The boot of Jon Elrick, with 17 points, helped Takapuna maintain top billing with a 37-25 win over Northcote. Elrick draws level with 93 at the top of the individual pointscorers' list with David Halaufia of Glenfield. Northcote actually led 16-15 at oranges but Takapuna were physical and clinical in the second stanza.
North Shore put eight tries on Mahurangi in a 57-3 win which has them placed second, from Massey, on points differential. Shore took a while to get on top of Mahurangi, and one of the tryscorers was loose forward So'otala Fa'aso'o, who also scored a try for North Harbour in their 19-0 midweek victory over Northland.
Massey beat Glenfield 25-8, with wing Mark Telea crossing the line again.
Silverdale blanked Marist 31-0, and leapfrogged Glenfield, with tries to Raniera Takarangi, Garrick Rollinson, Jarrod Wiggs and Brad Abraham. David McMutrie's 11 points took him to 87 for the season.
Auckland
(Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield)
College Rifles 46 Pakuranga 14
Suburbs 32 Marist 8
Waitemata 48 Papatoetoe 36
(Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup)
Ponsonby 23 Grammar TEC 20
(Portola Trophy)
University 98 Mt Wellington 24
Te Papapa-Onehunga 48 Otahuhu 13
East Tamaki 26 Waitakere City 7
Manukau 41 Eden 23
Ponsonby withstood a stirring second spell Grammar TEC comeback to defend the Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup 23-20 at Western Springs Stadium.
Ponies were energetic and accurate in the opening stanza, leading 16-3 and warming the hearts of the 1986 Gallaher Shield-winning side, who were on hand for a reunion, and clubman Rieko Ioane.
Second five Keenan Masina split the defence with a step and found himself in space for the opening try, while William Talataina-Mu was on target off the tee and again punched holes in the Grammar TEC defensive line. When lock Leo Ngahe crashed over from close range, it was 23-6 and appeared to be game over.
But Grammar TEC rallied, with real impetus provided off the bench by Highlanders prop Siua Halanukonuka. Their set-piece came right, and fullback James Waddel crossed from a grubber and regather, followed by a try to wing Sitiveni Ramatalei, whose dancing feet were to the fore.
Grammar TEC did not have the services of the injured Tom McHugh and Blues lock Scott Scrafton, mystifyingly not released by the franchise.
Ponsonby's best were captain and No 7 Waha Waitohi and Talataina-Mu, but the pack was generally industrious, and the club ultimately deserved the victory.
In other Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield action, College Rifles showed their hand with a clinical 46-14 win over a disappointing Pakuranga at Bell Park. Rifles are unbeaten for 2016, and were accurate with their phase play, set-piece and execution for the six tries to two victory.
Suburbs continued their solid 2016, sweeping Marist 32-8 with a double to wing Bruno Tuivai.
Waitemata cranked up the afterburners in the second spell to leave Papatoetoe behind 48-36, Sam Aolele recording a hat-trick and Karl Siemsen contributing 18 points. The south Aucklanders did score six tries, so will be working on their defence this week.
In the second tier Portola Trophy, University crushed Mt Wellington 98-24, Brock Sibbick helping himself to a hat-trick, and Tyrone Elkington 33 points. Manukau Rovers beat Eden 41-23, a Wilson Silipa brace aided East Tamaki to a 26-7 win over Waitakere City, and Te Papapa-Onehunga were too good, 48-13, for Otahuhu. - Campbell Burnes
Counties Manukau
(Second round)
Ardmore-Marist 46 Waiuku 3
Bombay 114 Weymouth 0
Patumahoe 35 Te Kauwhata 17
Pukekohe 38 Karaka 7
Onewhero 50 Manurewa 11
Pukekohe are the new Counties Power Cup holders after defeating Karaka 38-7 in their second round match at Colin Lawrie Fields.
Turning at 10-7 to the good, Pukekohe poured on the pressure in the second half to convincingly beat a below-strength Karaka. Loose forward Beau Birtwistle was into everything, while Steelers first five Nathan de Thierry scored two tries. Russell Coutts scored the sole try for Karaka.
Onewhero first five Luke Makris gorged himself on 28 points, including three tries, to cement his spot at the top of the individual points scoring table with 140, and help his club to a 50-11 victory over Manurewa. Prop Sean Bagshaw also helped himself to a double. Blindside flanker Leroy Jack was to the fore, as was openside flanker Steven Jones.
