleur opened the scoring when he strolled through a yawning gap to score between the uprights from off the top lineout ball. He was key to the Varsity performance, and tackled strongly, though he did commit a couple of unforced errors and spent time in the sin bin. When second five Kaho Valikoula scored after good lead-up work by hooker Kurt Eklund and No 8 Matt Matich, Varsity were sitting pretty at 14-0. But Waitemata had other ideas. Blues No 8 Ari Hunt scored on the short side and then fullback Phoenix Hunapo bolted 80m for an intercept try. Incredibly, first five Dusan Hakaraia's two converted tries, both from the sideline, bounced over off the crossbar.
Varsity controlled the lineouts via Tim Cleaver but the underrated Waitemata pack made their presence felt and some of the home side's execution was unsound.
However, from the moment tighthead prop James Lay stretched out to score to take it to 21-14, Varsity had the bit between their teeth, and their final try was a sweet one, a one-three cut move from Helleur to centre Taylor Millar. Replacement prop Marcel Renata made an immediate impact off the bench, and he was watched by Maori All Blacks coaches Colin Cooper and Tabai Matson, mindful that there is not huge Maori depth at tighthead prop.
Waitemata had one final flourish, earning a penalty try for what could be a vital bonus point.
Varsity deserved the win in what was a keenly contested game of club footy. Waitemata, meanwhile, will need to beat Manukau in the final round to qualify for the semis.
Manukau continued their resurgence, edging Marist 23-17 to draw closer to their first top four qualification since the 1980s, when Frank Bunce, now assistant, was in his heyday.
Ponsonby's semifinals hopes foundered under an extraordinary 67-12 Grammar TEC onslaught, 10 tries to two, and one would need long memories to recall the last time Ponies had shipped that many points.
Grammar TEC tops the standings, and will host Pakuranga to find the Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield winner. The east Aucklanders locked the Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup away until 2016 with a hard-earned 27-21 victory over Papatoetoe, who are better than their eighth position. Pakuranga No 8 Timote Militoni raised his ton of premier games for the club.
In the Portola Trophy, there were wins for Suburbs, College Rifles and Otahuhu.
Counties Manukau
(McNamara Cup)
Patumahoe 59 Waiuku 10
Karaka 21 Bombay 15
Pukekohe 37 Onewhero 6
Ardmore-Marist 33 Manurewa 28
Ardmore-Marist successfully, if narrowly, defended the Counties Power Cup 33-28 over Manurewa.
Rewa belied their lowly position in the top eight with a very competitive display and were not far off claiming the Yates Trophy.
Wing Alex Samoa had a strong game for Ardmore-Marist, nabbing two tries, as did halfback Jason Guthrie. Lock Vili Rarasea continued his outstanding form this season alongside Crusaders and Steelers loose forwards Jordan Taufua, who made his first appearance for the club.
Manurewa's points came from two tries to Teisam Faimasasa, Alamanda Motuga and Taavili Patea also scored and Joshua Saifiti added the extras with the boot. Mark Selwyn once again proved to be a handful for Ardmore with a strong display in the midfield.
Patumahoe ran riot against Waiuku to the tune of 59-10, Josh van Lieshout crossing for four tries, which takes him to the top of the try charts. Man of the match Tamati Fromm also scored, while Riley Hohepa helped himself to 24 points, from a try and nine goals, including all eight conversions.
It could have been nine tries for Patumahoe but for a bizarre episode. A stunning length of the field effort could have been try of the season but it was disallowed due to the player not having his mouthguard in. Patumahoe are locked into fifth, and must wonder 'what if' after a costly slow start to the season.
Pukekohe are still very much in the hunt for a home July 18 semifinal after dispatching Onewhero 37-6, Sione Fifita scoring a brace and kicking five goals. Connor Brooke-Cowden, son of former All Blacks and Auckland flanker Mark Brooke-Cowden, also notched a five-pointer. Pukekohe will challenge Ardmore-Marist on Saturday for the Counties Power Cup.
Karaka maintained top billing with a 21-15 win over Bombay, confirming their home semifinal. Both sides scored two tries apiece. Sione Molia scored a fine solo try for Karaka, while Cardiff Vaega also crossed the chalk. Jamie Gilbert-Clarke and Fautasi Mau were standouts for the victors. Josh Stol's late effort ensured Bombay left with a bonus point.
Thames Valley
(Jordan Cup)
Te Aroha COBRAS 34 Paeroa West 29
Waihou 21 Hauraki North 19
Mercury Bay 15 Waihi 7
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide premier)
Te Puke Sports 18 Tauranga Sports 3
Te Puna 44 Waikite 8
Mount Maunganui Sports 34 Greerton Marist 19
Whakarewarewa 40 Whakatane Marist 26
Rotoiti 85 Paroa 0
Rangataua 32 Opotiki 17
The top of the table clash between the two unbeaten teams in the Baywide Premier title chase was taken out by Te Puke Sports, who defeated Tauranga Sports 18-3 at Murray Salt Stadium in Te Puke on Saturday.
Played on a wet track, the Te Puke Sports forward pack dominated scrum time, pushing their opponents off the ball on a number of occasions. The home side led 15-3 at halftime, with Eru Smith-Wano grabbing both touchdowns from lineouts near the tryline.
