Club Rugby: University upset the form book in thriller

University ended Ponsonby's record 41-game winning streak and won the Fred Allen Trophy with a thrilling 18-15 victory at Western Springs yesterday.

Ponsonby's replacement first-five Gareth Anscombe landed a superb penalty with two minutes to play to give Ponsonby the lead for the first time in the match. But Ponsonby knocked on from the kickoff to give University winger Pasila Wilson the opportunity to score the clincher in injury time.

University tore into their defensive work from the start and rattled the competition leaders.

Blues prop John Afoa was in vintage form and scored the game's opening try but fellow prop Pauliasi Manu was the outstanding player for University with his power scrummaging and big hits.

Blues winger Paul Williams finished expertly, closing the gap to 10-5, before James Semple kicked University into a halftime lead of 13-5.

Ponsonby lifted the intensity in the second spell with the wind behind them but could not break the University line, with Matt Matich and Andrew van der Heijden outstanding.

With six minutes remaining, Ponsonby scored a try through Chris Lowrey after a scrum on the University line. The successful conversion closed the game up to 13-12 before the lead changed twice in the final frantic minutes.

In other games, Grammar Carlton moved to the top of the table after beating Manukau Rovers 66-10, with new Barbarians player Bryce Heem scoring three tries.

College Rifles beat Waitemata 22-18 to keep in touch with the top four, while Otahuhu had a hard-fought 36-23 win over Teachers Eastern.

Suburbs beat Papatoetoe 31-24 for just their second win of the season and Waitakere City hung on for a 13-10 win over Eden.