Taradale's Chris Eaton.
Recaps and results of club rugby matches from around the country.
Northland
Mid Northern 31 Otamatea 11
Mid-Western 36 Old Boys-Marist 8
Hora Hora 19 Western Sharks 13
Waipu 34 Kamo 14
Wellsford 31 Hikurangi 15
North Harbour
(Buck Shelford Shield)
Takapuna 53 Marist 8
Glenfield 50 North Shore 7
Western Pioneers 47 Northcote 17
East Coast Bays 32 Silverdale
10
Massey beat Mahurangi by default
Glenfield sounded a loud warning to the North Harbour premier competition that they will be a force to be reckoned with in 2015 after a dynamic display of running rugby to the tune of 50-7 against the defending champions North Shore at Vauxhall Road.
In doing so, Walter Little's men usurped the Les Pearce Memorial Shield, which had been in Shore's possession since last season. Glenfield have never won the North Harbour championship, but did contest the 2006 final.
If there were any sceptics over Glenfield's credentials to date because they had not played the 'big guns' then they were silenced from the get-go. Glenfield showed their intent, with their forwards dominating the breakdown and their slick backs putting the Shore defence to the sword. The 19-0 halftime scoreline may surprised many spectators, but not the Glenfield faithful who knew their team had much more to give, putting on another 31 unanswered points in the second stanza before Shore finally scored a late consolation try. Players one through to 15 were impressive for Glenfield, with Michael Little showing his class at centre and the whole pack in powerful form.
East Coast Bays remain ensconced in the top six with a 4-2 record after a strong second spell saw them head Silverdale 32-15. Among the five tryscorers was Manawatu Turbos and Blues halfback Jamie Booth.
Takapuna moved ahead of North Shore into the top four on points differential after dispatching Marist 53-8. One of three players who registered tryscoring doubles was North Harbour flanker Jordan Manihera.
Former Thames Valley, Counties Manukau and Waikato halfback David Bason scored a brace as Western Pioneers held second place with a 47-17 win over Northcote. Matt McGahan scored 17 points, including a try.
Massey remained unbeaten and at the top of the table courtesy of a late Mahurangi default, their second of the season.
Massey host North Shore, and Glenfield face Takapuna, in the big clashes next weekend.
Auckland
(Blue pool)
University 89 Maungarua 5
Suburbs 43 Otahuhu 20
Papatoetoe 85 Waitakere City 5
(Sir Fred Allen Challenge Cup)
Pakuranga 22 Waitemata 7
(White pool)
Grammar TEC 32 Eden 12
College Rifles 46 East Tamaki 17
Ponsonby 29 Marist 26
Grammar TEC took a long time to break down a combative and competitive Eden before clinching a 32-12 bonus point victory at Gribblehirst Park on Saturday.
Blues first five Simon Hickey, who finished the game at fullback, slotted five from six in a tidy display, while fullback Brendan Ward scored twice for the victors, who head to the top of the white pool with a 3-0 record. But at halftime it was just 13-7 as Eden's pack hooked into their work and Grammar TEC struggled for fluency. Eden No 8 Stuart Taavao scored a sterling solo try from a tighthead, bolting 40m to embarrass the defence.
He was not the only standout for Eden. Big right wing Sione Katoa and openside Sione Koloamatangi also played strongly. Grammar TEC lost lock and skipper Scott Scrafton to a broken nose, but the visitors started to grind down Eden in the second stanza, helped by three yellow cards which twice left Eden with 13 men. Two late tries, after thrice being over the line and held up, sealed the result for Grammar TEC.
Ponsonby beat Marist 29-26 for the Tom Johns Memorial Cup on Beegee Day at Western Springs, where club legend Bryan Williams took up his ambassadorial role and symbolically handed over director of rugby duties to Nathan Kemp. No 10 and captain Murray Williams kicked a decisive five goals, but Marist scored four tries, so picked up two bonus points.
College Rifles stayed in the hunt for the coveted top four spot with a 46-17 win over East Tamaki, with wing Joseva Ravouvou scoring three tries.
