New Zealand's national club rugby results from Saturday March 10.
Auckland
Grammar-TEC won its first major premier silverware as a new entity, wresting the Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup off University with a tight 11-6 victory at Colin Maiden Park.
Varsity had held the cup since June 1 last year, having won it off Grammar-TEC's forerunner Grammar-Carlton, but was able to get little going.
There was a paucity of tries but plenty of scrums and whistle from referee Peter Willis as both sides struggled for fluency on attack. On balance, Grammar-TEC deserved to win because of its better scrum and for creating two tries, though crossing for just one.
Chris Noakes kicked two penalty goals for Varsity, but his teammates could not capitalise on useful breakdown ball won by the likes of flanker Mitch Karpik. Grammar-TEC defended strongly and commanded the field position, while wing Kitione Taimani showed a good step and finishing ability to score the game's only try at the 15-minute mark. He was over for another into the second stanza but the final pass from No 8 So'otala Fa'aso'o was ruled forward.
Fullback Kali Hala added the remaining points from his boot, as Varsity aroused the ire of referee Willis. Prop Mokani Fuavao was binned in the first spell and Varsity's scrum never recovered. Grammar-TEC now lies sixth but with a game in hand and poised to move swiftly up the table.
In other action, Pakuranga continued on its merry, unbeaten, way with a convincing 37-11 win over Suburbs, Namatahi Waa crossing for a double. Papatoetoe picked up a crucial 36-14 result over neighbours Otahuhu to leap into the top half of the table. There will have been celebrations at Gribblehirst Park after Eden edged Maungarua 12-8 for its first victory of the season. Waitemata maintained its lead with a 72-0 thrashing of East Tamaki, while Ponsonby racked up 62-20 over Manukau Rovers. Sadly, there was another hefty hiding dished out to Waitakere City, 124-0 by College Rifles, who ran in no less than 20 tries.
Grammar-TEC 11 University 6
Papatoetoe 36 Otahuhu 14
Waitemata 72 East Tamaki 0
Pakuranga 37 Suburbs 11
Ponsonby 62 Manukau 20
College Rifles 124 Waitakere City 0
Eden 12 Maungarua 8
North Harbour
Thanks to a heroic effort by fullback Kyle Nu'ualiitia, Western Pioneers retained their second place ladder position on Saturday in the North Harbour premier rugby competition with an exciting 17-14 win over Takapuna.
Nu'ualiitia scored all of Western's points, including three tries, the last of which saved the match when five minutes from time with a resurgent Takapuna ahead 14-12 his side seemed destined for its second loss of the season.
But Nu'aliitia, who had been responsible for Western's 12-0 half-time lead with his first two tries, latched onto a Takapuna breakdown and scampered away to score in the corner. Takapuna surged back into the game in the second spell when Western lost three backs, including the promising Michael Little to injury, and lost structure.
Unbeaten Massey stretched their ladder lead to seven with a 69-12 thrashing of bottom side Mahurangi to all but clinch the first round competition with just two games left. Promising wing Tevita Li, soon to be in the New Zealand team in the world under 20 championship, was in great form for Massey scoring three tries.
North Shore strengthened their top four position with a 39-24 win over Glenfield in a hectic, but occasionally fiery match. Silverdale's big powerful pack, with Jordan Manihera scoring two tries, gave Silverdale a 44-14 win over Northcote and Marist's dismal season continued with a 59-7 hammering from East Coast Bays.
Western Pioneers 17 Takapuna 14
Silverdale 44 Northcote 14
Massey 69 Mahurangi 12
North Shore 39 Glenfield 24
East Coast Bays 59 Marist 7
Counties Manukau
The top of the table clash between Karaka and Pukekohe proved to be a tight encounter as expected. Heading into the game unbeaten this season, Karaka went into the game as favourites and looked the slightly better team in the opening fourty minutes. Dominating both territory and possession in the first half, Pukekohe showed good defence to hold out Karaka for long periods of play. A superior Karaka scrum made things difficult for Pukekohe and created a solid platform for Karaka to attack. Turning at halftime with the score line at 10-10, it was Pukekohe's turn to have the better of territory and possession as Pukekohe headed out to a 16-13 lead after trading penalties with Karaka. The final ten minutes proved extremely tense rugby as the scores levelled to 16-16 all before a Karaka drop kick to first five Kieron Rollinson with five minutes remaining gave Karaka a 19-16 lead.
