KEY POINTS:
Auckland
It had been 22 years since Mt Wellington competed in the premier competition and 37 years since they last got a win.
Yesterday, they erased that dubious record with a stunning 15-13 win over Waitakere City.
The game was not decided until a last-minute try to hero Villi Hallo. He crashed over after sustained pressure, which first five Star Ma Chong converted for the win.
Pakuranga were simply more determined than University and won 35-20. Second-half handling mistakes let them down and cost them opportunities.
Pakuranga, buoyed by strong home support, came out firing and quickly surged to a lead they would never relinquish.
Grammar Carlton also came out strong against competition favourites Ponsonby and were quickly out to a 12-0 lead. However, they could not sustain the pace and Ponsonby ran out eventual winners 39-20. Ponsonby lost several players to representative duty but lock and newly appointed captain Chris Lowrey stepped up with an excellent all-round performance.
Marist's 29-7 win over East Tamaki was not as straightforward as the scoreboard suggests. In a tough forward contest East Tamaki were disappointed to have two contentious tries disallowed.
Waitemata had too much firepower for Manukau winning 59-17. Winger Nonu Sua-Ausane crossed for three tries while Brock Mustard on the other wing picked up two.
North Harbour
Takapuna enjoyed minimal disruption from representative demands and continued their rise up the championship ladder yesterday, scoring a significant 25-20 away win over 2004-05 champions Massey.
Guided well by David Strachan at first five-eighths and with Adrian Donald a strong leader up front, Takapuna outscored their opposition by three tries to two. They were deserved winners, having superior pace in the backs and showing signs again of the late run which won last year's title.
The effects of representative commitments made themselves felt in the tumbling fortunes yesterday of both Marist and Northcote, however.
Marist, with seven missing from their line-up, crashed for consecutive defeats after they were edged 10-9 by Helensville. Northcote drew 13-13 with East Coast Bays, despite a big territorial advantage and a much stronger scrum.
Two splendid tries in the second spell by replacement halfback Danny Deveraux, who was released from the rep squad, saved Northcote after they trailed 10-0 at the break. But they would have not been happy with the result, particularly as Bays were reduced to 13 men late on.
Helensville's win ensured themselves a top eight place, as did North Shore with a 42-5 hammering of Kumeu. Glenfield, who had the bye yesterday, have a mathematical chance of qualifying for the eight, but only if Shore and Helensville crash over the last few weeks.
In the local derby between country clubs, Silverdale kept their premiership hopes alive with a 23-20 win over Mahurangi.
Counties
Manurewa will be ruing an administrative blunder last week that cost them their competition points from a well-deserved win and, with it, probably any chance of making the semifinals.
Yesterday, their young side, many of whom feature in the Counties Manukau Academy, showed their promise with a convincing 29-16 win over second-placed Pukekohe.
Long-serving Manurewa tight forward Kelvin Pilkington celebrated 100 games for the club by scoring a rare try.
The effort Karaka have put in to building depth in the club paid off again and they have leapt out to a 10-point lead on the table after a 27-10 win over Waiuku.
Discarded Steeler Lance Easton continued his push for a late recall to representative rugby with his pace proving too much for Waiuku.
Karaka captain Nick Connal celebrated 100 games for his club.
Ardmore Marist maintained Patumahoe's slide down the table with a 6-0 victory.
The defending champions are now under real pressure to make the semifinals, sitting in fourth place and with Waiuku breathing down their neck.
