New Zealand's national club rugby results from Saturday 3 May.
Auckland
Waitemata maintained its lead at the top of the Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield standings with a tense, seesaw, but ultimately deserving 37-32 victory at Papatoetoe.
Papatoetoe led 20-14 at the break, hooking into the forward exchanges and running hard in the backline. Openside flanker Loga Faasavalu was the go-to man in the lineouts and it was off one of his claims that second five William Mateai scored the first of his two tries, not long after hooker Patrick Mulipola had plunged over for the home team.
Impressive Waitemata No 8 Ari Hunt kept Waitemata in the hunt with two well-taken tries, the first when he found the Red Sea parting.
Waitemata's set-piece dominance started to tell in the second spell as the game broke up and got scrappy. Blindside flanker Joe Faumui benefitted from some sterling work by hooker Bruce Simpson to see his side into the lead and Vaai Ioane dived over off a well-executed lineout drive. Papatoetoe finished strongly with two late tries but its goalkicking could not match Waitemata's Karl Siemsen, who slotted seven from seven in a decisive display.
There was some confusion over the score before his final penalty goal, but Waitemata was good for its victory.
An interesting sidelight was the sight of former All Blacks loose forward Sione Lauaki turning out for the Waitemata premier reserves.
Elsewhere, Suburbs stayed in the top eight with a narrow 21-15 win over Manukau Rovers, while Grammar-TEC took a tight 16-9 result over Marist.
The other matches were worrying blowouts, especially in the Ponsonby-Waitakere City clash, where Ponies crushed the westerners 125-5, stalwart Brett Williams gorging himself with 35 points, while wing Vai Hausia crossed for no less than five tries.
University defeated Eden 59-0, former Manu Samoan international Brenton Helleur chalking up 19 points, while College Rifles hammered East Tamaki 58-0. Pakuranga made it 5-0 with a 50-8 win over Otahuhu.
Waitemata 37 Papatoetoe 32
Grammar-TEC 16 Marist 9
University 59 Eden 0
Pakuranga 50 Otahuhu 8
Ponsonby 125 Waitakere City 5
College Rifles 58 East Tamaki 0
Suburbs 21 Manukau 15
North Harbour
Massey kept their unbeaten record in the North Harbour premier rugby competition on Saturday but only after being fully stretched by a East Coast Bays side which belied its lowly table position with a spirited effort.
Massey won 27-14, and with a six point table lead look certain to win the Buck Shelford Shield first round title with just three matches remaining.
But the win over Bays came only after Massey trailed 11-10 at half-time and it needed the injection for the second spell of two of their most experienced forwards, hooker Ray Niuia and prop Adrian Smith, to change the pattern of the match.
Massey's pack then gained control and two smart tries by first five eighths Niko Ratumaitavuki, and another right on time, by flanker Anthony Matoto, were enough for Massey to secure another bonus point win.
But it was a brave effort by a Bays side without several first choice players, including two representative players, midfield back Tua Saseve and flanker Zak Judge.
Western Pioneers retained second place but were made to work hard for a 29-12 win against an improved Mahurangi side, while the other matches both produced high scoring.
Glenfield, helped by two tries by wing Puavao Samoa and the reliable boot of first five eighths Alex King, surprised with a 35-30 win over Silverdale, a late try by halfback Regan Crosland gave Northcote a 35-all draw with Takapuna, and North Shore, with 27 points from Tim Blundell, crushed a struggling Marist 82-10.
Takapuna 35 Northcote 35
Western Pioneers 29 Mahurangi 12
Glenfield 35 Silverdale 30
Massey 27 East Coast Bays 14
North Shore 82 Marist 10
Northland
Horahora 34 Mid Northern 17
Wellsford 27 Western Sharks 20
Mid-Western 29 Otamatea 22
Old Boys-Marist 55 Hikurangi 15
Waipu 45 Kamo 25
Counties Manukau
Pukekohe put on a solid performance to out play Waiuku 28-10 scoring the bonus point in the process. While there is still plenty of room for improvement in the Pukekohe performance due to a high error count, they did show good continuity and a commitment to use width with their attack. Waiuku opened the scoring with an outstanding team try five minutes into the game showing great ability to keep the ball alive and following up. Pukekohe struck back five minutes later and from there led on the scoreboard for the remainder of the game. While the set phase was even and Waiuku showed plenty of commitment, Pukekohe's ability to attack, in particular their strong counter attack secured their victory.
