Bays scored six tries to two, but only really asserted their dominance towards the latter stages of the match.
The win keeps Bays in touch with the coveted top four, while putting seven points between them and Takapuna.
Massey, perhaps stung by losing their perch at the head of the log, crushed Western Pioneers 51-17, the eight tries including braces to Kuki Moala, Niko Ratumaitavuki and Rhema Sagote. Massey were quick to show their intentions, putting on both a strong defensive and attacking display to jump out quickly on the scoreboard and then keep the pressure on - coasting away to a 34-point win. Western No 8 Jimmy Tuivaiti, fiancé of Silver Fern netballer Cathrine Latu, was honoured at the after-match for bring up 100 premier games for the club two weeks ago.
For the third week in a row, Silverdale showed that their potential belies their wooden spoon position, running Glenfield close in a 12-18 defeat, though Glenfield would have felt they had the scoreboard under control at the break when they led 18-0. Michael Little scored one of the two Glenfield tries.
North Shore, who have either been good or ordinary this year, turned on another strong display, easily accounting for Northcote 48-3, although Cote made them work for it over the first 50 minutes of the game. There was a mix of promising young talent and solid rep players among Shore's scorers.
North Shore, Glenfield and Western are all locked on 37 competition points, four behind leaders Massey.
Auckland
(Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield)
Grammar TEC 21 University 18
Waitemata 46 Ponsonby 24
Manukau 27 Papatoetoe 12
Pakuranga 22 Marist 10
(Portola Trophy)
Eden 57 East Tamaki 38
College Rifles 36 Suburbs 13
Otahuhu 29 Waitakere City 15
Grammar TEC confirmed their title credentials with a 21-18 victory over previously unbeaten University at Colin Maiden Park on Saturday, inflicting the first defeat on the students in competition proper in 12 months.
The well-deserved, if not exactly clearcut, win takes Grammar TEC to the top of the Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield log with a 3-0 record and was built on the back of some muscular forward play and an ascendant scrum, anchored by impressive loosehead prop Tom McHugh.
Both teams observed a minute's silence for the passing of Dave Dalgleish, life member of the Auckland Rugby Union and the Teachers and Teachers-Eastern clubs, forerunners of Grammar TEC. He had also played for the University club in his early days, further adding poignancy to the occasion.
Grammar TEC started with plenty of intent, and left wing Saimone Samate scored off a bust by second five Eddie Uele and some slick long passing. The visitors were switching the angle of attack and moving it to the flanks. Simon Hickey was at first receiver on attack and dropped back to fullback on defence. University's cause was not helped by the departure of lock Tom Robinson, who injured his knee. First five Zac Southern scored in the corner to level it at 8-all, but a yellow card on halfback Brenton Helleur saw Grammar TEC reclaim the initiative. The result was a penalty try after another powerful scrum on the Varsity line.
Varsity were loose and not near as sharp as they were against Ponsonby in the previous round, but they did lift with the injection of former Cook Islands rep and Tasman Mako Francis Smith, who was energetic in his first game back from French club rugby. Hooker and skipper Kurt Eklund, too, made holes in his typical bustling style, and loose forward Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray became more prominent as the game wound down. But Varsity missed the spark of fullback Simon Healy, who was sitting exams.
When Smith scored on the base of the posts, Varsity had pulled it back to 21-18, but though their fitness saw them still running hard at the death, Grammar TEC had done enough. A jolting tackle by flanker Michael Faleafa on Marcel Renata summed up the commitment they consistently brought to this tight encounter.
The most eye-catching result, however, was Waitemata's 46-24 defeat of Ponsonby. Wing Ed Fidow scored a brace and first five Dusan Hakaraia racked up 21 points, while Rieko Ioane again crossed for a double for Ponies.
Manukau racked up their first victory of the second round, 27-12 over south Auckland rivals Papatoetoe. Pakuranga moved up to third, beating Marist 22-10.
In the Portola Trophy, there were good wins for Eden, 57-38 over East Tamaki, College Rifles, 36-13 over Suburbs, and Otahuhu, 29-15 over Waitakere City.
