The second half started similar to the first, through a Walker penalty goal. Vui latched onto the end of another fine Massey break to register his second try before Shore hooker James Hinchco crashed over for his second try to bring Shore back to within two. Two late penalties from Tuigamala gave Massey a five-point lead. While Shore finished the game hard on attack, Massey deserved this close-fought final.
For the vanquished, lock Brandon Nansen had a standout game, running hard with ball in hand, and making some punishing hits in defence.
In the plate final, Northcote completed a withering finish to their season with a 41-28 victory over East Coast Bays to place fifth overall. In an entertaining game, a hat-trick to Northcote wing Jason Blackett and a double to openside flanker James Doyle highlighted the six tries to four win after leading 20-14 at the break. Wing Jonah Tuitoga scored a brace for Bays.
Auckland
(Gallaher Shield final)
Grammar TEC 39 University 14
(Jubilee Trophy final)
Ponsonby 27 Papatoetoe 21
(Portola Trophy final)
Eden 34 Suburbs 27
(President's Cup final)
Otahuhu 35 Maungarua 13
Grammar TEC have etched their name on the Gallaher Shield for the first time as a new club after a 39-14 triumph in the final over University, proving their worth as the best team throughout the premier season.
The three tries to one victory partially erased memories of Varsity's 2014 extra time final win, when Grammar TEC could have thought they were the better team for much of the regulation time. This time there was no such heartache.
After an even first spell, in which the Hickey brothers and Brenton Helleur swapped penalties and the Varsity scrum held firm, Grammar TEC started to command possession and their two big wings Ben Lam, probably the best on show, and Bryce Heem, made inroads into a game, but outgunned Varsity defence.
Varsity tighthead prop Marcel Renata was busy around the track, while No 8 Matt Matich again gave a committed effort. Wing Nat Turner made a trysaving tackle on runaway lock Taleni Seu. Brenton Helleur missed his first grand final kick in two years.
But there was just a feeling that the Grammar TEC backs, aided by Simon Hickey taking the ball to the line and a scrum that was warming to its task, not to mention a penalty count in their favour, were about to crack open the line. So it proved in the second spell.
The irrepressible Lam scored twice in a five minute period, the first off an inside ball by Hickey ball and the second, again from an inside ball, from vigorous hooker Andrew Makalio.
Varsity did uncork a superb try to fullback Simon Healy from sterling lead-up play by centre Liam Steele and Helleur, but it only served to fire up Grammar TEC, who tightened the screws. Halfback Jono Hickey, who had taken over the kicking from his brother, sealed the game with a try off a backpedalling Varsity scrum.
In the other premier finals, Ponsonby salvaged something from a difficult season by beating Papatoetoe 27-21. The Ioane brothers, in tandem for the first time in Ponies' colours, both scored tries. Eden defeated Suburbs 34-27 to win the Portola Trophy, while Otahuhu's 35-13 win over Maungarua gave them the Presidents Cup.
In the Under 21 Eden Park curtainraiser final for the Arthur Bayliss Cup, University did gain some consolation, beating Pakuranga 21-17.
Counties Manukau
(McNamara Cup final)
Bombay 23 Karaka 21
Not since Pukekohe in 2004-05 has a Counties Manukau premier club side won back-to-back championships, but Bombay did just that on Saturday afternoon at ECOLight Stadium.
Bombay defeated Karaka 23-21 to deny the 2015 front-runners a first ever premiership and follow up their 16-10 triumph over the same club in the 2014 final.
Karaka led 18-16 at the break but Bombay won the second stanza war of attrition, with captain and No 8 Ben Masoe, who has played for Auckland, lifting the McNamara Cup for the second year on the bounce.
Steelers' first five Piers Francis, whose goalkicking was decisive, opened the scoring with two penalty goals. Karaka No 10 Kieran Rollinson got his side on the board after a missed attempt to take the score to 6-3.
Bombay were then held up over the line but were later rewarded when 140kg prop Kalolo Tuiloma charged over for a try, converted by Francis.
Karaka responded by going straight on attack, second five Antonio Lavemai crossing the chalk for a try, which Rollinson duly converted.
Francis slotted a penalty to extend Bombay's lead to 16-10. Rollinson replied with his own three points. Karaka took the lead for the first time when their captain, flanker Jamie Gilbert-Clark, crossed the line. The conversion hit the uprights from out wide to take the halftime score to 18-16.
Midfielder Rey Lee-Lo added some spark for Karaka when he came off the bench, while Rollinson extended the lead with another penalty goal. Lee-Lo made an impressive charge to start an attack which saw Karaka spill the ball near the line. That error was to prove costly.
Bombay then turned the tide with an impressive counterattack off a strong scrum and finally got over the line when replacement player Josh Allan scored. Francis converted the try to give Bombay back the lead at 23-21.
Then followed an entertaining final 10 minutes with Bombay holding on for the victory, breaking Karaka hearts once more.
