National club rugby results: April 16, 2016
Northland
(Whangarei)
Old Boys-Marist 60 Hikurangi 0
Kamo 35 Hora Hora 17
Waipu 36 Mid-Western 30
Mid Northern 44 Western Sharks 12
(Bay of Islands)
Kerikeri 30 Moerewa 0
Kaeo 26 Okaihau 15
Otiria 24 Kaikohe 17
Ohaeawai 27 United Kawakawa 5
North Harbour
(Buck Shelford Shield)
North Shore 36 Silverdale 8
East Coast Bays 40 Marist 5
Northcote 27 Glenfield 8
Takapuna 25 Western 19
Massey 36 Mahurangi 27
Two storming first half tries by loose forward So'otala Fa'aso'o helped guide North Shore to a 36-8 victory over Silverdale and cement the green and whites at the top of the North Harbour premier club standings.
Shore scored five tries to one and were dominant in the opening spell, leading 22-3 at the break.
They have a narrow lead on points differential from East Coast Bays, who continued their fine form in dispatching Marist 40-5 to retain the Friendship Cup. Rep players Jody Allen and Irwin Finau among the tryscorers as Bays ran in six after leading 21-5 at halftime.
Bays' set-piece was solid and provided a good platform for backs such as Tua Saseve and Cory Aporo to cut loose.
Takapuna also remain unbeaten in securing a 25-19, bonus point win over Western Pioneers. Two second half tries in quick succession from Takapuna effectively sunk the Pioneers' challenge.
Massey responded to what may have been a short, sharp halftime team talk to edge a very competitive Mahurangi 36-27. It was 10-all at oranges before Massey upped the ante, with wing Mark Telea and prop Adrian Smith among the six tryscorers. Mahurangi moved off the bottom of the table on points differential from Marist.
Northcote stayed in touch with the unbeaten top four via a 27-8 win over Glenfield, who still haven't got off their duck in 2016. The encounter was physical and rugged, as befitting this local derby, but Northcote always had the edge, and scored four tries for the bonus point. Renata Roberts-Tenana and Murphy Taramai, neither of whom lack pace, crossed for five-pointers.
Auckland
University 23 Papatoetoe 13
Suburbs 41 Mt Wellington 20
Marist 20 Waitakere City 3
Waitemata 29 East Tamaki 7
Te Papapa-Onehunga 15 Eden 14
Grammar TEC 35 Manukau 29
College Rifles 26 Ponsonby 13
(Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup)
Pakuranga 100 Otahuhu 7
University had to withstand a strong finish from visitors Papatoetoe to clinch their opening Auckland premier club rugby fixture 23-13 at Colin Maiden Park.
Varsity played soundly in the first spell, edging the set-piece battle and moving the ball with width to good effect. An interesting newcomer was first five Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald, who was Ihaia West's deputy for the Hawke's Bay Magpies in 2015. He kicked five goals from six attempts and looked useful with the ball in his hands. That, allied with a pack that contained three Auckland players, saw Varsity control the first half to the tune of 16-6.
After a minute's silence was observed for the passing of Varsity life member and a man who serve with the 28th Maori Battalion, Hinga Smith, the home team swung onto attack.
A one-two cut move saw second five Kava Fuavao score between the uprights, but Papatoetoe - fresh from celebrating their 70th birthday - tightened up on defence, even if their attack lacked rhythm. It needed a sweetly-taken try to replacement centre Isaac Fanueli to extend the lead for Varsity. Papatoetoe, far from running out of puff, actually played with more structure as the game went on, while Varsity subbed some key men and lost their shape. This saw five-eighths Latiume Fosita, a RWC rep for Tonga, set up Junior Kiria for a try to make the final 15 minutes more than interesting.
Elsewhere in pool two action, Suburbs defeated Mt Wellington, back to their original identity after several seasons as Maungarua, 41-20. Marist had to work harder than expected to subdue Waitakere City 20-3, with a brace to wing Roberto Ipinui the highlight. Waitemata secured the bonus point 29-7 win over East Tamaki.
