Glenfield engineered the upset of the round in a cracking game, heading Northcote 41-34 to move into sixth position. Northcote led 27-22 at the break, with Ben Searle's boot a key factor, but Glenfield came home strong and finished with six tries. Northcote do pick up a bonus point, which may be crucial in the final analysis.
North Shore beat Silverdale 54-19, benefitting from a surfeit of possession to show their wares, with doubles to So'otala Fa'aso'o, Whiria Meltzer and Daniel Lee among the eight tries. Silverdale scored three tries of their own when they maintained the ball and were accurate.
Leaders Takapuna were pushed hard, 23-19, by the Western Pioneers. Their two tries went to loosed forward Martin Brink and Kane Jacobson, with Jon Elrick, as ever, providing the extras. The Pioneers actually outscored Takapuna, with three tries, including one to the prolific Ritchie Ah Chong, and almost provided a happy end to Jone Puamau's blazer game.
With two rounds remaining, Takapuna and North Shore both look good to hold their one and three placings, and then Northcote and Bays will be scrambling to push Massey.
Auckland
(Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield)
Suburbs 33 College Rifles 27
Grammar TEC 15 Marist 7
Ponsonby 41 Waitemata 23
Pakuranga 44 Papatoetoe 5
(Portola Trophy)
Eden 31 Mt Wellington 26
University 83 Manukau 10
Waitakere City 34 Otahuhu 19
East Tamaki 25 Te Papapa-Onehunga
Suburbs move to the top of the Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield standings after three rounds following their deserved 33-27 win over College Rifles in a free-flowing premier game at College Rifles Park.
After the disappointment of missing the top eight in 2015, Suburbs have hit back, and they showed resilience against a Rifles outfit gunning for their 10th straight victory.
Things did not start so well for Suburbs, conceding a 14-0 lead inside seven minutes thanks to tries by Rifles fullback Otu Mausia, showing good footwork close to the line, and prolific wing Joseva Ravouvou, from a turnover and a break by halfback Kurt Davies. Rifles' scrum looked solid as a rock, and other than a solo 50m try off a scrum by Suburbs and Blues wing Lolagi Visinia, the home side appeared to have control.
But the momentum swung markedly in the second stanza, inspired by sparky halfback Rameka Paraki. He set up Visinia's second with a dart, and then finished off a try after slippery centre Varasiko Duisokosoko had broken the line. Suburbs tactics were, understandably to shift the ball, with long passes, to their speedy threequarters. But the rugged work of the pack, led by the likes of hooker Leif Schwencke and flanker Luke Cunis, wore down Rifles. Second five James Taufa was solid on defence.
Davies did score a try when the Red Sea parted for him to go between the uprights, and first five Broc Hooper kept landing the goals, but Suburbs had seized the initiative and scored twice in the final quarter, the second to Paraki for his double off a searing Aaron Collins break.
Elsewhere, Grammar TEC recorded their first win of the second round, a tight, 15-7 effort over Marist. Lock Jacob Pierce, son of former New Zealand sevens and North Harbour centre Scott Pierce, crossed for one of the two Grammar TEC tries.
Ponsonby went 3-0 with a fine 41-23 win at Waitemata. Wing Pryor Collier scored a hat-trick to mark his blazer game. Waitemata's riposte was a 10th season try for fullback Sam Aolele and 18 points from Karl Siemsen.
Pakuranga finally hit their straps, putting seven tries on Papatoetoe in a 44-5 romp.
In the Portola Trophy, Blues loose forward Steven Luatua enjoyed his first outing for University in a few seasons, scoring a try from No 8 in an 83-10 crushing of Manukau, for whom his franchise teammate Melani Nanai scored a try.
Eden edged Mt Wellington 31-26, East Tamaki headed Te Papapa-Onehunga 25-23, and Waitakere City did a 34-19 number on Otahuhu. - Campbell Burnes
Counties Manukau
(Second round)
Karaka 65 Papakura 0
Onewhero 20 Pukekohe 20
Ardmore-Marist 78 Te Kauwhata 12
Waiuku 88 Weymouth 5
Patumahoe 27 Bombay 15
Patumahoe's strong second spell paved the way for a 27-15 win over Bombay in second round action, regaining the Zane Perkins Cup in the process.
After leading 9-3 at the break, Patumahoe ran in three tries to an Aaron Smith double. Blues five-eighths Piers Francis kicked a conversion for Bombay.
Prop Sione Kanongata'a stepped up against a strong Bombay tight five and was named the A S Wilcox & Sons Ltd Player of the Day, going home with a vegetable pack for his trouble.
Fotu Lokotui, and veterans Kane Hancy and hooker Ilaisa Ma'asi were prominent for Patumahoe.
Onewhero and Counties Power Cup holders Pukekohe had a tight battle at Onewhero, with both sides eventually settling for a 20-all draw. There was some manoeuvring for a dropped goal to break the deadlock, but it was not to be. Kieran Whyte, who scored a fine try, was outstanding for Onewhero.
Karaka came away with a convincing 65-0 victory over Papakura at Karaka Sports Park. The home side already had a handy 27-0 buffer at halftime, and they continued their dominance into the second spell. It was a day to remember for Karaka's Tavite Gadeisuva who scored four tries in the victory. Tenina Sauileoge scored a couple of tries, as Karaka remain at the top of the Premier Pool A table.