Onewhero remains third spot on the table after a taking out their high scoring game against Ardmore Marist 41-29. With both teams picking up the four try bonus point, it was the set phase of Onewhero, in particular their scrum that set up the victory.
The remaining games of the rounds were highlighted by more one sided affairs with Patumahoe putting on the highest score of the round beating Papakura 64-7. Scoring eight tries, including a hat trick to Vaha Fili, Patumahoe proved too strong completely dominating in the forwards and attacking when the opportunities presented themselves.
Karaka remain unbeaten for the season by thrashing Drury 56-7. Scoring eight tries in the process including a double to TaviteGadeisuva and Antonio Lavemai, Karaka were simply to strong all over the park and will be looking forwards to their top of the table clash with Pukekohe this Saturday.
In the other games of the round Bombay beat Weymouth 63-0 and Manurewa downed Te Kauwhata 40-8.
Manurewa 40 Te Kauwhata 8
Onewhero 41 Ardmore-Marist 29
Karaka 56 Drury 7
Pukekohe 28 Waiuku 10
Patumahoe 64 Papakura 7
Bombay 63 Weymouth 0
Thames Valley
One match was played last Thursday evening in order to accommodate the opening weekend of the Duck Shooting season.
Last Thursday evening at the Paeroa Domain, Paeroa West recorded their first win of the season, beating competition front runners Hauraki North 22-13 in something of an upset result.
On Saturday in the other matches, an injury hit Waihou side still proved too strong for Ngatea, winning 41-3 at Te Aroha, the Cobras travelled to Mercury Bay and came away with a 29-10 victory, while Waihi made the short trip over the hill to Whangamata and won well, beating the locals by 61-12.
Paeroa West 22 Hauraki North 13
Waihi 61 Whangamata 12
Waihou 41 Ngatea 3
Te Aroha COBRAS 29 Mercury Bay 10
Bay of Plenty
Te Puke Sports regained the lead in the Baywide premier title race defeating Whakarewarewa 46-38, in a game were 13 tries were dotted down. Te Pukes Dan Hollinshead opened the scoring with a try after just two minutes, before the home side relied with two touchdowns at the seven and fourteen minute mark, to jump out to a 14-5 lead.
Whakarewarewa led 26-24 at the half way stage of the encounter, with the two team then trading tries. With the clock ticking down the try tally was six apiece, before Te Puke crossed again to post an 8 point victory and deny Whaka a second bonus point. Gideon Uelese grabbed a double for the winners, with Siegfried Fisi-ihoi also running in two tries for the Rotorua team.
Mount Maunganui climbed into second place on the standings, with a bonus point four try victory at the house of pain in Opotiki. Sam Mayes, Sam Hughes, Chris Croasdale and a penalty try along with three conversions, gave the visitors a 26-8 win over the Eastern Bay of Plenty side. The Opotiki points came from a try awarded to Maika Smith with McKenzie McGougan slotting a penalty goal.
Rangiuru, who earned promotion to the premier ranks after winning the Division One competition last season, put their first points on the board this year, when they drew with Te Puna at Maramatanga Park. Rangiuru fullback Ngatai Kingi jinked his way past the Te Puna defenders to score under the posts after 18 minutes - with Te Puna bouncing back with a touchdown awarded to Sam Phipps, who finished off a forward drive on the line. Te Puna led 13-10 at half time, with the two teams trading penalty goals in the second spell. Trailing by three, Ngatai Kingi missed two shots at goal in the last five minutes, before nailing his third attempt in the last play of the encounter, to see the game end at 22 points apiece.