Strong Tauranga defence in the second spell saw just a solitary penalty kicked by Dan Hollinshead, with Te Puke Sports finishing with a 15-point victory.
The Te Puke Sports win should ensure that they finish as the top qualifier for the post section and the victory also relieved Tauranga Sports of the Jordan Cup (WBOP Challenge Trophy) that they have held all season.
Five tries to Matt Landers led the way in the big Rotoiti win over Paroa at Emery Park. The home team posted 85 unanswered points, with Siegfried Fisiihoi and Papa Wharewera grabbing doubles in the one sided match-up. Rotoiti cemented fourth place in the qualifying competition and victory over Rangataua next weekend will give them a semifinals berth.
Third-placed Mount Maunganui had a good tussle with fellow Western Bay team Greerton Marist, going on to a 34-19 win. The Mount secured a bonus point for four tries (or better) when Byron Smith, Danny Kayes, Sam Mayes and Mason Walker touched down for five pointers.
Whakarewarewa, who lurk in fifth position, had a game of two distinct halves against Whakatane Marist in the Sulphur City. They led 23-nil at the halfway stage of the encounter, before the Eastern Bay side's Fijian contingent grabbed four second half touchdowns, with the game ending in a 40-26 victory to the home team.
Te Puna anchored their place in the middle of point's ladder with a 44-8 win over cellar dweller Waikite at Maramatanga Park. A feature of the match was two tries apiece to Te Puna newcomers Shahn Eru and Terrence Hepetema. Rangataua returned home from the extremities of the Eastern Bay of Plenty with a hard-fought 32-17 win over Opotiki.
Waikato
Melville 20 Hautapu 17
Hamilton Old Boys 25 University 12
Fraser Tech 68 Otorohanga 22
Hamilton Marist 53 Te Awamutu Sports 12
Morrinsville Sports 29 United Matamata Sports 8
King Country
Waitomo 18 Taumarunui Eels 11
Taupo Sports 26 Coast 8
Waitete 38 Kio Kio 23
Taumarunui Districts 21 Taupo United 10
Pio Pio 52 Bush 0
East Coast
Tokararangi beat Tokomaru United by default
Uawa 24 Waiapu 19
Hicks Bay 37 Tawhiti 26
Poverty Bay
Ngatapa 27 OBM 15
HSOB 23 YMP 7
Hawke's Bay
Havelock North 12 Napier Old Boys-Marist 0
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 26 Napier Technical 16
Central 23 Clive 13
Hastings Rugby and Sports 19 MAC 15
Taradale 58 Tamatea 0
Taranaki
Inglewood 14 Clifton 9
NPOB 31 Spotswood United 19
Tukapa 32 Coastal 22
Southern 29 Stratford 27
Wanganui
Ruapehu 33 Marist 5
Pirates 74 Kaierau 19
Taihape 29 Ratana 10
Border 66 Utiku OB 28
Manawatu
Varsity 27 Kia Toa 23
OBM 41 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 26
Te Kawau 36 Freyberg 5
Feilding 58 Linton Army 19
Wairarapa-Bush
(Moose Kapene Cup)
Gladstone 17 Martinborough 10
Horowhenua Kapiti
Waikanae 20 Levin College Old Boys 13
Foxton 26 Shannon 23
Wellington
(Jubilee Cup)
Old Boys-University 38 Petone 20
MSP 38 Wellington 25
Oriental-Rongotai 30 Wainuiomata 27
Tawa 28 Hutt Old Boys-Marist 24
Tasman
(Nelson Bays)
Nelson 28 Waimea OB 26
Wanderers 26 Marist 7
Kahurangi 100 Stoke 3
(Marlborough)
Moutere 35 Harlequins 18
Waitohi 42 Renwick 27
Buller
(Life Members' Trophy)
Old Boys beat Reefton by default
West Coast
Marist 22 Blaketown 19
Wests 32 Grey Valley 20
Kiwi 89 South Westland 26
Canterbury
(Metro, Hawkins Cup)
Lincoln University 38 Marist Albion 16
New Brighton 47 University 26
Christchurch 27 Sydenham 20
Belfast 12 Shirley 11
HSOB 46 Burnside 27
Linwood 29 Sumner 22
(Ellesmere)
Lincoln 18 Waihora 12
Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 17 Prebbleton 5
Darfield 56 West Melton 26
Rolleston 29 Hornby 7
South Canterbury
Celtic 36 Temuka 26
Harlequins 31 Mackenzie 12
Waimate 43 Old Boys 24
Pleasant Point 56 Geraldine 10
North Otago
Excelsior 30 Old Boys 24
Maheno 13 Valley 8
Athletic Marist 29 Kurow 22
Otago
(Metro)
Pirates 36 Dunedin 17
University 28 Kaikorai 25
Southern 60 Zingari-Richmond 28
Taieri 67 Alhambra-Union 7
Harbour 99 Green Island 7
(Central Otago)
Maniototo 33 Alexandra 19
Cromwell 53 Wakatipu Wanderers 0
Arrowtown 33 Upper Clutha A 0
Matakanui Combined 50 Upper Clutha B 12
Roxburgh 34 Wakatipu 22
(South Otago)
Clinton 34 Owaka 10
Crescent 35 Clutha Valley 32
Southland
Marist 24 Star 9
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 60 Blues 0
Woodlands 32 Midlands 0
