Reports and results of the club rugby action from around the country in the weekend.
Auckland
University's first half laid the foundation for a 28-13 victory over Waitemata at Colin Maiden Park which placed the students in prime position at the top of the log with two rounds left.
The students led 18-3 at the break, playing with a strong, swirling wind at their backs and looking cohesive in the opening quarter, partly thanks to the possibly harsh sinbinning of Waitemata No 10 Dusan Hakaraia for a tip tackle on fullback Bram Egli. In that 10 minutes, Varsity scored twice. The first, to wing Brock Sibbick, came from a 9-15-14 move running right off a scrum, while the second went to first five Simon Healy after a breakout in which hooker Kurt Eklund, the game's outstanding individual, featured strongly.
Waitemata, however, is made of stern stuff in 2014, and tested the home team's patience with some jarring defence. On one occasion, that crossed the over-exuberance line when Sam Ioane copped a yellow card for a no arms, high tackle on Brenton Helleur.
But the Waitemata pack, through the likes of captain Rory Lord and flanker Aaron Huddlestone, took the game to Varsity and that pressure told early in the second half when Sibbick threw a loose pass that was intercepted by midfielder James Tamatoa for a try. When Varsity replacement loosie Sean Polwart, back from his concussion issues, was binned, Waitemata had clawed the margin back to five.
But the students upped the ante in the final quarter, through a well-taken try to flanker Nepia Fox-Matamua and sealed the points when former Manu Samoa halfback Helleur burrowed over for the bonus point.
While Varsity are six points clear with two rounds of the Alan McEvoy Memorial Trophy to play, they face potentially challenging battles against Pakuranga and Ponsonby, so the silverware is not theirs yet. There is a logjam in places 2-6, with just two competition points separating this quintet.
In other action, it was largely one-way traffic, barring Pakuranga's 34-22 four tries apiece win over the Manukau Rovers, pushing hard for a top eight berth.
Grammar TEC put a 37-11 dent in Suburbs' top eight aspirations, while College Rifles (61-5 over Maungarua) look to have cemented seventh position. Marist are on the cusp, but did win 48-12 over Otahuhu, while Ponsonby hammered Eden 51-3 and Papatoetoe dispatched Waitakere City 64-3.
University 28 Waitemata 13
Grammar TEC 37 Suburbs 11
College Rifles 61 Maungarua 5
Pakuranga 34 Manukau 22
Marist 48 Otahuhu 12
Ponsonby 51 Eden 3
Papatoetoe 64 Waitakere City 3
North Harbour
The top four sides all but confirmed not only their semi-final places but their likely finishing order in North Harbour premier rugby matches on Saturday.
Massey, North Shore, Western Pioneers and Silverdale all scored bonus points wins to go even further ahead on the table, leaving the other four sides, with just three matches in the second round left, with no play-off hopes.
Before Saturday only Takapuna had a faint chance but, missing three key players, saw that disappear with a lack-lustre 23-14 home loss to Shore, with the latter also not at their best, especially in the second spell.
Massey rallied from a two-match losing streak to beat Northcote 37-10 to retain their five-point table lead and the only question left is whether they can be overhauled as top qualifiers by either Western Pioneers or Shore.
Western, with promising midfield back Michael Little scoring two tries, held off a late challenge from East Coast Bays to maintain second equal place with Shore.
Silverdale, who seem certain to stay in fourth no matter what their results in the next three weekends, beat Glenfield 45-16 to move 11 points clear of Takapuna on the table.
North Shore 22 Takapuna 13
Silverdale 45 Glenfield 16
Western Pioneers 38 East Coast Bays 30
Massey 37 Northcote 10
Counties Manukau
Onewhero made hard work of their tight 10-5 victory over Manurewa. While given plenty of opportunities on attack, poor decision making let Onewhero down failing to capitalise on opportunities. Heading into the halftime break with the scores at 10-5 after tries to Onewhero's Elijah Koaneti and Manurewa's Amosa Nove, both teams tried attacking in the second spell with no points scored in the second half.
Bombay is now sitting in outright third spot on the table after a 28-10 win over Ardmore Marist. Bombay secured the four try bonus point in the process in with Patrick Masoe scoring a double and Aaron Smith and Henry Povey joining him on the try scoring sheet. In reply, Ardmore Marist's AJ Alatimu scored all his teams point with a try, conversation and penalty.
Pukekohe has found themselves outside the top four for the first time this season after going down to a committed Waiuku 24-11 with Waiuku replacing them on the table in fourth spot. Waiuku continued their run of good form putting on an impressive performance. Going into the break 10-6 up after a fast start, Waiuku came out fired up to kick on. But it was Pukekohe who looked the better team in the start of the second spell with Sione Fifita crossing the try to give Pukekohe the lead for the first time in the match. An intercept try and a storming performance by the Waiuku forward pack gave them back the momentum which they kicked on for the victory.
Karaka remain in top spot on the table after a hard fought 18-14 victory over Patumahoe in the top of the table clash. Taking a narrow 8-7 lead into the halftime break, Karaka were first to score in the second spell extending their tight lead. Patumahoe fought back with a late try to close the gap, but left it too late with Karaka continuing their impressive season.
