Waitemata moved into the crucial fourth qualifying position in the blue pool after an ultimately solid 34-21 victory over Otahuhu at Waitemata Park.
It was not a flawless win, by any means, and the westerners were behind for periods, but their galvanising force was No 8 replacement Ari Hunt, who was irrepressible carrying the ball and had a hand in no less than four of Waitemata's five tries after he entered the fray. Like his team, Hunt made the odd error but he showed just why he is in the Blues Development XV and on the Auckland radar after injury stymied his 2014 season.
Waitemata's scrum was ascendant and it looked they would dominate on the scoreboard too when halfback Fred Tavita scored the first of his brace after just five minutes. But Otahuhu was typically physical, abrasive in contact, and men like opensider Sapati Peniata and lock Sam Levika allowed centre Samoa Meafua to show some of his wares. Wing Eddie Mefi scored the first after a quick tap and then fullback Sekuini Lam Sam latched onto a bullocking charge by prop Iamafana Papoa. The Waitemata backs were spread too wide on attack until Hunt gave them the required go-forward. Tries to centre Jerome Sio and wing Jared Klaver saw the home side hit oranges at 15-14 to the good.
When Otahuhu halfback Laauli Sapau darted over and Jason Roache kicked his third conversion, the visitors were back in the lead, until an untimely sinbinning and two tries in the final quarter gave Waitemata the five points.
Elsewhere in the blue pool, Suburbs ran in 13 tries for 79-3 over a hapless Waitakere City. Hat-tricks by speedsters Varasiko Duisokosoko and Tutu Tairea highlighted Suburbs' display and they have now racked up 190 points in just three outings. Pool leaders Pakuranga cast aside Maungarua 45-10 and University, minus eight first-choice players, edged Papatoetoe 15-8 to leave the south Aucklanders precariously placed at fifth.
In the white pool, Michigan Lam helped himself to 28 points as Grammar TEC eased past East Tamaki 58-12, while Manukau Rovers went to the top of the standings with a 24-0 victory over Eden, in a clash where referee Paul van Etten brought up 150 premier games.
The day's most significant win saw College Rifles, on an emotional day for the club, topple Marist 19-17 to record a much-needed first victory of the season.
Counties Manukau
(Challenge Cup)
Pukekohe 76 Weymouth 5
Waiuku 67 Drury 0
Karaka 47 Onewhero 11
Ardmore-Marist 24 Te Kauwhata 10
Manurewa 81 Papakura 3
Bombay 23 Patumahoe 13
Two tight encounters contrasted to four blowouts in the seventh round of Counties Manukau's Challenge Cup.
A double to 2011 NZ Schools wing and former Warriors Under 20 rep Ngataua Hukutai aided Ardmore-Marist to a tight, 24-10 bonus point win at Te Kauwhata. The home side ripped into the collisions and came away with two tries, to Penisimani Kitekeiaho and Edwin Faamaile. The presence of Chiefs Development XV prop Jarrod Firth stabilised the Ardmore-Marist scrum and eventually led to pressure and a try to Sione Hifo. Replacement fullback Alex Samoa completed the scoring.
Bombay remained in the top five with a 23-13 win over Patumahoe, Reece Joyce slotting five penalties, which were gold as both sides scored just one try each. Former Auckland five-eighths Piers Francis kicked a dropped goal. Captain and No 8 Ben Masoe was again inspirational for Bombay.
Pukekohe ploughed on relentlessly at the top of the table, crushing Weymouth 76-5, Matt Berry scoring four tries and Steelers and Chiefs No 8 Maama Vaipulu again amongst the tryscorers.
First five James Faiva continued on his merry pointscoring way, with 22, including a try, as Waiuku blanked Drury 67-0.
Karaka had to work somewhat harder to subdue Onewhero 47-11, with wing Tavite Gadeisuva on top of the tryscoring charts with a hat-trick and a double to first five Kali Hala.
Onewhero prop Sean Bagshaw was presented with his blazer after the encounter.
Manurewa is seeking to move into the top half of the log and they flexed their attacking muscle with an 81-3 shellacking of neighbours Papakura. Four tries to Amosa Nove and three to Robert Ofisa highlighted Rewa's effort.
Thames Valley
Te Aroha COBRAS 26 Tairua 11
Waihou 43 Ngatea 3
Paeroa West 26 Waihi 16
Mercury Bay 37 Thames 10
Bay of Plenty
(Central BOP)
Rotoiti 53 Waikite 0
Kahukura 17 Marist St Michael's 5
Whakarewarewa 57 Ngongotaha 3
(Eastern BOP)
Opotiki 57 Paroa 12
Whakatane Marist 59 Ruatoki 19
Te Teko 29 Poroporo 17
It was appropriate that the Eastern Bay and Rotorua premier preliminary skirmishes finished on Anzac Day, before the start of the Baywide battles next weekend.
Opotiki finished the Eastern Bay of Plenty competition on top of the standings, after having repelled all challenges during the competition. On Saturday they made an emphatic statement to the other Baywide contenders, running over Paroa, which is also Baywide-bound 57-12, at their fortress at Princess Street Reserve in Opotiki.
Whakatane Marist grabbed the third Eastern Bay Baywide place, after grabbing a bonus point 59-19 win against Ruatoki, which repelled the Te Teko challenge for the last Baywide top echelon berth. The Whakatane Marist coaching brains trust of Matt Te Pou and Craig Sinkinson have returned the Eastern Bay Marist side to the Baywide premier ranks after several seasons' absence.
While Te Teko narrowly missed a Baywide premier berth, they showed that they will be highly competitive in the division one title race, finishing in third place in the local round. On Saturday they ground out a 29-17 victory against Poroporo to finish the Eastern Bay competition on a winning note.
