Northcote now rise to third, leapfrogging East Coast Bays, who were divested of the Les Pearce Memorial Shield, 22-14 by North Shore.
Strong defence was a feature of Shore's play, but the two well-taken No 8 tries by former North Harbour loose forward Leigh Thompson were decisive after Shore had taken a 10-3 halftime lead. Despite a try to Jason Donnelly, Bays could not peg back the margin and fell to their first loss of 2016. The industry and effectiveness of the big Shore pack were key factors in the victory.
Four away sides enjoyed success in this round. Takapuna travelled up to Warkworth and although skipping away early, were left with a few nervous minutes towards the end of the match as they held on for a 29-22, bonus-point, victory. Mahurangi did have the satisfaction of securing their first competition point of the season.
Glenfield travelled up to Silverdale and also had to battle hard against a fired-up Silverdale side that dominated the first half but were unable to fully capitalise on position and possession. Glenfield's bench and a double to Max Leanna saw the visitors score their first win of 2016.
Western Pioneers, like Glenfield, notched up their first victory, with a comfortable 43-10 win over Marist. The prolific Pita Volavola ran in a hat-trick, but the Pioneers' outstanding player was lock Carl Cimpoias. Some shine was taken off the Western win with the front-row incurring several late cards.
Auckland
College Rifles 23 Pakuranga 20
Grammar TEC 32 Eden 16
Ponsonby 33 Te Papapa-Onehunga 0
Manukau 70 Otahuhu 10
Suburbs 29 Marist 13
East Tamaki 24 University 20
Papatoetoe 30 Mt Wellington 14
Waitemata 25 Waitakere City 13
College Rifles have sounded the warning that they could be championship contenders this year after claiming their second major scalp in as many weeks in the White pool.
After a solid win over Ponsonby in round one, Rifles defeated Pakuranga 23-20 on a big day for the club, its military ties duly acknowledged on Anzac weekend, not to mention shouting out for 20 years of women's rugby at the club. But the extraordinary thing was that Rifles had to withstand a comeback from the visitors with just 14 men, and they did so for a good portion of the second spell after fullback Veni Manufekai was sent off for a dangerous tackle after the whistle by Namibian referee Jacques Niewenhuis.
Earlier, Rifles centre Loketi Manu was lucky to escape without a yellow card after tackling a player in the air, but he made up for this error of judgement by scoring the late, critical try in the corner.
Pakuranga's Nick Smith, who started at first five but ended in his best position of fullback, sliced through for a superb solo try to close the gap to three, bur Rifles, resplendent in their commemorative Anzac jerseys and playing with passion and commitment, hung on for the points. The boot of first five Broc Hooper was key - five from seven off the tee - while the seasoned Rifles pack, led by the likes of captain Hayden Edwards, Jeremy Innes and Josh Brajkovic, hurled themselves into what was an intense and, at times, niggly clash. Pakuranga scored three tries to two but could never quite get on top of the contest. Rifles wing Joseva Ravouvou had bolted 50m for an intercept try to see his team into the halftime huddle at 16-10. Pakuranga had willing workers such as lock Max East and Blues No 6 Joe Edwards, who scored a try, in their pack.
Elsewhere in the White pool, Grammar TEC stayed top with a 32-16 win over Eden, a hat-trick to Danny Tusitala guided Ponsonby to a 33-0 shutout of Te Papapa-Onehunga, and Manukau ran in 11 tries in a 70-10 hiding of Otahuhu, for whom a long season looms.
In the Blue pool, East Tamaki, with a new-look coaching and playing staff, sprang the big upset, tipping over University 24-20 with four tries, including a brace to Solomona Silipa and one to former Manu Samoa utility back Timoteo Iosua. Papatoetoe bounced back to beat Mt Wellington 39-14, and Waitemata won their west Auckland derby, 25-13 over Waitakere City. A much better second half from Suburbs carried them to a 29-13 win over Marist to retain the Terry Hitchcock Memorial Trophy and go top of the table. - Campbell Burnes
Counties Manukau
(Challenge Cup)
Patumahoe 35 Onewhero 0
Karaka 51 Te Kauwhata 0
Pukekohe 27 Ardmore-Marist 11
Bombay 77 Weymouth 7
Manurewa 34 Waiuku 14
Manurewa have endured a difficult season thus far but they were on their game to retain the Pat Walsh Memorial Trophy with a 34-14 victory over Waiuku at Mountfort Park.
Flanker Alamanda Motuga won the player of the day award for Manurewa, and he took home the bag of veges for his troubles. The Samoa Sevens rep only arrived back home midweek from the Singapore tournament, but showed he was well over his jetlag.
Tim Nanai-Williams was also an inspirational presence, acting as water boy for Manurewa.
Waiuku were more than competitive, leading 14-10 at the break with their pack causing problems at the set-piece and collision.