Waiuku 24 Pukekohe 11
Bombay 28 Ardmore-Marist 10
Karaka 18 Patumahoe 14
Onewhero 10 Manurewa 5
Thames Valley
Te Aroha College Old Boys continue to set the pace in Thames Valley club rugby, this week hosting Thames and trouncing their visitors by 44-15. The Cobras are unbeaten in all ten games contested so far this season. Starting 1st 5/8th Mike Smith kicked five conversions and a penalty goal during the match, but was moved to fullback in the second half. His replacement Jordan May then excelled by scoring the side's final three tries.
In the other Premier matches Mercury Bay shaded Waihou 13-6 and Hauraki North were 42-5 winners against Waihi.
Te Aroha COBRAS 44 Thames 15
Hauraki North 42 Waihi 5
Mercury Bay 13 Waihou 6
Waikato
Competition co-leaders University shaded Hamilton Marist 17-15 at Marist Park. Both sides scored two tries. University scored their second try a few minutes before full time to tie the scores at 15-all. Fullback Te Raina-Coxhead then nailed the difficult sideline conversion to get his side up for the win. Otorohanga shared the lead with University at the start of the day and maintained top ranking with a comfortable 36-11 win over Morrinsville Sports, while third placed Hamilton Old Boys thumped bottom side Te Rapa 80-5 at St Andrews Park.
In other matches, Fraser Tech had the better of a gruelling contest at Collins Rd, eventually getting home 29-20, out-scoring their hosts by five tries to two and towards the lower end of the points table, Hautapu travelled to Te Awamutu and recorded their fourth win of the season, heading Te Awamutu Sports 17-14 after a close contest.
Fraser Tech 29 Melville 20
Hamilton Old Boys 80 Te Rapa 5
Otorohanga 36 Morrinsville Sports 11
University 17 Hamilton Marist 15
Other results
Northland
Mid Northern 48 Otamatea 17
Old Boys-Marist 33 Kamo 25
Wellsford 8 Mid-Western 7
Waipu 36 Hikurangi 22
Hora Hora 44 Western Sharks 24
Bay of Plenty
Te Puke Sports 24 Mount Maunganui 18
Tauranga Sports 84 Rangiuru 12
Rangataua 5 Rotoiti 5
Whakarewarewa 27 Te Puna 21
Opotiki 18 Greerton Marist 12
East Coast
Hikurangi 52 Tokomaru Bay United 0
Uawa 15 Tawhiti 12
Hicks Bay 62 Waiapu 5
TVC 85 Ruatoria City 0
Poverty Bay
Ngatapa 84 Horouta 0
Wairoa Athletic 28 OBM 20
Pirates 37 HSOB 13
Hawke's Bay
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 34 Napier Technical 23
Taradale 46 Central 7
Napier Old Boys Marist 45 MAC 9
Havelock North 52 Clive 3
Hastings Rugby and Sports 42 Tamatea 17
Taranaki
Coastal 32 Spotswood United 12
Inglewood 17 Tukapa 14
Clifton 28 Southern 6
NPOB 32 Stratford 11
Wanganui
Ratana 24 Pirates 16
Kaierau 5 Utiku OB 3
Ruapehu 30 Marton 8
Taihape 29 Border 7
Manawatu
Kia Toa 18 Old Boys-Marist 18
Feilding 24 Te Kawau 7
Varsity 47 Freyberg 19
College Old Boys 43 Linton Army 12
Wairarapa-Bush
Eketahuna 22 East Coast 14
Pioneer 26 Marist 16
Gladstone 23 Carterton 18
Martinborough 11 Greytown 6
Horowhenua Kapiti
Paraparaumu 43 Levin Wanderers 0
Waikanae 23 Levin College Old Boys 22
Shannon 17 Levin Athletic 11
Wellington
Marist-St Pat's 26 Oriental-Rongotai 23
Hutt Old Boys-Marist 12 Upper Hutt Rams 11
Tawa 19 Petone 12
Wainuiomata 23 Old Boys-University 16
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy)
Waimea OB 95 Renwick 5
Wanderers 59 Nelson 0
Harlequins 38 Awatere 10
Central 57 Moutere 7
Waitohi 60 Stoke 0
Wakatu Marist 20 Kahurangi 15
Buller
Westport 20 Ngakawau 5
Canterbury Country/Mid Canterbury
Lincoln 18 Waihora 17 (final)
Rakaia 20 Methven 9
Southbridge 39 Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 6
Glenmark beat Darfield by default
Ashley 26 Prebbleton 17
Celtic 26 Saracens 7
Ohoka 38 Oxford 26
Kaiapoi 21 West Melton 18
Southern 39 Hampstead 20
North Otago
Excelsior 12 Kurow 5
Athletic-Marist 40 Maheno 26
Old Boys 23 Valley 17
Otago
(Dunedin)
Taieri 34 Alhambra-Union 14
University A 42 Kaikorai 30
Dunedin 64 Pirates 14
Zingari-Richmond 17 Southern 16
Harbour 43 Green Island 7
(South Otago)
Heriot 31 Clutha 26
Clutha Valley 10 Lawrence 7
Crescent 20 Owaka 13
Southland
Star 41 Blues 33
Pirates-Old Boys 68 Midlands 0
Woodlands 30 Marist 26