Ardmore Marist proved too good, 78-12, for Te Kauwhata. Luteru Laulala bagged 27 of Ardmore Marist's points, with a hat-trick and six conversions. Ardmore Marist ran in 12 tries to two in all.
Waiuku demolished Weymouth at Puni, winning 88-5. Waiuku set the platform early and they took a 48-0 lead into the halftime break. It was a productive day for Waiuku's two wingers, with Akariva Niubalavu scoring five tries, and Tevita Nabura four. Aaron Yuill chimed in with a hat-trick.
Thames Valley
(Jordan Cup)
Te Aroha COBRAS 50 Thames 17
Hauraki North 34 Paeroa West 14
Mercury Bay 18 Waihou 17
Waihi Athletic 23 Tairua 15
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide)
Mt Maunganui 44 Tauranga Sports 20
Te Puna 46 Whakatane Marist 36
Rotoiti 25 Rangataua 25
Te Puke Sports 48 Greerton Marist 20
Waikato
Melville 38 Fraser Tech 22
Hamilton Old Boys 41 Morrinsville Sports 5
Hautapu 52 Te Awamutu Sports 7
United Matamata Sports 16 Hamilton Marist 15
University 29 Otorohanga 14
King Country
Waitete 24 Taupo Sports 14
Waitomo 44 Pio Pio 22
Taupo United 28 Taumarunui Eels 24
Kio Kio United 55 Taupo Sports B 5
Poverty Bay
OBM 16 YMP 8
HSOB 26 Waikohu 18
Ngatapa 70 Pirates 20
Hawke's Bay
(Maddison Trophy)
Clive 29 MAC 14
Taradale 66 Tamatea 0
Napier Old Boys-Marist 59 Napier Technical 20
Hastings Rugby and Sports 25 Central 22
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 26 Havelock North 25
Taranaki
Inglewood 20 Clifton 17
Southern 25 Spotswood 17
NPOB 43 Stratford 34
Tukapa 29 Coastal 13
Wanganui
Pirates 42 Kaierau 36
Border 89 Ratana 0
Taihape 21 Utiku OB 17
Ruapehu 43 Marist 19
Manawatu
(Centennial Cup)
Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 27 Freyberg 21
College Old Boys 32 Feilding 7
Kia Toa 36 Linton Lions 17
Te Kawau 20 Varsity 10
Wairarapa-Bush
(Tui Cup)
East Coast 32 Eketahuna 25
Martinborough 17 Greytown 6
Gladstone 36 Carterton 25
Marist 44 Pioneer 35
Horowhenua Kapiti
Paraparaumu 18 Athletic 3
Foxton 32 Levin Wanderers 0
Waikanae 38 Toa 36
Levin College Old Boys 52 Shannon 0
Wellington
(Jubilee Cup)
Poneke 24 Tawa 15
Oriental Rongotai 25 Marist St Pat's 22
Old Boys-University 42 Wainuiomata 37
Wellington 31 Upper Hutt Rams 15
(Hardham Cup)
Northern United 59 Old Boys-University 20
Hutt Old Boys-Marist 63 Paremata-Plimmerton 3
Marist St Pat's 15 Avalon Wolves 12
Petone 86 Johnsonville 12
Tasman
(Nelson Bays)
Stoke 36 Kahurangi 29
Nelson 53 Waimea Old Boys 3
Wanderers 27 Marist 24
(Marlborough)
Waitohi 22 Harlequins 14
Renwick 25 Central 23
Moutere 38 East Coast 17
Buller
Ngakawau/Karamea 42 Reefton 19
Westport 27 White Star 25
West Coast
(Muir Trophy)
Kiwi 32 Marist 18
South Westland 16 Wests 8
Blaketown 72 Grey Valley 7
Canterbury
(Metro)
Sydenham 26 New Brighton 26
University 31 Lincoln University 25
Christchurch 30 Linwood 16
HSOB 30 Belfast 19
Marist Albion 43 Shirley 22
Sumner 57 Burnside 14
(North Canterbury)
Ashley 37 Hurunui 8
Kaiapoi 29 Oxford 29
Saracens 23 Ohoka 3
(Ellesmere)
Lincoln 22 Waihora 17
Southbridge 19 Darfield 6
West Melton 25 Hornby 23
Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwell 24 Prebbleton 20
Mid Canterbury
(Watters Cup)
Celtic 40 Hampstead 18
Southern 70 Methven 5
South Canterbury
Celtic 35 Waimate 27
Mackenzie 39 Old Boys 14
Harlequins 29 Geraldine 17
Temuka 19 Pleasant Point 19
North Otago
Old Boys 52 Kurow 22
Maheno 26 Athletic Marist 20
Valley 34 Excelsior 26
Otago
(Metro)
Dunedin 30 Taieri 22
Southern 39 Alhambra-Union 17
Green Island 32 Zingari-Richmond 27
University A 97 Pirates 22
Kaikorai 46 Harbour 12
Southland
Woodlands 46 Pirates Old Boys 12
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 50 Blues 28
Star 26 Marist 19
