Takapuna ease into club rugby semis

Takapuna, Marist and Northcote all had little trouble in their respective matches in joining Massey in next weekend's North Harbour premier club rugby semfinals.

Takapuna moved to second place with a 28-5 win over Silverdale, their four tries enabling them to finish a point ahead of Marist, whose 25-0 win over Helensville contained three.

Northcote were under threat for the fourth spot from both East Coast Bays and North Shore but settled what slight doubts there may have been with a 63-0 hammering of Navy.

Wing Steve Motuliki scored four of Northcote's tries but the most significant scorer for the side was first five-eighths Terii Rahui, back after a recent work stint in Australia. In his absence Northcote had struggled with kicking but yesterday Rahui converted all nine tries.

East Coast Bays, helped by a hat-trick of tries from wing David Falealili, gained a 43-8 win over Kumeu but finished a point behind Northcote in fifth spot.

Shore's faint hopes ended when they were surprisingly upset by much improved Mahurangi, who ended a sequence of narrow losses with a stunning 38-7 win. Hooker Willie Hafu excelled in Mahurangi's effort with three tries.

Massey, who hold the Les Pearce Shield contested on a challenge basis, added a second trophy to the cabinet by finishing the Buck Shelford Shield second round series with a 54-26 win over Glenfield.

Massey finished the second round and as top playoff qualifier, 12 points ahead of second placed Takapuna, and will be hot favourites to retain the premiership title won last year.

Auckland

Three Ponsonby tries in the last 20 minutes cost Waitakere City any chance of an upset win over the Auckland premier one second round leader at Western Springs Stadium.

Ponsonby led 8-6 at halftime then 11-9 midway through the second half before the Ponies took charge in what was, until then, a close match.

First, fullback Tevita Hufanga dashed in for a try under the posts, converted by Brett Williams, then halfback Fraser Robertson nipped across on the short side from a 5m scrum before winger Tony Koonwaiyou finished Waitakere City off with a try in the corner.

The Ponies are now out to a six-point lead over University with one week of games to play before the Gallaher Shield semifinals.

Otahuhu was the other big loser yesterday, going down 29-14 to Grammar Carlton after leading 14-13 at halftime.

Otahuhu has slipped back to third on the points table and, with University coming up on Saturday, could be now vulnerable for a semifinal spot.

University beat East Tamaki 33-15 with each side scoring two tries. University centre Jamie Helleur made the difference with an excellent kicking performance of seven penalties and a conversion.

Marist were able to come back from a narrow loss to University last week to thrash Te Papapa Onehunga 62-3 and, with a valuable bonus point from their 10 tries, still have an outside chance of making the semifinals.

They play Pakuranga - a 25-10 winner over bottom-of-the-table Papatoetoe yesterday - next Saturday and another win and bonus point might just be enough for a top four playoff spot.

Premier two competition leader Roskill Districts was given a first-half fright by Waiheke, who had a convincing 27-10 lead at the break, before Roskill managed to come back and raced away to a 48-27 victory.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY