National club rugby results

National club rugby results: May 21, 2016

Northland
(Southern Districts)
Mid Northern 13 Wellsford 10
Mid-Western 16 Otamatea 10
Old Boys-Marist 41 Waipu 11
Western Sharks 20 Hora Hora 15
(Bay of Islands)
Kerikeri 17 Ohaeawai 12
Kaeo 20 Otiria 10
Moerewa 41 United Kawakawa 0
Kaikohe 36 Okaihau 13
(Mangonui)
Kaitaia 43 Panguru 22
Te Rarawa 36 Aupouri/Ngati Kuri 0
Eastern 63 South Hokianga 14

North Harbour
(Second round)
Massey 16 Western 9
East Coast Bays 48 Mahurangi 8
North Shore 34 Glenfield 16
Takapuna 31 Marist 3
Silverdale 32 Northcote 26

The big wet greeted players for the first time this season and some of the bigger forward packs and strong boots came to the fore.

The eyebrow-raiser of the day was Silverdale's 32-26 win over high-flying Northcote. In this hard-fought contest, the Silverdale forwards dominated at scrum time. Northcote applied a huge amount of pressure in the last 10 minutes but staunch defence by Silverdale held out for the win. Both sides scored four tries and three conversions, with two penalties by David McMurtrie the ultimate difference. Blues squad member Afa Fa'atau scored a try for Northcote.

Of equal surprise was last-placed Marist, who held leaders Takapuna to 0-0 until just before the break. The boot of Bryn Gatland kept Takapuna ahead until three late tries blew the final margin out to 31-3.

North Shore, playing with a very strong breeze in the first half, worked hard to edge out to a six-point lead before James Little increased it to 20-7 at the break with the final play of the stanza. The advantage did not look enough as Glenfield pinned the hosts back in their half and won a succession of penalties that generated points. A couple of tries against the run of play saw Shore edge away again with the home side posting a comfortable win. Daniel Little played his 30th (blazer) match for Glenfield.

To buck the trend, the Mahurangi v East Coast Bays fixture saw some expansive rugby mixed with solid defence from both teams. Wing Jona Tuitoga was the major beneficiary, scoring four tries, whilst front-rower Jody Allen also nabbed a couple to see the visitors run out comfortable 48-8 winners and cement fifth position.

Massey put a dampener on Kumeu club day with a narrow 16-9 win over the Western Pioneers. Two first half tries to Adrian Smith and Mark Telea kept Massey's noses in front of the Pioneers, for whom Roman Prasad kicked three penalty goals.

Auckland
(White pool)
Grammar TEC 24 Pakuranga 15
Ponsonby 21 Manukau 20
College Rifles 27 Te Papapa-Onehunga 3
Eden 59 Otahuhu 0
(Blue pool)
Suburbs 11 Papatoetoe 11
University 39 Waitakere City 0
Marist 28 East Tamaki 18
Waitemata 20 Mt Wellington 16

The top eight premier club picture is as clear as mud after the penultimate schedule of games in the first round.

In the White pool, Grammar TEC returned to form with a 24-15 win over a faltering Pakuranga at Bell Park. The match marked referee Steve Piacun's 100th premier game. Pakuranga presented a solid set-piece, but Grammar TEC relied on some tight defence and four goals from the boot of halfback Jono Hickey from a 17-3 halftime advantage.

Eden continued their sparkling recent form with a 59-0 win over Otahuhu, with Nicolas Costa scoring 24 points, including two tries, as they gave themselves a slim chance of making the top eight.

College Rifles, off the back of a 22-point haul from Broc Hooper, went 6-0 after subduing Te Papapa-Onehunga 27-3. Ponsonby had to work overtime to edge Manukau 21-20 and make a successful first defence of the Sir Fred Allen Challenge Cup.

Manukau Rovers will host Pakuranga at Williams Park in a vital, and season-defining, clash next weekend.

In the Blue pool, University are still alive after blanking Waitakere City 39-0, Nat Turner crossing for a double. Varsity rise to fourth and victory against Suburbs next weekend would see them progress. They may still go through regardless, given Suburbs and Papatoetoe drew 11-all, leaving the south Aucklanders fifth. East Tamaki's chances hang by a thread after going down 28-18 to pool leaders Marist, for whom William Raea registered a brace.

Waitemata, who play Marist this weekend, were not untroubled in beating Mt Wellington 20-16.

Counties Manukau
(Challenge Cup)
Karaka 34 Papakura 10
Pukekohe 28 Onewhero 20
Bombay 30 Patumahoe 15
Manurewa 17 Te Kauwhata 17
Ardmore-Marist 25 Waiuku 17

Karaka have sealed the Challenge Cup as first round victors, while their reserves claimed the Don Shuker Cup.

Karaka are also the Counties Power Cup holders as they enter the second round.

Wet and windy conditions played their part in Saturday's games, with teams struggling to adjust in what was the first real wet weather round of the season.

Karaka scored six tries in dispatching Papakura 34-10, with braces to centre Deniro Refiti and wing Walter Fifita. Orbyn Leger kicked two conversions in his final game before joining the New Zealand Under 20s.

