A pack that provided swift ball for the outsides was the catalyst for Northcote's 77-10 shellacking of Mahurangi. Halfback Bryn Hall enjoyed his run on the Blues' break, scoring a hat-trick among the 12 tries, while there were braces to Tumanawa Tawhai and Matt Corbett as Northcote cemented fourth position.
North Shore will be pleased to come away with their 55-19 victory over Western Pioneers, given the rocky patch they have been through - clearly the patterns they honed last week playing Marist came to the fore. The game was notable for a superb 108m try scored by Western Pioneers substitute Siopa Ataongo.
Loose forward So'otala Fa'aso'o continues to impress for Shore, crossing for a brace, while veteran Willie Walker, who warmed up by refereeing the Birkenhead-Whangarei BHS First XV clash a few kilometres down the road, slotted three conversions. Shore now have 11 bonus points from 11 outings and their victory was based on a powerful pack display.
Takapuna beat Glenfield 32-21 and clinched a bonus point, Nick Cargo scoring a double for the victors.
East Coast Bays kept the pressure on Northcote for fourth position with a 36-16 win over Silverdale. North Harbour flanker Zak Judge was one of four tryscorers for Bays, while Matt Cochrane kicked 16 points.
Auckland
(Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield)
Marist 27 Waitemata 27
Suburbs 32 Papatoetoe 30
College Rifles 23 Grammar TEC 16
Ponsonby 18 Pakuranga 9
(Portola Trophy)
University 35 Waitakere City 3
Eden 16 Te Papapa-Onehunga 15
East Tamaki 39 Manukau 31
Mt Wellington 42 Otahuhu 3
Waitemata snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat at Marist in an all-action encounter.
The westerners scored a dramatic last second try to Karl Siemsen, but the wing could not convert from the sideline for the victory. However, Waitemata will breathe a huge sigh of relief after they were second best for much of the match, played in windy conditions.
Marist were led from the front by skipper and openside flanker David Afamasaga, who scored a hat-trick within the opening 45 minutes. He was aided and abetted by second five Enoka Muliufi, who ran hard and straight all day, pacy left wing Vaha Fili, who set up his second try, and the go-to lineout target of No 6 Iosefo Taliaoa-Tuafafo. When fullback William Raea scored the bonus point try at 76 minutes after a well-worked 8-9 scrum move, Marist looked to be safe at 27-22.
In truth, they had allowed Waitemata back into the contest by not making effective use of the crosswind, while the Waitemata forwards noticeably upped the ante.
Muliufi was held up over the line as referee Steve Piacun was bowled over, but there was more drama to come. Marist put a shunt on in an 80th minute scrum, but the ball was kicked through and the ball ended up in the hands of the dangerous fullback Sam Aolele, who set up Siemsen for the climatic try.
One of the features of the match was the fact that three Choat brothers - Adrian, Jeremy and Nick - were on the field at the same time in the second half, the first set of three siblings to appear for the Waitemata premiers since the Toailoas - Mani, Tom and Tila - more than a decade ago.
Elsewhere, College Rifles cemented top billing with a bonus point 23-16 win over 2015 champions Grammar TEC, who are not the same side, in personnel as much as anything.
Ponsonby had to overturn a 6-3 halftime deficit to hold onto the Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup with an 18-9 result over Pakuranga.
Suburbs marched on, but again had much to thank first five and captain Carl Perry for, after the pivot kicked 22 of the points in a narrow 32-30 victory over Papatoetoe, who scored four tries to two.
In the Portola Trophy, there were wins for University (35-3 over Waitakere City), Mt Wellington (42-3 over Otahuhu), and Eden (16-15 over Te Papapa-Onehunga). A hat-trick to Wilson Silipa helped East Tamaki to a 39-36 win over Manukau. - Campbell Burnes
Counties Manukau
(Second round)
Karaka 93 Weymouth 0
Pukekohe 55 Te Kauwhata 5
Patumahoe 69 Papakura 13
Onewhero 36 Waiuku 26
Ardmore-Marist 33 Manurewa 20
Onewhero scored a tight 36-26 home victory over Waiuku for their third consecutive win in the second round.
After a fine first half from Onewhero, after which they led 24-7, Waiuku stormed back into the contest to secure a bonus point and could have had another if Onewhero had not scored on the final play. Blindside flanker Leroy Jack, who is in the Counties Cavaliers squad, was prominent, while prolific scorer Luke Makris was amongst it again, with a try and three conversions for a haul of 11 points.
At Bruce Pulman Park, Ardmore Marist defeated Manurewa 33-20, despite only leading 13-10 at halftime, thus gaining a measure of revenge. Manurewa won 23-18 the last time these two sides met in the Challenge Cup last month.
Ardmore Marist lock Viliame Rarasea had an outstanding game, as did hooker Cameron Flavell. Halfback Jason Guthrie played his blazer game and directed the pack around well.
Karaka sit at the top of the premier Pool A table, running in 14 tries in a 93-0 beating of Weymouth. Bombay, who had a bye this round, top the premier Pool B table.
Counties Power Cup Holders Pukekohe beat Te Kauwhata 55-5. A lot of the damage had already been done in the first half, with Pukekohe going into the break with a 26-0 lead.
Pukekohe's Savelino Su'a scored a hat-trick and George Maka a double, with Cody Wheeler, Jarrod Stevenson, Mark Price and Jared Page also dotting down. Maka Waikato scored Te Kauwhata's try.
Patumahoe also recorded a convincing win, defeating Papakura 69-13. Papakura fought hard in the first half and were right in it at halftime, only trailing 26-13, but the hosts piled on 43 unanswered points in the second spell to take the win. Harley Jenkins chimed in with a hat-trick, while Sam Furniss and Tamati Fromm both scored two tries each.
Riley Hohepa kicked seven conversions. Ezra Enesa scored Papakura's sole try.
Thames Valley
(Jordan Cup)
Mercury Bay 46 Thames 5
Waihi Athletic 37 Paeroa West 7
Tairua 38 Te Aroha COBRAS 19
Waihou 69 Hauraki North 30
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide)
Tauranga Sports 19 Te Puke 12
Mt Maunganui 29 Rangataua 22
Whakatane Marist 22 Rotoiti 22
Te Puna 29 Greerton Marist 25
Waikato
United Matamata Sports 34 Te Awamutu Sports 17
Fraser Tech 41 Hamilton Marist 21
Melville 30 Hamilton Old Boys 11
Hautapu 26 Otorohanga 14
University 36 Morrinsville Sports 20
King Country
Waitete 32 Taumarunui R & S 20
Pio Pio 38 Taupo United 34
Taupo Sports A 6 Waitomo 0
Taupo Sports B 34 Bush 17
Tongariro 43 Kio Kio 5
East Coast
Uawa 44 Tokararangi 12
Hikurangi 38 Tokomaru Bay United 12
Waiapu 40 Hicks Bay 14
TVC 94 Tawhiti 0
Poverty Bay
Waikohu 44 Pirates 28
HSOB 40 OBM 36
Ngatapa 34 YMP 8
Hawke's Bay
(Maddison Trophy)
Napier Old Boys-Marist 32 Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 19
Napier Technical 65 Tamatea 27
Hastings Rugby and Sports 33 MAC 8
Taradale 51 Clive 20
Havelock North 21 Central 20
Taranaki
Southern 22 Clifton 17
NPOB 22 Inglewood 20
Tukapa 36 Stratford 5
Coastal 24 Spotswood United 11
Wanganui
Marist 20 Taihape 17
Kaierau 43 Ratana 22
Border 34 Pirates 9
Ruapehu 53 Utiku OB 7
Manawatu
(Centennial Cup)
Old Boys Marist 29 College Old Boys 8
Varsity 52 Freyberg 8
Linton 38 Feilding 15
Kia Toa 29 Te Kawau 0
Old Boys-Marist completed their usual second round win over College Old Boys, however this time it was much more comprehensive, to the tune of 29-8.
OBM, with new recruits Ambrose Curtis and Hunter Prescott, look to be finishing strong, but their final round-robin games of the year will be Kia Toa and Varsity, which could be very decisive when looking at the points table.
Kia Toa bounced back from their loss to Freyberg with a solid 29-0 win over a Te Kawau side missing Toby Morland. Varsity were on top of their game against Freyberg, winning 52-8, and look to be another finishing strongly leading into the top four.
Linton got a much-needed 38-15 win over the Yellows (Feilding), which helps them climb the table. Their looming game against Feilding Old Boys-Oroua may also be decisive in determining the wooden spooners.
Wairarapa-Bush
(Tui Cup)
Greytown 25 Carterton 24
Martinborough 13 Eketahuna 7
Pioneer 24 East Coast 10
Marist 19 Gladstone 16
Horowhenua Kapiti
Waikanae 30 Wanderers 14
Paraparaumu 58 Foxton 28
College Old Boys 72 Athletic 3
Wellington
(Jubilee Cup)
Upper Hutt Rams 20 Old Boys-University 18
Wainuiomata 15 Wellington 14
Marist St Pat's 12 Tawa 8
Oriental-Rongotai 19 Poneke 15
(Hardham Cup)
Petone 48 Marist St Pat's 6
Johnsonville 26 Old Boys-University 10
Northern United 41 Paremata-Plimmerton 0
Hutt Old Boys-Marist 32 Avalon Wolves 24
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy)
Final
Nelson 18 Wanderers 15
(Nelson Bays)
Nelson 47 Stoke 11
Marist 48 Waimea Old Boys 0
Wanderers 40 Kahurangi 22
(Marlborough)
Harlequins 34 Moutere 10
Central 35 Waitohi 10
East Coast 22 Renwick 15
Buller
Reefton 40-15 Westport
Ngakawau/Karamea 35-13 White Star
West Coast
(Muir Trophy)
Marist 34 Wests 5
Blaketown 24 Kiwi 14
South Westland 47 Grey Valley 3
Canterbury
(Metro)
New Brighton 72 Belfast 12
University 30 Christchurch 28
Sumner 65 Shirley 31
Marist Albion 45 Burnside 10
Linwood 30 HSOB 23
Lincoln University 15 Sydenham 10
Mid Canterbury/(Canterbury Country)
(Country Cup)
Final
Waihora 31 Southbridge 24
Third-fourth playoff
Glenmark beat Rakaia by default
Playoffs (Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club Trophy)
Oxford 36 Darfield 24
Saracens 49 Kaiapoi 19
Playoffs (Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club Plaque)
Hampstead 25 West Melton 23
Southern 47 Ohoka 10
Playoffs (Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club Plate)
Hornby 24 Prebbleton 20
South Canterbury
Harlequins 29 Pleasant Point 27
Celtic 40 Old Boys 3
Temuka 25 Mackenzie 21
Waimate 46 Geraldine 25
North Otago
Old Boys 69 Valley 19
Athletic Marist 76 Excelsior 12
Maheno 43 Kurow 12
Otago
(Metro)
University A 28 Dunedin 20
Southern 29 Taieri 13
Harbour 34 Alhambra-Union 19
Zingari-Richmond 64 Pirates 27
Kaikorai 38 Green Island 17