Rotoiti finished on top of the Rotorua first past the post competition, to win the time honoured Rotorua Banner from arch-rivals Whakarewarewa. They made no race of their last local game, posting 53 unanswered points against Waikite at Emery Park. The big win also saw the Rotorua lakesiders easily retain the Tai Mitchell (Central sub-union) Challenge Shield.
Whakarewarewa were also in dominant form, dispatching Ngongotaha 57-3 at Whaka headquarters. Fullback Bauro Kairaoi was in superb touch, backing up his teammates, to be rewarded with four tries, while Maake Taulahi and Tim Vant Leven both dotted down twice. In the third Rotorua derby, Kahukura had a battle royal with Marist St Michael's before grabbing a 17-5 victory.
Western Bay of Plenty premier teams had the long weekend off, before next week's Baywide season start.
Waikato
Hamilton Old Boys 27 Otorohanga 24
Melville 33 Fraser Tech 29
University 16 Te Awamutu Sports 15
Hamilton Marist 103 United Matamata Sports 0
Morrinsville Sports 42 Hautapu 29
Defending champions Hamilton Marist have swept to the lead of the Waikato club competition following a 103-0 pasting of United Matamata Sports at Bedford Park on Saturday.
Previous frontrunners Otorohanga were beaten 27-24 at Fred Jones Park after Old Boys scored a converted try in the final play of the match. Down the road at Mill St, Melville managed to hold on for a 33-29 win over host club Fraser Tech, although Tech outscored their visitors four tries to three. At Albert Park, University headed Te Awamutu Sports 16-15 in the closest result of the day, while Morrinsville Sports travelled to Cambridge and came away with a 42-29 win over Hautapu.
King Country
Waitete 75 Taumarunui Districts 10
Pio Pio 51 Tongariro 8
Taupo Sports 49 Taupo United 3
Waitomo 40 Kio Kio 3
Taumarunui Eels 39 Bush 5
East Coast
Hikurangi 18 Hicks Bay 17
Waiapu 41 Ruatoria City 5
Tokararangi 47 TVC 12
Uawa 12 Tokomaru Bay United 10
Hawke's Bay
(Tui Nash Cup)
Taradale 17 Napier Old Boys-Marist 16
Havelock North 30 Central 23
MAC 24 Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 3
Napier Technical 59 Tamatea 0
Hastings Rugby and Sports 43 Clive 28
Taranaki
NPOB 37 Tukapa 22
Coastal 25 Clifton 17
Spotswood United 27 Southern 21
Inglewood 25 Stratford 15
Wanganui
Pirates 50 Utiku OB 29
Border 15 Taihape 12
Ruapehu 38 Ratana 26
Manawatu
Old Boys Marist 18 College Old Boys 13
Varsity 29 Te Kawau 12
Kia Toa 33 Feilding 29
Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 65 Freyberg 7
Horowhenua Kapiti
Waikanae 16 Foxton 6
Paraparaumu 28 College Old Boys 16
Athletic 17 Wanderers 7
Wairarapa-Bush
Marist 25 Gladstone 19
Greytown 30 Carterton 8
Martinborough 24 Eketahuna 21
Pioneer 29 East Coast 14
Wellington
(Swindale Shield)
Hutt Old Boys-Marist 54 Marist St Pat's 49
Upper Hutt Rams 48 Avalon 34
Northern United 55 Paremata-Plimmerton 7
Tawa 18 Johnsonville 15
Oriental-Rongotai 28 Poneke 27
Wellington 17 Old Boys-University 16
Wainuiomata 20 Petone 11
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy)
WOB 75 Renwick 5
Kahurangi 24 Waitohi 14
Moutere 40 Marist 31
Nelson 27 Harlequins 19
Central 41 Stoke 10
Buller
(Albion Cup)
Reefton 34 Old Boys 24
Westport 27 Ngakawau 11
West Coast
Blaketown 43 Kiwi 17
Marist 37 Wests 0
South Westland 87 Grey Valley 0
Canterbury
(Hawkins Cup)
Lincoln University 22 Sumner 13
New Brighton 45 Burnside 24
Sydenham 28 Linwood 25
University 20 Christchurch 15
HSOB 46 Marist Albion 37
Mid Canterbury/Canterbury Country
(Section one)
Celtic 28 Glenmark 25
Southbridge 60 Prebbleton 10
Rakaia 32 Kaiapoi 21
West Melton 34 Hornby 10
Lincoln 15 Oxford 12
(Section two)
Methven 23 Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 9
Darfield 24 Saracens 23
Waihora 14 Ashley 8
Southern 44 Hampstead 21
Rolleston 29 Ohoka 19
South Canterbury
Celtic 23 Mackenzie 9
Harlequins 34 Waimate 20
Temuka 40 Pleasant Point 27
Geraldine 26 Old Boys 25
North Otago
(Citizens Shield)
Old Boys 50 Athletic Marist 17
Valley 20 Kurow 20
Excelsior 45 Maheno 0
Otago
(Metro)
Harbour 47 Pirates 8
Southern 22 Taieri 11
Kaikorai 22 Dunedin 18
Alhambra-Union 18 Green Island 6
University A 33 Zingari-Richmond 32
(Central Otago)
Alexandra 49 Matakanui Combined 0
Wakatipu 36 Cromwell 8
Upper Clutha A 27 Roxburgh 12
Arrowtown 60 Wakatipu Wanderers 7
Maniototo 62 Upper Clutha B 5
(South Otago)
Heriot 45 Clutha Valley 12
Owaka 14 Crescent 5
Toko 22 Clinton 19
Southland
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 35 Marist 20
Star 56 Midlands 26
Pirates-Old Boys 64 Blues 7
