National club rugby results: July 29

University celebrate winning the Gallaher Shield after defeating Suburbs 39-18 at Eden Park yesterday. Photo / Photosport.

Northland
(Premier final)
Old Boys-Marist 35 Mid Northern 24

Auckland
(Gallaher Shield final)
University 39 Suburbs 18
(Jubilee Cup final)
Eden 75 Grammar TEC 28
(Portola Trophy final)
East Tamaki 31 Papatoetoe 10
(Presidents Cup final)
Otahuhu 16 Mt Wellington 13

The Gallaher Shield returns to Merton Road and Colin Maiden Park after University gave a sterling grand final display to outflank defending champions Suburbs 39-18.

Matching the physicality of the big Suburbs' pack, University, in their fourth final in five years, but bouncing back from the travails of 2016, took their chances, made their tackles, dominated field position and got their tactics right. They got full value from man of the match and No 7 Antonio Kirikiri, who is signed to the Manawatu Turbos, but others such as replacement halfback Henry Saker, lock Lyndon Dunshea, No 8 Uini Fetalaiga and prop Marcel Renata, who scored a try as he did in the 2014 triumph, were prominent.

And yet, at 60 minutes, it was 20-13 to University and poised on a knife-edge until an injudicious chip over the top bounced for fullback Sam Lawson, who scored a 60m solo try with a weaving, mazy run.

University captain Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald, who has played for both Hawke's Bay and Auckland, savoured the moment, his team inspired by some written words provided by 1955-57 Gallaher Shield winner Sir John Graham, who is very sick.

"We understood that they had a deadly back three, but we just wanted to play at the right end of the park, so we practised our D. That was going to win us the game," he says.

"The boys worked so hard to get to this spot after a disappointing year. It was really emotional and there were a few tears at the final whistle."

Suburbs captain Carl Perry attempted to get his outsides into the game early with his trademark long passes, but sometimes things got hairy and loose for the team. Still, one always got the impression that fullback Jona Sawailau could break free given a sniff. In the final analysis, Varsity edged them in the set-piece and nullified their size advantage.

"I think it was possession more than anything. When we give away that much ball and they control the game and the phases, suck all your energy out and take all their opportunities, full credit to them," says Perry.

In other finals, Marist beat Papatoetoe 37-37 in the curtainraiser for the Under 20s' championship, giving hope for the future of that storied club, while Eden crushed Grammar TEC 75-28, wing Brody Lam running in five tries. Glenn Crichton's four tries helped East Tamaki clinch the Portola Trophy, 31-10 over Papatoetoe. Otahuhu beat Mt Wellington 16-13 for the Presidents Cup. - Campbell Burnes

Thames Valley
(McClinchy Cup final)
Hauraki North 28 Waihi Athletic 27

Bay of Plenty
(Baywide premier final)
Mt Maunganui 41 Rotoiti 8

Waikato
(Waikato Breweries Shield final)
Hamilton Old Boys 38 Otorohanga 16

King Country
(Meads Shield final)
Taumarunui Eels 25 Waitete 13

East Coast
(Chas Keelan Memorial Shield final)
TVC 24 Hikurangi 21

Hawke's Bay
(Tui Maddison Trophy semifinals)
Clive 21 Napier Tech 18
Napier Old Boys-Marist 26 Hastings Rugby and Sports 22

Wanganui
(Final)
Ruapehu 28 Border 26
(Consolation final)
Kaierau 40 Taihape 24

Wairarapa-Bush
(Tui Cup final)
Gladstone 25 Martinborough 12
(Plate final)
Marist 27 Pioneer 14

Wellington
(Jubilee Cup semifinals)
Old Boys-University 50 Tawa 22
Hutt Old Boys-Marist 19 Marist-St Pat's 14
(Hardham Cup)
Poneke 48 Avalon Wolves 10
Johnsonville 24 Upper Hutt Rams 13
Wellington 36 Paremata-Plimmerton 24

Canterbury
(Metro finals)
(Plate)
New Brighton 19 Sumner 17
(Bowl)
Shirley 13 Belfast 8

(Trophy semifinals, July 23)
University 24 Sydenham 15
(Plate semifinals, July 23)
Sumner 17 Burnside 9
(Bowl semifinals, July 23)
Belfast 41 Marist-Albion 10

(Ellesmere semifinals)
Southbridge 33 Prebbleton 7
Darfield 24 Waihora 13
(Murray Cooper Shield, July 23)
Southbridge 22 Prebbleton 13
Darfield 70 Rolleston 0

Mid Canterbury
(Watters Cup final, July 23)
Southern 35 Rakaia 21

South Canterbury
(Hamersley Cup semifinals)
Harlequins 27 Mackenzie 23

North Otago
(Citizens Shield semifinals)
Old Boys 43 Kurow 34
Valley 21 Excelsior 20

Otago
(Dunedin Metro final)
Southern 24 Harbour 15

(Dunedin Metro semifinals, July 23)
Southern 15 Kaikorai 10
Harbour 40 Dunedin 27

(Central Otago final)
Wakatipu 13 Arrowtown 10
(Central Otago semifinals, July 23)
Arrowtown 25 Maniototo 20