Thames Valley
(McClinchy Cup final)
Waihou 22 Mercury Bay 22 (title shared)
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide premier final)
Tauranga Sports 26 Te Puke Sports 14
Tauranga Sports won their eighth Bay of Plenty Baywide premier title when they defeated Te Puke Sports in an absorbing contest at Murray Salt Stadium in Te Puke.
Te Puke Sports took an unbeaten Baywide record into the clash at their home ground, as they endeavoured to add a third Baywide crown to their back to back premier titles in 2011 and 2012. John Dodd opened the scoring for Tauranga Sports with a penalty goal, before Curtis Deane put the home team in front, when he crossed for a try in the 13th minute.
A Tauranga Sports touchdown at the halfway stage of the first spell leveled the score, before the visitors grabbed another try and Dodd added two further penalty goals, with Tauranga Sports taking a 19-11 lead into the halftime break.
In spite of two further penalty goals kicked by Te Puke Sports' ace goalkicker Dan Hollinshead, the second spell belonged to Tauranga Sports, who went on to take out the title decider with a 26-14 victory. Tauranga left wing Jason Harvey was in superb form, finishing off some devastating Tauranga attacks on the line with two touchdowns. Nic Evemy celebrated his 100th game for Tauranga Sports premiers with his side's third try.
The Tauranga Sports win was built on an emphatic forward performance. with the Tauranga pack taking control in the tight. Tauranga team management were delighted with the incredibly huge team improvement after they were beaten by Te Puke Sports 18-3 just three weeks ago. Bay of Plenty Steamers halfback Josh Hall had a superb match, and was adjudged his side's player of the day.
Arataki, who went to Rangiuru headquarters at Centennial Park in Te Puke to contest the Baywide division one final, won the Baywide title in a hard-fought battle. Arataki came from fourth place in the qualifying rounds to topple the top qualifier in a hard-fought battle.
The score was tied at 6-6 before an Arataki try, dotted down by captain Marty Bourke, saw the visitors lead 11-6 at halftime. Rangiuru were hot on attack in the last 10 minutes of the match but the Arataki defence held firm, to take out a 14-9 victory.
The Baywide development final at Murray Salt Stadium between Te Puke Sports and Tauranga Sports was an absolute thriller that was up for grabs until the final whistle. Te Puke Sports, who took an unbeaten Baywide season record into the title decider, held an 8-nil advantage at halftime.
The last 10 minutes were an absolute barn-burner, with Tauranga Sports reaching the lead before Te Puke Sports came back with a try in the closing minutes of the encounter to regain the advantage. A Tauranga Sports penalty attempt from the sideline right on fulltime hit the posts, which saw Te Puke Sports squeeze home 16-13.
Waikato
(Promotion-relegation)
Te Awamutu Sports 27 Southern United 5
United Matamata Sports 25 Leamington 22
King Country
(Final)
Waitomo 12 Taupo Sports 7
Poverty Bay
(Lee Brothers Shield final)
HSOB 18 Ngatapa 16
Hawke's Bay
Taradale 23 Havelock North 16
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 61 Tamatea 12
Central 13 MAC 10
Napier Old Boys Marist 35 Clive 19
Hastings Rugby and Sports 41 Napier Technical 18
Wanganui
(Semifinals)
Pirates 25 Taihape 24
Border 34 Ruapehu 13
Wairarapa-Bush
(Tui Cup semifinals)
Greytown 21 Marist 13
Gladstone 19 Pioneer 17
(Plate semifinals)
Carterton 21 East Coast 12
Martinborough 33 Eketahuna 10
Horowhenua Kapiti
(Semifinals)
Paraparaumu 26 Shannon 14
Waikanae 19 Foxton 15
Wellington
(Jubilee Cup semifinals)
Marist St Pat's 27 Tawa 23
Old Boys-University 20 Oriental-Rongotai 18
(Hardham Cup semifinals)
Johnsonville 31 Poneke 17
Upper Hutt Rams 44 Avalon Wolves 16
Buller
(Senior Shield final)
Ngakawau/Karamea 14 White Star 10
(Craddock Trophy final)
Westport 31 Old Boys 17
Canterbury
(Metro, Hawkins Cup)
(Bowl final)
Linwood 43 Burnside 41
(Ellesmere)
Darfield 45 Hornby 10
Waihora 66 Prebbleton 11
Southbridge 54 Rolleston 19
Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 27 West Melton 26
(North Canterbury)
Ashley 38 Ohoka 17
Glenmark 56 Kaiapoi 13
Saracens 27 Oxford 23
South Canterbury
(Hamersley Cup final)
Celtic 24 Harlequins 12
North Otago
(Citizens Shield final)
Old Boys 29 Excelsior 15
Otago
(Metro final)
University A 31 Taieri 15
(Gainsborough Shield final)
Kaikorai 48 Dunedin 39
(Central Otago final)
Alexandra 23 Maniototo 20
(Bottom four final)
Matakanui Combined 24 Cromwell 22