KEY POINTS:
Waitemata came away with a 19-14 last-minute victory over their close neighbours and biggest rivals Waitakere City.
It was a thrilling end to an absorbing contest that could easily have been won by a gallant Waitakere side. Both teams defended strongly and there were several massive hits which had spectators wincing. The two huge forward packs tore into each other and there will be a lot of sore bodies out west today.
Waitakere opened the scoring early after a counterattack by impressive wing Tito Sufia. The ball was shifted through the backs until centre Saul Luamanuvae touched down in the corner. After 15 minutes, Waitemata finally got on the board with an opportunistic try to fullback Tilo Toailoa after a scrum turnover. Soon after, dynamic No 8 Mani Toailoa scored after his side elected to drive from a lineout rather than take a shot at goal.
Waitemata turned down several kickable penalties in the first half, while Waitakere kept banging them over. In the second half, trailing and with the Waitakere defence seemingly impregnable, it seemed Waitemata were going to regret those decisions.
After 79 minutes and even after having three yellow cards awarded against them, it appeared Waitakere were going to pull off a famous victory. However, Waitemata first five Mana Ashford charged down a kick from inside his own 22 and regathered the ball.
He set off upfield and linked with his support. Prop Tai Vea capped off a storming game by again driving forward and earning valuable metres. The ball was then thrown around until it ended up in Mani Toailoa's hands and he charged off and scored his second try.
It was a heartbreaking end for the Waitakere City supporters and team but they can be proud that they contributed to such an exciting match.
In the other big news of the round, Suburbs ended Grammar Carlton's unbeaten run with a 20-18 victory. Grammar Carlton were missing several of their star players, as they are leaving for Australia tomorrow for an Auckland pre-season camp.
It proves that player depth will be a major factor in deciding this competition. Suburbs, when compared to the other top teams, have a settled line-up and will not lose many players to representative duty.
NORTH HARBOUR
Marist, with lively halfback Aidan McDonald showing the way, continued their late run yesterday with an easy win over bottom side Mahurangi to clinch a place in the North Harbour premiership's top six next weekend.
McDonald grabbed a hat-trick of tries in Marist's 63-5 rout, which enabled them to make the top six at the expense of Helensville. To qualify for the six, Helensville had to beat North Shore and rely on Marist and Glenfield losing.
But while Marist were never worried in gaining their expected big win and Glenfield missed out in a stern battle with Northcote, losing 29-18, Helensville just failed in their own mission against an impressive, well-drilled Shore side, going down 23-19.
However, it was a gallant effort by the Mike Noble-led Helensville pack and, in a quality contest, it needed two superbly constructed tries for Shore by veteran flanker Gordon Simpson and centre Luke Doddrell to deny the country side.
First five-eighths Ben Botica was also in top kicking form and, with 13 points from five attempts at goal, took his season's tally to 124.
Silverdale slipped past Shore as the first round runners-up to last year's champions Takapuna by taking a bonus point in their 29-8 win over East Coast Bays, while Massey also got maximum points by overrunning Kumeu 57-0.
That took Massey to equal place on the ladder with Shore but the latter had a slightly inferior points differential.
Northcote were superbly led in the forwards and, though they and Helensville will be in the bottom five for the next round, both look assured of dominating that series and so gaining the final two quarter-final places.