In pool one, Pakuranga made no race of their defence of the Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup, demolishing Otahuhu 100-7, centre George Emosi running in a hat-trick among the 16 tries. Former Auckland flanker Dave Whitecliffe-Davies, back from Bay of Plenty, also scored a five-pointer, while No 10 Nick Smith compiled 21 points.
Te Papapa-Onehunga, already far more competitive than they were as Maungarua, tipped over Eden 15-14. Champions Grammar TEC had to work overtime to repel Manukau Rovers 35-29. Blues fullback/wing Melani Nanai ran in a double for Rovers, who actually outscored Grammar TEC five tries to four.
One of the most significant results of the day saw College Rifles win the Comradery Cup - in honour of injured Ponsonby centurion Sam Lawrence - 26-13 at Western Springs. College Rifles centre Loketi Manu, straight out of Auckland Grammar School, was a handful in midfield, while No 10 Broc Hooper, a 2012 NZ Schools and 2015 NZU rep returning from Canterbury, slotted six goals. - Campbell Burnes
Counties Manukau
(Challenge Cup)
Ardmore Marist 48 Papakura 0
Karaka 121 Drury 0
Onewhero 37 Te Kauwhata 0
Bombay 40 Manurewa 19
Pukekohe 78 Weymouth 7
Patumahoe 23 Waiuku 6
Onewhero kept the pressure on Challenge Cup leaders Patumahoe with a 37-0 shutout of Te Kauwhata to retain the Golden Gumboot.
Te Kauwhata were very competitive in the first half, but Onewhero wore them down and pulled away, Leroy Nahi contributing 22 points, including a brace of tries.
Te Kauwhata's Maake Vaimohea went home with a bag of vegetables from A S Wilcox & Sons as man of the match.
Ardmore Marist returned to the winners' circle with a 48-0 win over Papakura at Bruce Pulman Park to mark the blazer games of Sione Hifo and Louis Kapetani. Openside Vini Iosua was in sterling form and scored a hat-trick, while Ray Laulala directed play well.
Bombay came away with a 40-19, six tries to three victory over Manurewa at Mountfort Park. Chiefs wing Toni Pulu played half a game for Bombay.
Counties Power Cup holders Patumahoe retained the silverware with a 23-6 victory at Waiuku. They are now undefeated after six games, but it was a typically rugged battle in Waiuku, where the home side have fashioned a solid defensive record.
Karaka walloped Drury 121-0, running in 19 tries, with Kali Hala, Asa Lehauli, Sione Anga'aelangi, Harry Luteru and Desma Liaina all scoring doubles. Hala posted 26 points in all.
In another worrying blowout for the competition, Pukekohe crushed Weymouth 78-7. George Maka scored a hat-trick and Nathan de Thierry chimed in with 23 points.
Patumahoe sit atop of the Challenge Cup premier standings on 28, with Karaka, Onewhero and Bombay all three points back on 25.