Counties Manukau
(McNamara Cup)
Bombay 48 Onewhero 15
Karaka 41 Manurewa 7
Pukekohe 25 Patumahoe 19
Ardmore Marist 17 Waiuku 15
Counties Power Cup holders Pukekohe stayed in touch with Bombay and Karaka by defeating Patumahoe 25-19 in their usual keenly contested local derby.
In difficult conditions, Pukekohe played into the wind first but managed to score in the opening 10 minutes to Mark Price. They were then forced to play plenty of defence for the remainder of the half, but trailed at the break after Sam Furniss collected an intercept try a minute before oranges.
An even second spell was broken open when hooker Gafatasi Su'a, who is in line to play for the Steelers, was able to get across and claim two tries. The competition's top points scorer Nathan de Thierry added the extras for Pukekohe with two conversions and two penalties.
Patumahoe's extra points came through the boot of Riley Hohepa, who added a conversion and four penalties. Flanker Fotu Lokotui was named player of the day for his impressive performance. Patumahoe still lie in fifth position, but 10 points behind fourth-placed Ardmore-Marist.
Bombay collected a convincing victory over Onewhero 48-15, Joshua Stol scoring a try in his 50th game for the club. Also getting on the scoresheet for Bombay were Epeli Lotawa, who ran in a hat-trick.
Karaka proved too strong for Manurewa, defeating them 41-7. Karaka ran in six tries to one, with Tavite Gadeisuva added another try to his tally to take it to 17 for the season. Sione Molia played his 50th game for the club.
In appalling conditions with gale force winds, Ardmore Marist scored a narrow 17-15 victory over Waiuku. Savelio Ropati and Richie Mariota played their blazer games for the victors and will be presented with them at their next home game.
Thames Valley
Te Aroha COBRAS 46 Waihi 3
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide premier)
Tauranga Sports 60 Rangataua 19
Mount Maunganui Sports 78 Waikite 8
Rotoiti 27 Te Puna 25
Whakarewarewa 90 Opotiki 26
Te Puke Sports 65 Paroa 12
Greerton Marist 43 Whakatane Marist 30
Five big wins and an arm-wrestle at Maramatanga Park in the extremities of the Western Bay of Plenty headlined the action in round seven of the Baywide Premier title race.
Rotorua sub-union titleholders Rotoiti played their get-out-of-jail card against Te Puna at the latter's headquarters at Maramatanga Park to cement their place in the top four.
The visitors led 17-10 at the halfway stage of the encounter, before Te Puna roared back in the second spell to lead by a solitary point with five minutes remaining. Willie Ripia calmly stepped up and slotted a penalty goal as the clock ticked down to give his team a narrow 27-25 victory.
Chanse Perham grabbed three touchdowns, with Ripia also dotting the ball down, which gave Rotoiti an additional bonus point to put the Rotorua side into third place in the competition. Daniel Schuster, Keagan Long and Greg Stephenson scored the Te Puna tries with Te Aihi Toma kicking two penalties and two conversions.
Tauranga Sports picked up their seventh bonus point for four tries or better when they beat Rangataua 62-19 at Te Ariki Park. The home team opened the scoring when Matt Clutterbuck crossed for his side's first touchdown. However, four tries in quick succession in the first half saw Tauranga Sports lead 29-7 at the break. Two further Rangataua tries got then back in the match, however the visitors ran in five second half touchdowns to run out the winners 62-19.
Curtis Deane led the way for Te Puke Sports with four tries, as the Western Bay side cruised to a 65-12 win against Paroa, in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. The first half was close, with Te Puke Sports taking a relatively narrow 15-5 advantage into the break, before cutting loose in the second spell.
Whakarewarewa got their Baywide campaign back on track with the weekend's biggest win when they beat Opotiki 90-26 in Rotorua. Te Rangi Fraser took his 2015 Baywide try tally to 15, with three touchdowns, Hayden Baird and Wade Pereira both scoring doubles. Opotiki took home a bonus point, after the referee awarded tries to Netana Kurei, Sean Martin, Mike Stevens and Rewai Tai.
Greerton Marist banked their fourth successive victory when they got past Whakatane Marist 43-30, with Mount Maunganui running over Waikite 80-8 in the Sulphur City.