In the blue pool, Pakuranga retained the Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup in beating Waitemata 22-7. Suburbs kept pace with the leaders via a 43-20 victory over Otahuhu, while there were two blowouts - Varsity 89-5 over Maungarua (wing Nat Turner scoring a hat-trick) and Papatoetoe 85-5 over Waitakere City. D'Angelo Leuila scored 31 points for the south Aucklanders.
Counties Manukau
(Challenge Cup)
Manurewa 74 Te Kauwhata 3
Ardmore-Marist 30 Onewhero 7
Karaka 78 Drury 3
Pukekohe 23 Waiuku 16
Patumahoe 69 Papakura 10
Bombay 51 Weymouth 3
Pukekohe marched on, extending their Challenge Cup 2015 record to 8-0, but they were made to work hard before overcoming Waiuku 23-16.
Waiuku hit an early 10-0 lead thanks to the boot of James Faiva and a try to hooker Jamie Baker. Pukekohe clawed their way and scored a late converted try to break a 16-all deadlock.
Along with Baker, flanker Ethan James was prominent for Waiuku, while Pukekohe's Nathan de Thierry directed play nicely.
Ardmore-Marist retained the Counties Power Cup, beating Onewhero 30-7, to stay in third position on the log.
Patumahoe hit their straps at last with a 69-10 crushing of Papakura, Nick Mackay crossing for a hat-trick and Sam Furniss a brace.
Defending champion Bombay still look the goods, lying in fourth place, after a 51-3 win over Weymouth. Epeli Lotawa scored three of the nine tries.
Karaka made short work of Drury, 78-3, with the prolific Tavite Gadeisuva registering a quartet, to bring his tally for the 2015 season to 15, while Manurewa moved up into the top half of the table with a 74-3 beating of Te Kauwhata, Robert Ofisa scoring three and Amosa Nove another double.
The marquee match-up this weekend sees Pukekohe hosting Karaka in a top of the table clash.
Thames Valley
(Silcock Shield)
Hauraki North 64 Paeroa West 10
Te Aroha COBRAS 40 Ngatea 0
Waihi 29 Tairua 23
Waihou 49 Thames 24
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide premier)
Whakatane Marist 58 Waikite 13
Whakarewarewa 91 Paroa 7
Te Puna 47 Rangataua 7
Rotoiti 34 Greerton Marist 25
Tauranga Sports 62 Opotiki 10
Te Puke Sports 22 Mt Maunganui Sports 12
Whakarewarewa opened the Baywide Premier competition on Saturday when they put Paroa to the sword in posting a 91-7 win.
A brace of tries to Te Rangi Fraser, Kimo Holthan, Chris van der Vlugt and Kevin MacDonald headlined the Rotorua side's victory. However, the star of the game was Ryubyn Vaipo, who converted all 13 touchdowns and also scored a try for a personal tally of 31 points.
Te Puke Sports defeated defending Baywide champions Mount Maunganui at Mount headquarters, Blake Park. The visitors swept to a 17-nil lead at halftime before Mount Maunganui came back with two second half tries, Te Puke taking out the match 22-12.
Sipa Moimoi, Eru Smith Wanu and Luke Perrot touched down for the winners with Matt Golding and Andy Devoy scoring tries for Mount Maunganui.
Te Puna, who finished sixth in last season's Baywide premier title race, showed that they will be a 2015 contender, after a big win over arch-rivals Rangataua at Maramatanga Park. Early in the match Kemble Frost crossed for Rangataua's sole touchdown of the match to lead 7-0. However, it was mostly one-way traffic from them on, with the home side running in eight tries to take out a solid 47-7 win. Pomare Pearson grabbed a brace of tries, with Tapene Mika, Hamish Boyce, Courtney Mita, Lewis Mikaere, Imad Reyal and Aiden Kuka also dotting down.
Multiple Baywide premier titleholders Tauranga Sports returned home from the Eastern Bay with a 62-10 over Opotiki. Rotorua champions Rotoiti ground out a hard-fought 34-25 win against Greerton Marist, with Whakatane Marist dispatching Waikite 58-13 in Rotorua.