The Pukekohe set-piece was also to the fore as they enjoyed a 27-11 victory over Ardmore-Marist at the Colin Lawrie Fields. Former North Harbour, Steelers and NZ Sevens flyer David Raikuna scored one of Pukekohe's two tries, while openside Cody Wheeler was outstanding.
Counties Power Cup holders and Challenge Cup leaders Patumahoe continued on their merry way, dispatching Onewhero 35-0. Wing Josh van Lieshout scored his eighth try of the season, while the club marked prop Siosiua Pole's 100th match in style.
Karaka blanked Te Kauwhata 51-0 with prolific tryscoring Tavita Gadeisuva to the fore with a double, while hooker Sione Anga'aelangi and halfback Andrew West were also prominent.
Liam Daniela and Sepuloni Taufa shone for Bombay in their 77-7 win over Weymouth on the hill. Daniela crossed the tryline four times, making seven for the season, while Taufa picked up a hat-trick.
Papakura and Drury did not play.
Thames Valley
(Silcock Shield)
Waihi Athletic 32 Tairua 12
Te Aroha COBRAS 61 Thames 24
Hauraki North 44 Paeroa West 10
Waihou 27 Mercury Bay 25
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide)
Te Puke 33 Te Puna 31
Whakatane Marist 35 Greerton Marist 15
Rangataua 64 Opotiki 3
Tauranga Sports 30 Whakarewarewa 19
Paroa 18 Arataki 10
Mt Maunganui Sports 44 Rotoiti 6
Waikato
Hamilton Old Boys 12 Otorohanga 10
Hautapu 76 United Matamata Sports 26
Morrinsville Sports 28 Fraser Tech 21
University 15 Te Awamutu Sports 12
Hamilton Marist 41 Melville 17
King Country
Waitete 56 Kio Kio 5
Waitomo 26 Taumarunui Eels 22
Taupo Sports A 53 Taumarunui Districts 8
Taupo United 80 Taupo Sports B 5
Tongariro 69 Bush 5
Poverty Bay
Old Boys-Marist 26 Waikohu 16
YMP 32 Pirates 0
HSOB 32 Ngatapa 18
Hawke's Bay
(Tui Nash Cup)
Napier Technical 22 Havelock North 22
Napier Pirate R and S 42 Hastings R and S 10
Napier Old Boys-Marist 38 Tamatea 18
MAC 31 Taradale 10
Clive 44 Central 33
Taranaki
Tukapa 31 Stratford 12
NPOB 40 Inglewood 21
Spotswood United 28 Coastal 20
Southern 16 Clifton 5
Wanganui
Marist 35 Ruapehu 21
Kaierau 29 Pirates 17
Taihape 40 Utiku Old Boys 8
Border 95 Ratana 3
Wairarapa-Bush
(Moose Kapene Cup)
Carterton 16 Gladstone 0
Eketahuna 28 East Coast 15
Greytown 52 Martinborough 5
Pioneer 16 Marist 10
Wellington
(Swindale Shield)
Marist St Pat's 27 Hutt Old Boys-Marist 14
Upper Hutt Rams 35 Avalon Wolves 23
Northern United 53 Paremata-Plimmerton 16
Tawa 80 Johnsonville 10
Oriental-Rongotai 20 Poneke 19
Wainuiomata 33 Petone 27
Old Boys-University 32 Wellington 6
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy)
Marist 46 Harlequins 32
Nelson 15 Renwick 15
Wanderers 30 Central 21
Moutere 22 Waimea Old Boys 37
Waitohi 25 Kahurangi 17
Stoke 27 East Coast 20
Buller
Ngakawau/Karamea 15 Reefton 7
White Star 20 Westport 12
West Coast
Kiwi 26 Wests 8
South Westland 55 Blaketown 5
Marist 24 Grey Valley 13
Canterbury
(Metro)
Linwood 35 Lincoln University 35
University 34 Sumner 10
Sydenham 24 Christchurch 15
HSOB 27 New Brighton 20
Belfast 26 Burnside 17
Marist Albion 37 Shirley 22
Mid Canterbury
(Canterbury Country)
Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwell 32 Methven 8
Lincoln 41 West Melton 3
Saracens 35 Hampstead 0
Southbridge 64 Kaiapoi 7
Glenmark 71 Rolleston 8
Waihora 22 Celtic 5
Oxford 42 Ohoka 13
Southern 25 Hornby 15
Rakaia 59 Prebbleton 12
Darfield 23 Ashley 16
South Canterbury
MacKenzie 23 Old Boys 13
Celtic 56 Waimate 19
Pleasant Point 11 Temuka 3
Harlequins 31 Geraldine 0
North Otago
Old Boys 69 Excelsior 7
Kurow 34 Athletic Marist 10
Maheno 34 Valley 14
Otago
(Metro)
Green Island 32 Zingari-Richmond 26
Dunedin 48 Taieri 25
Southern 23 Alhambra-Union 22
University A 74 Pirates 3
Harbour 35 Kaikorai 17
Southland
Blues 29 Star 16
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 24 Woodlands 10
Pirates-Old Boys 29 Marist 18