Patumahoe celebrated halfback Kane Hancy's 100th premier game with a 35-17 win over a tenacious Te Kauwhata. Hancy scored a five-pointer in the six-tries to one result. Vilitati Sabani scored all 17 of the visitors' points.
Ardmore-Marist beat Waiuku 46-3, with Amosa Nove notching a hat-trick and Ngataua Hukutai a double. Other standouts for the victors were lock Viliame Rarasea, the brothers Laulala - Ray and Luteru - and skipper Lolohea Loco. The only downside was the injury toll.
Bombay climbed to the top of the premier table with their huge 114-0 win over hapless Weymouth at Laurie Gibbons Domain. Nineteen-year old Shem Setu scored four tries for Bombay, while Sepuloni Taufa grabbed a hat-trick to take him to 13 in 2016. Bombay ran in 18 tries in all.
Bombay sit four points ahead of Karaka and they now enter their bye week.
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide)
Te Puke 54 Arataki 10
Mt Maunganui Sports 99 Opotiki 7
Whakatane Marist 27 Tauranga Sports 17
Rangataua 15 Te Puna 12
Rotoiti 30 Greerton Marist 28
Whakarewarewa 38 Paroa 24
Waikato
Hamilton Old Boys 26 Fraser Tech 25
Otorohanga 36 United Matamata Sports 17
Hamilton Marist 36 Te Awamutu Sports 7
Melville 71 University 22
Hautapu 50 Morrinsville Sports 10
King Country
Waitomo 55 Taupo United 34
Waitete 52 Taumarunui Districts 5
Kio Kio United 59 Taupo Sports B 0
Pio Pio 26 Tongariro 13
Taumarunui R & S 127 Bush 0
Hawke's Bay
(Maddison Trophy)
Clive 20 Tamatea 3
Napier Old Boys-Marist 33 Central 8
Taradale 30 Hastings Rugby and Sports 26
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 21 Napier Technical 5
Havelock North 46 MAC 19
Taranaki
NPOB 43 Clifton 30
Stratford 37 Spotswood United 30
Coastal 33 Southern 26
Tukapa 31 Inglewood 15
Wanganui
Marist 35 Kaierau 13
Pirates 17 Ratana 12.
Taihape 33 Ruapehu 17
Border 78 Utiku OB 0
Manawatu
(Centennial Cup)
Freyberg 34 Kia Toa 26
Varsity 59 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 21
Old Boys-Marist 35 Linton Lions 12
Te Kawau 20 Feilding 6
Horowhenua Kapiti
Paraparaumu 32 Waikanae 22
Wellington
(Swindale Shield)
Tawa 26 Northern United 13
Hutt Old Boys-Marist 47 Avalon Wolves 20
Old Boys-University 66 Johnsonville 5
Marist St Pat's 23 Poneke 22
Oriental-Rongotai 67 Paremata-Plimmerton 12
Upper Hutt Rams 34 Petone 26
Wellington 33 Wainuiomata 26
*Old Boys-University win the Swindale Shield.
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy)
Semifinals
Nelson 22 Marist 10
Wanderers 27 Moutere 0
*The Tasman Trophy final will be played on Monday.
Canterbury
(Metro)
New Brighton 32 Lincoln University 30
Belfast 18 Shirley 14
Christchurch 25 Sumner 6
University 41 Marist Albion 17
HSOB 50 Burnside 36
Sydenham 53 Linwood 14
Mid Canterbury/(Canterbury Country)
(Country Cup)
Semifinals
Southbridge 26 Rakaia 23
Waihora 27 Glenmark 25
Playoffs (Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club Trophy)
Oxford 36 Kaiapoi 7
Saracens 41 Darfield 8
Playoffs (Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club Plaque)
Southern 34 Hampstead 17
West Melton 17 Ohoka 13
Playoffs (Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club Plate)
Hornby 25 Methven 22
Rolleston 32 Prebbleton 22
North Otago
Old Boys 57 Athletic Marist 12
Kurow 22 Valley 8
Maheno 46 Excelsior 0
Otago
(Metro)
Dunedin 57 Zingari-Richmond 26
Harbour 39 Green Island 22
Taieri 16 Alhambra-Union 9
Kaikorai 87 Pirates 7
University A 35 Southern 21
Southland
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 38 Star 0
Woodlands 29 Marist 0
Pirates-Old Boys 12 Blues 9