Thames Valley
(Silcock Shield)
Te Aroha COBRAS 29 Tairua 19
Waihou 48 Hauraki North 27
Waihi Athletic 66 Paeroa West 22
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide)
Tauranga Sports 39 Greerton Marist 12
Mt Maunganui Sports 24 Whakarewarewa 21
Te Puke Sports 23 Rotoiti 21
Whakatane Marist 38 Rangataua 36
Te Puna 93 Paroa 21
Arataki 25 Opotiki 24
Waikato
Melville 39 Fraser Tech 5
Hamilton Old Boys 41 Morrinsville Sports 11
Hautapu 73 Te Awamutu Sports 12
Hamilton Marist 37 United Matamata Sports 31
Otorohanga 26 University 25
King Country
Taumarunui R & S 23 Waitete 10
Taupo United 25 Taupo Sports A 20
Waitomo 57 Pio Pio 22
Kio Kio 24 Taumarunui Districts 20
Tongariro 87 Taupo Sports B 14
East Coast
Waiapu 48 Ruatoria City 28
Uawa 24 Tokomaru Bay United 12
Hikurangi beat Hicks Bay by default
Poverty Bay
HSOB 84 Pirates 0
YMP 24 Waikohu 8
OBM 12 Ngatapa 6
Hawke's Bay
(Tui Nash Cup)
Havelock North 28 Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 20
Napier Old Boys-Marist 47 Napier Technical 10
MAC 20 Clive 17
Hastings Rugby and Sports 36 Central 17
Taradale 61 Tamatea 7
Taranaki
Tukapa 34 Inglewood 14
NPOB 40 Clifton 34
Stratford 32 Spotswood United 15
Coastal 27 Southern 24
Wanganui
Border 57 Pirates 17
Kaierau 48 Ratana 8
Taihape 44 Marist 8
Ruapehu 46 Utiku OB 22
Manawatu
Freyberg 31 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 24
Varsity 25 Te Kawau 20
Kia Toa 8 Linton Lions 0
College Old Boys 18 Feilding 8
Wairarapa-Bush
(Moose Kapene Cup)
Eketahuna 31 Martinborough 12
East Coast 25 Pioneer 19
Gladstone 16 Marist 16
(Nunn Shield)
Carterton 21 Greytown 12
Horowhenua Kapiti
Foxton 14 Levin Wanderers 3
Paraparaumu 36 Athletic 0
Levin College Old Boys 16 Shannon 14
Waikanae 42 Toa 6
Wellington
(Swindale Shield)
Northern United 66 Johnsonville 0
Old Boys-University 25 Oriental-Rongotai 24
Poneke 55 Paremata-Plimmerton 5
Avalon Wolves 8 Petone 6
Tawa 47 Hutt Old Boys-Marist 15
Wainuiomata 38 Marist St Pat's 34
Wellington 40 Upper Hutt Rams 32
Tasman
(Tasman Trophy)
(Nelson Bays)
Wanderers 67 Nelson 0
Marist 40 Kahurangi 22
Stoke 27 Waimea Old Boys 23
(Marlborough)
Harlequins 39 Renwick 18
Central 55 East Coast 19
Moutere 40 Waitohi 25
Buller
Reefton 32 Westport 15
Ngakawau/Karamea 31 White Star 12
West Coast
Wests 20 Blaketown 18
South Westland 26 Marist 5
Kiwi 43 Grey Valley 0
Canterbury
(Metro)
Lincoln University 26 Burnside 13
Christchurch 41 Linwood 21
New Brighton 27 Sydenham 19
Shirley 31 HSOB 30
University 81 Belfast 8
Marist-Albion 33 Sumner 27
Mid Canterbury/(Canterbury Country)
Glenmark 44 Methven 11
Lincoln 46 Kaiapoi 24
Saracens 28 Rolleston 8
Hampstead 27 West Melton 23
Southbridge 30 Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 8
Rakaia 28 Waihora 26
Prebbleton 35 Hornby 27
Ashley 48 Ohoka 13
Celtic 18 Oxford 16
Darfield 26 Southern 22
South Canterbury
Waimate 69 Geraldine 5
Temuka 37 MacKenzie 10
Celtic 29 Old Boys 8
Pleasant Point 31 Harlequins 23
North Otago
Old Boys 20 Maheno 20
Valley 26 Athletic Marist 25
Kurow 38 Excelsior 19
Otago
(Metro)
Taieri 25 Southern 15
University A 23 Dunedin 17
Harbour 45 Alhambra-Union 22
Kaikorai 47 Green Island 17
Zingari-Richmond 45 Pirates 29
(South Otago)
Toko 43 Clinton 36
Crescent 31 Clutha 21
Clutha Valley 14 Heriot 7
Lawrence 88 Owaka 5
Southland
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 24 Pirates-Old Boys 23
Woodlands 55 Star 5
Blues 19 Marist 8