League: Pt Chevalier Pirates haul in title after 6-0 win over Glenora

The Pt Chevalier Pirates triumphed over the Glenora Bears. Photo / Photosport

The Pt Chevalier Pirates are the rugby league champions of Auckland once again after edging past Glenora 6-0 in a gruelling Fox Memorial Premiership grand final yesterday.

Pt Chevalier scored on six minutes via Matti Tuitama, with Francis Leger converting, before putting in one of the all-time great defensive showings for the 74 minutes which followed, to secure the club's fourth first division title since 2013.

Played following hours of heavy rain at Mt Smart Stadium No2, the middle battle was brutal, while on the edges the Pirates were organised, urgent, and in the end completely dominant.

A clever flick pass from Gary Fuimaono metres from the try-line, on his way to being bundled into touch, set up Tuitama's try, with Leger converting from a tight angle.

Overall the Pirates had the better of the first half, but in the second Glenora enjoyed the lion's share of possession, and went agonisingly close to hitting back via Jordan Tuarae inside the final 10 minutes, only for the veteran playmaker to spill the ball over the line.

The title is Pt Chevalier's first since 2015, having lost the last two deciders to Papakura and Glenora respectively, and means the Pirates finish the season with both the Fox and the Stormont Shield in the trophy cabinet at Walker Park.

The Bay Roskill Vikings completed an undefeated Sharman Cup season with a dominant 42-16 victory over Manurewa in their grand final yesterday, earning promotion back into the first division for 2019 in the process.

The Vikings scored five first-half tries, while 19-year-old back-rower Justus Leaoseve finished the game with hat-trick.

Up 26-12 at the break, in torrid conditions at Mt Smart Stadium No2, Bay Roskill kept the foot down in the second half to secure a return to the top flight for the first time since 2013, having been second division runners-up in both of the past two years.

Second rower Moses Oge opened the scoring on five minutes, before the Vikings struck twice in quick succession via Johnathon Wea and Leaoseve, with Ben Henry converting two from three for a 16-0 advantage.

Ezekiel Paul then put Jerome Mamea into a gaping hole for an untouched run to the line, before Jerome Ropati sent Cori Vogel away for a try down the left, stretching the gap to 26-0.

The Marlins scored two late tries before the break - with Malakai Tohi crossing in the corner, followed by a Khan Areaiiti barge over - to reduce Manurewa's deficit to 26-12 at half-time.

After Henry Dunn set Devin Wilson-Connal up for a try five minutes into the second 40, the Manurewa comeback looked on, only for Bay Roskill to weather the storm and seal the victory with two further Leaoseve tries and a Jerome Vogel strike inside the final 20.