Marist coaches Rudi Kapeli, Bernie McCahill and Darryl Suasua used a secret weapon to score a vital 39-13 win over Suburbs and cement a place in the top four for the Gallaher Shield finals.
Japan-based midfielder Waisake Sotutu combined brilliantly with Justin Wilson at centre and gave the former Bay of
Plenty speedster every opportunity to show that the Blues wasted him on the wing during the Super 12 series.
The pair harried Suburbs' defence and neutralised the dangerous attacking skills of centre Eroni Clarke, who was kept busy just covering the breaks.
Suburbs also had to contend with the speed of Phil Howlett on the left wing. The 26-year-old brother of Doug Howlett was playing only his second game of rugby, but he has chalked up 115 NRL games, starting as a 17-year-old midfielder with Penrith, followed by stints at Paramatta and South Sydney.
Defending champions Otahuhu returned to the top of the ladder with a 35-21 defeat of University. Coming off a humiliating 3-33 loss to Ponsonby in the previous round, the Otahuhu pack took charge and, aided by a much stronger defence and the accurate Tupe Fanolua, who contributed 15 points with his boot, never looked like losing.
Ponsonby moved up to third with a lacklustre 34-3 win over Eden. The only highlight for the blue-and-blacks was the brilliant form of Carlos Spencer, who came on at the break with his side 10-0 up.
Waitemata moved to within reach of the leading sides with a seven-tries-to-one, 43-17 win over Pakuranga.
Eden fans would have taken heart that their side competed strongly with Ponsonby, despite losing by 31 points, but 40 golden minutes of watching the silky skills of Spencer would have provided plenty of consolation.
Eden tackled fiercely, but Spencer had all the answers. He was in sublime touch and added an extra dimension to the game with his ability to turn defence into sweeping attack and set up tries.
Ponsonby now occupy third place on the ladder, four points adrift of Otahuhu and three behind Marist.
The key to Otahuhu's victory over University was the pack, led by prop Alani Maka and the loose forwards, Matele Misi, Craig de Goldi and Gareth Palamo. The red and blacks also had Tupe Fanolua in kicking form, with 15 points. The students provided plenty of danger out wide with Sione Kepu, Matt Faleuka and Matt Brown especially dangerous.
Marist had Justin Wilson at centre and, inside him, Waisake Sotutu. They dominated the midfield enough to ensure Marist's decisive win over Suburbs.
Waitemata's dangerous backline had a vital switch when Amasio Valance moved to first five-eighth and brilliant sevens player Mana Ashford taking the left wing.
The new combination had far too much speed and ability for Pakuranga and it took the competition dark horses to a seven tries to one 43-17 win.
In the second division, the fight for a place in the promotion-relegation series heated up with one-point defeats of leading contenders Waitakere City and Roskill Districts by two of the bottom-placed sides, East Tamaki and Mt Wellington.
Papatoetoe now lead the division after beating Manukau 13-12. And College Rifles beat Te Papapa Onehunga 15-10.
Marist coaches Rudi Kapeli, Bernie McCahill and Darryl Suasua used a secret weapon to score a vital 39-13 win over Suburbs and cement a place in the top four for the Gallaher Shield finals.
Japan-based midfielder Waisake Sotutu combined brilliantly with Justin Wilson at centre and gave the former Bay of
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