Waikato
Melville 38 Morrinsville Sports 10
Fraser Tech 38 Hamilton Marist 28
Hamilton Old Boys 71 United Matamata Sports 8
Otorohanga 26 Te Awamutu Sports 7
University 33 Hautapu 17
King Country
Taupo Sports 19 Waitete 19
Waitomo 15 Coast 11
Taumarunui Eels 22 Kio Kio 20
Pio Pio 56 Tongariro 0
Taumarunui Districts 32 Bush 14
East Coast
Waiapu 18 Hicks Bay 13
Uawa 16 Tokararangi 10
Hikurangi beat Tokomaru Bay United by default
Poverty Bay
YMP 36 Pirates 26
HSOB 31 OBM 3
Hawke's Bay
Havelock North 54 MAC 12
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 20 Napier Old Boys-Marist 18
Hastings Rugby and Sports 58 Central 19
Clive 22 Tamatea 15
Napier Technical 16 Taradale 10
Taranaki
Inglewood 15 Stratford 0
NPOB 34 Tukapa 12
Spotswood United 13 Southern 5
Clifton 32 Coastal 29
Wanganui
Taihape 10 Pirates 5
Border 57 Kaierau 0
Ruapehu 13 Ratana 0
Marist 24 Utiku OB 21
Manawatu
Old Boys-Marist 36 Linton Army 17
Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 35 Te Kawau 20
Kia Toa 18 College Old Boys 17
Feilding 73 Freyberg 0
Horowhenua Kapiti
Waikanae 18 Paraparaumu 13
Foxton 36 Athletic 10
Levin College Old Boys 30 Shannon 20
Wairarapa-Bush
(Moose Kapene Cup)
Greytown 22 Carterton 8
Pioneer 29 East Coast 10
Eketahuna 29 Martinborough 14
Marist 23 Gladstone 19
Wellington
(Jubilee Cup)
MSP 31 Wainuiomata 16
Tawa 38 Wellington 27
Oriental-Rongotai 31 Petone 6
Old Boys-University 28 Hutt Old Boys-Marist 17
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy final)
Wanderers 15 Waimea OB 11
(Nelson Bays)
Nelson 27 Stoke 22
Marist 21 Kahurangi 18
(Marlborough)
Moutere 21 Central 10
Harlequins 15 Renwick 11
Buller
(Life Members' Trophy)
Ngakawau 17 White Star 14
Westport 30 Reefton 23
West Coast
Kiwi 15 Marist 10
South Westland 26 Wests 3
Blaketown 28 Grey Valley 12
Canterbury
(Hawkins Cup)
Lincoln University 46 Christchurch 22
New Brighton 77 Sydenham 24
Marist-Albion 45 University 22
Sumner 35 Burnside 11
Linwood 13 Belfast 12
HSOB 24 Shirley 20
Mid Canterbury/Canterbury Country
(Luisetti Seeds)
Cup final
Methven 31 Waihora 29
Playoffs
Oxford beat Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin by default
Glenmark 40 Southern 29
Southbridge 42 Celtic 6
Trophy final
Lincoln 28 Rakaia 25
Playoff
Saracens 20 Darfield 20
Plate final
Ashley 34 West Melton 13
Playoff
Prebbleton 36 Hampstead 27
Plaque final
Kaiapoi 26 Hornby 20
Playoff
Rolleston 19 Ohoka 13
South Canterbury
Celtic 67 Old Boys 10
Waimate 24 Pleasant Point 15
Harlequins 66 Geraldine 0
Mackenzie 26 Temuka 21
North Otago
(Citizens Shield)
Old Boys 62 Valley 0
Excelsior 58 Athletic Marist 28
Kurow 48 Maheno 19
Otago
(Metro)
Dunedin 7 Alhambra-Union 5
Taieri 33 Kaikorai 13
Southern 11 University 5
Pirates 31 Green Island 0
Harbour 19 Zingari-Richmond 0
(Central Otago)
Maniototo 15 Arrowtown 10
Wakatipu 30 Upper Clutha A 28
Alexandra 26 Roxburgh 5
Upper Clutha B 20 Wakatipu Wanderers 6
(South Otago)
Clutha 42 Owaka 5
Heriot 27 Clinton 12
Toko 15 Clutha Valley 12
Southland
Pirates-Old Boys 48 Star 6
Marist 69 Midlands 5
Woodlands 33 Blues 10