Soon after the restart, Pukekohe was awarded a penalty out wide, which was reflected off the uprights which would have levelled the score. From the 22 re start, Pukekohe attacked the Karaka line and was awarded another penalty in a far easier position, directly in front of the posts 30 metres out. Pukekohe took a quick tap which surprised the Karaka defence and spun the ball wide with time up on the clock. A scrambling Karaka defence managed to hold off the final Pukekohe attack taking Pukekohe's Michael Porter out at the corner flag and securing the victory in a tight match and keeping Karaka's unbeaten season in tack.
Onewhero had to work hard for a tight 20-15 win over Manurewa which now sees then replace Pukekohe in second spot on the table. While both teams scored two tries a piece, the kicking of Vaughan Holt got Onewhero home.
Patumahoe's 48-0 thrashing of Te Kauwhata has also seen them jump up the table and now sit in third spot.
In the other games of the round, Waiuku beat Weymouth 56-5, Ardmore Marist had to work for a 29-15 win over Drury and Bombay downed Papakura 69-8.
Waiuku 56 Weymouth 5
Karaka 19 Pukekohe 16
Ardmore-Marist 29 Drury 15
Onewhero 20 Manurewa 15
Patumahoe 48 Te Kauwhata 0
Bombay 69 Papakura 8
Thames Valley
Competition front runners Te Aroha College Old Boys always had the better of Paeroa West, playing a faster game and running their bigger opponents off their feet. The Cobras led 29-5 at halftime, and outscored Wests six tries to four on the way to winning 44-24 at Boyd Park. Wing Josh Parker was at his elusive best and scored two tries for the winning side.
Second placed Waihi hosted Waihou but was just beaten 21-20. The other two matches were won by wider margins. Mercury Bay travelled to Ngatea and won well by 34-19, while Thames hosted bottom side Whangamata and managed to win 47-11 after giving all of their squad game time. Hauraki North had the bye.
Te Aroha COBRAS 44 Paeroa West 24
Waihou 21 Waihi 20
Thames 47 Whangamata 11
Mercury Bay 34 Ngatea 19
Bay of Plenty
Rangataua, not only ended Mount Maunganui's Baywide premier competition four game winning streak on Saturday (10 May 2014), but they also grabbed the Jordan Cup (Western BOP Sub-Union Challenge Trophy) for good measure.
The home side opened the scoring after ten minutes, when Rangataua first five Alex Jessop crossed for the try with Daiyu Ishimori nailing the conversion, to give the hosts a lead they never surrendered throughout the encounter. Two penalties from Ishimori and a penalty goal from Mount kicker Cayden Matahere, saw Rangataua take a 13-3 advantage into the half time break.
Mount Maunganui's sole touchdown came after 10 minutes of the second half when Zar Lawrence crossed for the five pointer. The two teams traded a penalty apiece, before Alex Jessop intercepted the ball to score out wide on full time, to give Rangataua a 21-11 victory.
Competition front-runners Te Puke Sports, continued their run at the top of the standings with a hard fought win against Rotoiti, at Te Puke's home ground in the Western Bay of Plenty. The two sides forward packs produced a intense physical battle, with Rotoiti holding a narrow 3 nil lead at the break courtesy of a penalty goal slotted by Tyson Ripia.
Te Puke half back Jono Kitto ran in his sides first try after 17 minutes of the second half, with Matt Wallis grabbing a second home team touchdown with 12 minutes remaining in the encounter, to give Te Puke Sports a 12-9 victory. With one game remaining in the first round of the Baywide premier title race, Te Puke Sports have one hand on the first round trophy, - with just Rangiuru who sit at the bottom of the points ladder, standing in their way next weekend.
There was little between defending Baywide champions Tauranga Sports and Opotiki at halftime, with the Western Bay side leading 13-11. Two further Tauranga Sports tries resulted in the home team posting a 23-11 victory, with the four tries awarded to Phillip Togotogorua (2) Ralulu Bavou and Brad Nickell giving Tauranga Sports a valuable bonus point.
Greerton Marist cemented their position in the middle of the standings when they beat Te Puna 25-8, while Whakarewarewa grabbed back a place in the top four with a ten try 64-17 win over Rangiuru, with Whaka flyer Siegfried Fisi-ihoi running in four tries.
