Rugby: Otahuhu exact revenge for club shield setback

By GRAHAM REDDAWAY

Otahuhu put a stamp of real authority on their 28-18 victory over Ponsonby to kick off the second round of Auckland club rugby's big trophy, the Gallaher Shield.

Ponsonby had won their first-round match by a single point thanks to a last-minute penalty, and with that victory took the coveted Alan McEvoy Trophy for first-round supremacy, even though both sides finished equal.

From the opening whistle at the weekend, it was obvious Otahuhu had smouldered over that setback. They smashed into Ponsonby and caused such uncertainty that within two minutes they had scored the softest try imaginable.

But the experienced Ponsonby loose forward trio of Bevan Leckner, Ed Langi and Finau Maka were having none of that nonsense. They soon gained parity with the younger and much less experienced Otahuhu loosies Luke Mealamu, Gareth Palamo and Alfie To'oala, and set up an intriguing battle that dominated the match, at least until the last 18 minutes when Taffa Ai'i scored for the red-and-blacks.

Ponsonby held an 18-16 lead when Otahuhu first five-eighth Tupe Fanolua squirted clear and sent Ai'i in for a try.

That seemed to take the stuffing out of Ponsonby and it was the right moment for Palamo, Luke Mealamu and To'oala to regain the upper hand.

The lid on Ponsonby's coffin was nailed shut with 10 minutes remaining. Ponsonby were on attack 35m out when Fanolua latched on to a long cutout pass and took off.

He is a long way from being the fastest runner in the side but his 20m lead was enough for him to hang on and score.

Newly promoted sides Papatoetoe and Pakuranga wasted no time in making their mark in the top division.

Pakuranga picked up five tries in their 34-22 defeat of Marist, and Papatoetoe came from 8-14 down at the break to beat Grammar Carlton 22-14.

Waitakere City led Waitemata 11-3 at the break in their local derby clash, but Waitemata came home the better to win 17-14. Suburbs ground out a 19-8 win over University.

Demoted sides Teachers Eastern and Tamaki had wins, the former scoring 12 tries to beat Te Papapa Onehunga 79-11, and Tamaki scored six in beating College Rifles 38-13.