Waikato
Melville 52 Hautapu 27
Hamilton Old Boys 42 University 25
Fraser Tech 23 Otorohanga 22
Hamilton Marist 40 Te Awamutu Sports 13
Morrinsville Sports 38 United Matamata Sports 5
King Country
Coast 23 Tongariro 12
Waitete 106 Bush United 3
Taupo Sports 34 Kio Kio 10
Waitomo 10 Taumarunui 0
Pio Pio 35 Taupo United 5
East Coast
Uawa 12 Hikurangi 5
Waiapu 12 Tawhiti 7
Ruatoria City 27 Tokomaru Bay United 5
Poverty Bay
YMP 34 Pirates 7
HSOB 37 OBM 13
Hawke's Bay
(Tui Nash Cup)
Napier Technical 44 Hastings Rugby and Sports 38
Taradale 23 Havelock North 19
Napier Old Boys-Marist 51 Clive 15
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 51 Tamatea 12
MAC 43 Central 10
Taranaki
Spotswood United 27 Clifton 10
Inglewood 29 Coastal 28
NPOB 43 Southern 22
Tukapa 49 Stratford 10
Wanganui
Border 38 Kaierau 14
Marist 45 Ratana 17
Taihape 34 Utiku OB 20
Manawatu
College Old Boys 39 Linton Army 7
Varsity 71 Freyberg 0
Old Boys-Marist 32 Feilding 31
Kia Toa 27 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 17
Horowhenua Kapiti
Paraparaumu 46 Shannon 12
Waikanae 11 Athletic 5
Foxton 30 Wanderers 8
Wairarapa-Bush
Carterton 35 Eketahuna 8
Pioneer 40 Gladstone 12
Greytown 31 Marist 10
Martinborough 29 East Coast 11
Wellington
(Swindale Shield)
Hutt Old Boys-Marist 40 Old Boys-University 20
Wellington 34 Avalon 12
Petone 26 Poneke 22
Northern United 26 Johnsonville 24
Oriental-Rongotai 43 Paremata-Plimmerton 15
Upper Hutt Rams 37 Wainuiomata 21
Tawa 32 Marist-St Pat's 27
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy)
Wanderers 50 Waitohi 17
Waimea 30 Moutere 17
Kahurangi 17 Harlequins 16
Stoke 40 Renwick 20
Central 33 Marist 15
Buller
(Albion Cup)
Ngakawau 49 Reefton 14
White Star beat Old Boys by default
West Coast
Marist 24 Kiwi 20
Blaketown 99 Grey Valley 3
Wests 20 South Westland 16
Canterbury
(Hawkins Cup)
Lincoln University 48 Linwood 3
Burnside 31 Sumner 31
HSOB 37 Shirley 10
University 35 Marist Albion 33
New Brighton 59 Belfast 17
Christchurch 33 Sydenham 22
Mid Canterbury/Canterbury Country
(Section one)
Lincoln 43 Hornby 28
Celtic 27 Prebbleton 6
Glenmark 41 Kaiapoi 18
Southbridge 29 West Melton 12
Oxford 26 Rakaia 15
(Section two)
Methven 23 Hampstead 20
Darfield 14 Ashley 13
Saracens 29 Ohoka 7
Waihora 24 Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 3
Southern 24 Rolleston 17
South Canterbury
Celtic 33 Pleasant Point 20
Mackenzie 34 Geraldine 3
Temuka 31 Waimate 24
Harlequins 50 Old Boys 10
North Otago
(Citizens Shield)
Athletic Marist 10 Maheno 6
Otago
(Metro)
Taieri 78 Alhambra-Union 6
Kaikorai 30 University A 22
Harbour 60 Green Island 5
Zingari-Richmond 27 Southern 27
Dunedin 47 Pirates 16
NB. There was no play in Southland, Central Otago or South Otago due to duck shooting.
The Warrens became the first over-70s Hyrox world champions at the competition in Chicago.