Whakarewarewa 64 Rangiuru 17
Tauranga Sports 23 Opotiki 11
Te Puke Sports 12 Rotoiti 9
Greerton Marist 25 Te Puna 8
Rangataua 21 Mt Maunganui 11
Other results
Northland
Old Boys-Marist 16 Mid Northern 5
Wellsford 33 Otamatea 12
Western Sharks 45 Kamo 31
Hora Hora 21 Waipu 17
Mid-Western 34 Hikurangi 5
Waikato
Fraser Tech 36 Hautapu 24
Otorohanga 34 Te Awamutu Sports 17
University 29 Hamilton Old Boys 0
Hamilton Marist 100 Te Rapa 3
Melville 34 Morrinsville Sports 23
King Country
Waitete 92 Kio Kio 12
Taupo Sports 68 Taumarunui Districts 5
Pio Pio 51 Tongariro 0
East Coast
Tokararangi 17 Uawa 10
Hikurangi 22 Tawhiti 5
TVC 51 Tokomaru Bay United 0
Waiapu 19 Ruatoria City 5
Poverty Bay
YMP 22 Wairoa Athletic 9
Pirates 30 Ngatapa 10
OBM 16 HSOB 9
Hawke's Bay
Taradale 35 Napier Technical 14
Havelock North 39 Central 13
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 19 MAC 15
Napier Old Boys-Marist 78 Tamatea 3
Hastings Rugby and Sports 42 Clive 12
Taranaki
Spotswood United 31 Clifton 19
Tukapa 36 NPOB 33
Coastal 63 Stratford 17
Inglewood 31 Southern 29
Wanganui
Border 29 Marist 8
Kaierau 25 Pirates 20
Ratana 23 Marton 19
Taihape 15 Utiku OB 3
Manawatu
Old Boys-Marist 23 College Old Boys 19
Varsity 20 Linton Army 17
Te Kawau 33 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 12
Feilding 31 Freyberg 3
Horowhenua Kapiti
Paraparaumu 35 Levin Wanderers 13
Waikanae 42 Levin College Old Boys 7
Shannon 22 Athletic 17
Wairarapa-Bush
East Coast 31 Marist 20
Eketahuna 33 Pioneer 32
Carterton 31 Martinborough 18
Gladstone 20 Greytown 19
Wellington
Tawa 22 Oriental-Rongotai 15
Marist St Pat's 33 Johnsonville 23
Hutt Old Boys-Marist 33 Old Boys-University 17
Wainuiomata 33 Northern United 26
Petone 34 Upper Hutt Rams 22
Poneke 21 Wellington 20
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy)
Kahurangi 45 Renwick 16
Waitohi 23 Marist 20
Stoke 17 Moutere 13
Central 50 Awatere 17
Nelson 81 Harlequins 10
Wanderers 30 Waimea OB 20
Buller
Westport 32 Old Boys 24
Ngakawau 48 Reefton 0
West Coast
Kiwi 31 Wests 7
Blaketown 38 South Westland 14
Marist 23 Grey Valley 22
Canterbury
New Brighton 27 University 11
Christchurch 30 Burnside 24
Lincoln University 36 Shirley 10
Sydenham 56 Belfast 14
Marist-Albion 28 Linwood 0
Sumner 27 HSOB 20
Mid Canterbury/Canterbury Country
Oxford 31 Hampstead 0
Methven 58 Kaiapoi 0
Rakaia 45 Prebbleton 10
Southbridge 27 Ashley 23
Burnham/Dunsandel 36 Saracens 17
Glenmark 31 Southern 20
West Melton 13 Ohoka 12
Waihora 31 Celtic 10
South Canterbury
Celtic 41 Old Boys 0
Harlequins 36 Gladstone 21
Waimate 29 Pleasant Point 7
Mackenzie 21 Temuka 18
North Otago
Old Boys 82 Maheno 0
Athletic Marist 46 Kurow 5
Valley 30 Excelsior 12
Otago
(Dunedin)
Dunedin 53 Zingari-Richmond 37
Taieri 96 Green Island 0
Harbour 25 University A 21
Southern 65 Pirates 8
Alhambra-Union 33 Kaikorai 27
(Central Otago)
Maniototo 28 Cromwell A 13
Arrowtown 66 Matakanui Combined 0
Wakatipu 26 Roxburgh 0
Wakatipu Wanderers 34 Cromwell B 31
Clyde-Earnscleugh 21 Alexandra 0
Upper Clutha A beat Upper Clutha B by default
(South Otago)
Clutha 38 Crescent 17
Lawrence 34 Clinton 14
Heriot 34 Toko 17
Owaka 20 Clutha Valley 18
Southland
Star 20 Pirates-Old Boys 17
Woodlands 43 Midlands 7
Marist 18 Eastern-Northern Barbarians 5
Blues 28 Edendale 10