Rugby: Reject Ponies wing comes up trumps

Former Manu Samoa and Taranaki wing Filipo Tuala gave the Auckland selectors who omitted him from their NPC squad plenty to think about when Ponsonby beat Marist 36-18 in the seventh round of Auckland senior club rugby.

Tuala set the game alight after 20 minutes, beating five tacklers to score wide out. He added another try before the end and caused grief for his Marist opponent, Patrick Petelo, almost every time he touched the ball.

After a nervous start and a host of unforced errors, Ponsonby settled down, with halfback Ofisa Tonu'u taking control, and by halftime they had shut Marist out of the game with a 21-3 lead.

Ponsonby have a handy five-point break, but with Waitemata knocking off Otahuhu 20-10 and catapulting into second place, they will not want a hiccup in their remaining two matches.

Waitemata, with Papatoetoe and Tamaki to play, have the easier run to the line. Ponsonby still have to play Teachers Eastern and Suburbs.

Waitemata, down 0-10 in the second half, introduced former North Harbour prop Scott Palmer to the Auckland club scene, and his strength and mobility, plus two fearful tackles by Michael Jones, turned the game early in the second half.

Jones, 22m from Waitemata's line, cut down big Otahuhu centre Tupo Faamasino with a bone-cruncher that spilled the ball loose long enough for Waitemata wing Dave Nofoa to run in the first of his two tries.

It was vintage Jones and Auckland coach Wayne Pivac, who watched the game, would have been delighted by the display.

Pivac would also have been heartened by the news that Mark Carter and Craig Dowd, both back from injury, turned out for Suburbs and helped their side upset last season's champions, Teachers Eastern, 34-10.

Suburbs now have a share of fourth with University, who staved off the relentless Tamaki 31-3, but the chase for the four places in the Gallaher shield playoffs is unlikely to be decided until the last round is completed, with only six points separating second-placed Waitemata from seventh-placed Marist.

In North Harbour, the bonus point for scoring four tries or more may yet determine the three sides to join Takapuna in the semifinals after the last round of pool play this Saturday.

North Shore and Silverdale (42 points) trail Takapuna by 14 points, one ahead of Kumeu. The outsiders, depending mainly on how Kumeu fare against Helensville this week, are Marist (38) and Glenfield (37).

Kumeu's certain entry to the semis was dashed when they lost 10-23 to Takapuna.

The Kumeu pack looked world beaters, gaining 80 per cent of possession, and setting the platform for a 10-3 halftime lead.

But in the second spell former All Black wing Eric Rush, now at centre, scored a try, and with the scores levelled at 10-all, Billy Fulton and Ngapaku Ngapuka behind the Takapuna pack masterminded the victory.

Silverdale were flattered with a last-quarter 23-13 win over Massey.

Michael Wilson, promoted from the Silverdale under-21s, intercepted with his first touch of the ball in senior rugby and sprinted 60m for the try.

Marist, urgently needing a bonus point, were frustrated, scoring only three tries in beating Mahurangi 19-13. The Marist pack made the play, camped in Mahurangi territory, stormed the line but made little impression against resolute defence.

Glenfield came from 7-19 down to win 21-19, while Northcote beat East Coast Bays 23-5.

In Counties Manukau, Lee Lidgard celebrated his 100th game for Papakura in style as they outclassed Manurewa 41-10.

Papakura gained superiority up front, where Lidgard and company dominated their opponents, while Phil Lewis controlled things beautifully at first five-eighths and finished with a 21-point haul.

Bombay caused a huge upset, knocking over Ardmore Marist 8-3. David McRobbie provided all the points with an intercept try and penalty, while Takerai Gallagher and Cameron Prestidge scored the big hits to rattle the opposition and inspire victory.

Waiuku moved into the top four with one week to go with a 33-5 victory over Onewhero. Speedster Steve Irwin scored just before halftime to set the wheels in motion and another four tries were added by the end to help keep Waiuku in the hunt.

Papakura secured second place with a 46-7 victory over neighbours Patumahoe.