Rototiti won an 17-14 arm wrestle with defending premier titleholders Tauranga Sports at the Tauranga Domain, after the home team led 11-10 at the half way stage. Greerton Marist came back from an eight point deficit after 40 minutes, to hold Rangataua scoreless in the second half, taking home a 24-11 victory.
Greerton-Marist 25 Rangataua 11
Rotoiti 17 Tauranga Sports 14
Te Puna 22 Rangiuru 22
Te Puke Sports 46 Whakarewarewa 38
Mt Maunganui 24 Opotiki 8
Waikato
University 27 Otorohanga 19
HOB 20 Fraser Tech 20
Hamilton Marist 13 Te Awamutu Sports 13
Melville 32 Hautapu 30
Morrinsville Sports 71 Te Rapa 14
King Country
Waitete 92 Bush United 7
Taupo Sports 23 Taumarunui R and S 8
Taumarunui Districts 65 Tongariro 10
Piopio 29 Taupo United 0
Poverty Bay
YMP 27 HSOB 3
Wairoa Athletic 21 Pirates 17
OBM 60 Horouta 38
Hawke's Bay
Hastings Rugby and Sports 20 Havelock North 20
Taradale 32 Clive 15
Napier Old Boys Marist 35 Napier Technical 20
MAC 34 Tamatea 27
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 51 Central 14.
Taranaki
Spotswood United 23 NPOB 23
Clifton 43 Stratford 5
Tukapa 28 Southern 19
Coastal 28 Inglewood 3
Wanganui
Border 28 Marton 5
Pirates 17 Ruapehu 16
Ratana 25 Kaierau 24
Taihape 34 Marist 7
Manawatu
College Old Boys 34 Feilding 30
Kia Toa 46 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 12
Linton Army 43 Freyberg 22
Old Boys-Marist 46 Te Kawau 22
Wairarapa-Bush
Greytown 17 Eketahuna 15
Pioneer 40 Carterton 5
East Coast 14 Gladstone 12
Marist 34 Martinborough 31
Horowhenua Kapiti
Waikanae 31 Shannon 22
Athletic 30 Paraparaumu 8
Levin Wanderers 34 Levin College Old Boys 20
Wellington
Tawa 29 Upper Hutt Rams 20
Marist St Pat's 36 Petone 29
Wainuiomata 27 Poneke 15
Northern United 29 Wellington 20
Old Boys-University 25 Johnsonville 6
Oriental-Rongotai 17 Hutt Old Boys-Marist 15
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy)
Kahurangi 31 Moutere 3
Nelson 33 Stoke 19
Marist 50 Awatere 21
Wanderers 48 Harlequins 24
Waitohi 24 Renwick 14
Waimea 80 Central 38
Buller
Old Boys 71 Reefton 5
White Star 53 Ngakawau 12
West Coast
Grey Valley 20 Blaketown 14
South Westland 38 Wests 8
Kiwi beat Marist by default
Canterbury
New Brighton 27 Lincoln University 24
HSOB 38 Christchurch 23
Linwood 44 University 15
Sumner 64 Belfast 5
Burnside 67 Shirley 26
Sydenham 22 Marist-Albion 15
Canterbury Country/Mid Canterbury
Rakaia 18 Kaiapoi 9
Darfield 21 Oxford 3
Methven 34 Ashley 0
Prebbleton 38 Hampstead 24
Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 14 Celtic 12
Glenmark 26 Lincoln 13
Saracens 49 Ohoka 22
Waihora 28 West Melton 7
South Canterbury
Waimate 20 Celtic 17
Pleasant Point 37 Harlequins 22
Temuka 32 Old Boys 14
Mackenzie 69 Geraldine 18
Otago
(Dunedin)
Dunedin 27 Harbour 24
Taieri 79 Pirates 20
Zingari-Richmond 33 Green Island 18
Southern 31 Kaikorai 18
University A 38 Alhambra-Union 12
(Central Otago)
Southland
Star 22 Marist 9
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 31 Blues 10
Woodlands 35 Pirates-Old Boys 5