In the Counties Power game of the week, Pukekohe edged Onewhero 28-20 at Colin Lawrie Fields. Both sides scored three tries, Maama Vaipulu - back from Chiefs duty - Gary Dalbeth and Mark Price for Pukekohe, with Richard Judd, Jackson Orr and Filipe Pau for Onewhero. Big Pukekohe lock Cameron Skelton, younger brother of Wallaby Will Skelton, was also right in his element.

Bombay won their big battle with Patumahoe 30-15 on the hill after leading 13-10 at halftime. Sepuloni Taufa ran in two tries for Bombay, while former Manu Samoa No 10 Ki Anufe slotted six goals. Tighthead prop Kalolo Tuiloma was player of the day.

Te Kauwhata and Manurewa fought to a 17-all draw at Mountfort Park. Centre Ben Ormsby was outstanding on defence for Te Kauwhata.

Ardmore Marist won a tight 25-17 victory at Waiuku, with the forwards laying the platform at set-piece time. Halfback Jonathan Taumateine scored a try in his last outing before NZ Under 20s' duty.

From next weekend (May 28), the premier competition will have two pools: Pool A of five teams and Pool B of six. The competition is made up of seven weeks and includes two crossover rounds before the McNamara Cup semifinals.

Thames Valley
(Jordan Cup)
Hauraki North 18 Te Aroha COBRAS 14
Mercury Bay 46 Paeroa West 26
Tairua 36 Thames 0
Waihou 28 Waihi Athletic 22

Bay of Plenty
(Baywide)
Mt Maunganui 17 Tauranga Sports 12
Te Puke 42 Whakatane Marist 7
Greerton Marist 52 Paroa 19
Te Puna 99 Opotiki 3
Te Puke Sports 42 Whakatane Marist 7
Rotoiti 24 Arataki 11
Whakarewarewa 13 Rangataua 8

Waikato
Te Awamutu Sports 25 Morrinsville Sports 14
Hamilton Old Boys 23 University 20
Melville 34 United Matamata Sports 17
Hautapu 36 Fraser Tech 3
Hamilton Marist 23 Otorohanga 5

King Country

Taumarunui Districts 12 Taupo United 16
Waitete 32 Tongariro 8
Pio Pio 101 Taupo Sports B 0
Waitomo 59 Bush 12
Taupo Sports A 28 Taumarunui Eels 3

East Coast
Tokomaru Bay United 32 TVC 22
Tokararangi 20 Hikurangi 14
Uawa 28 Hicks Bay 6

Poverty Bay
HSOB 28 Pirates 18
YMP 30 Waikohu 24
Ngatapa 26 OBM 24

Taranaki
Tukapa 27 Clifton 3
Coastal 20 Stratford 17
NPOB 46 Spotswood United 14
Inglewood 13 Southern 6

Manawatu
(Centennial Cup)
Feilding 27 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 14
Old Boys-Marist 54 Freyberg 21
College Old Boys 15 Te Kawau 10
Varsity 24 Kia Toa 8

Wairarapa-Bush
(Tui Cup)
Marist 40 Martinborough 18
Carterton 36 East Coast 17
Pioneer 28 Eketahuna 12
Gladstone 30 Greytown 27

Horowhenua Kapiti
Toa 28 Athletic 16
Waikanae 22 Shannon 20
Paraparaumu 68 Levin Wanderers 0
Levin College Old Boys 34 Foxton 8

Wellington
(Swindale Shield)
Northern United 26 Wellington 25
Oriental-Rongotai 25 Tawa 12
Hutt Old Boys-Marist 24 Upper Hutt Rams 24
Marist St Pat's 48 Avalon Wolves 14
Wainuiomata 67 Johnsonville 5
Petone 36 Paremata-Plimmerton 24
Poneke 23 Old Boys-University 20

Tasman
(Tasman Trophy)
Nelson 20 Waitohi 19
Stoke 31 Renwick 17
Waimea Old Boys 40 Harlequins 12
Marist 44 Central 27
Moutere 21 Kahurangi 20
East Coast 26 Wanderers 26

Buller
White Star 41-32 Westport
Ngakawau 29-0 Reefton

West Coast
(Muir Trophy)
South Westland 21 Marist 15
Kiwi 50 Grey Valley 10
Wests 28 Blaketown 27

Canterbury
(Metro)
Linwood 16 Sumner 3
HSOB 17 Christchurch 10
Shirley 24 Burnside 3
New Brighton 27 University 8
Lincoln University 74 Belfast 3
Sydenham 39 Marist Albion 18

Mid Canterbury/(Canterbury Country)
Southbridge 54 Methven 5
Kaiapoi 24 Hampstead 22
West Melton 12 Rolleston 5
Lincoln 26 Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwell 10
Glenmark 27 Saracens 6
Waihora 42 Ohoka 17
Celtic 21 Darfield 0
Rakaia 24 Ashley 15
Southern 24 Prebbleton 0
Oxford 35 Hornby 10

South Canterbury
Celtic 31 Pleasant Point 17
Old Boys 23 Waimate 7
MacKenzie 27 Harlequins 20
Temuka 67 Geraldine 10

North Otago
Old Boys 24 Maheno 17
Valley 26 Athletic Marist 14
Kurow 41 Excelsior 23

Otago
(Metro)
Zingari-Richmond 22 Taieri 19
Green Island 51 Pirates 5
Dunedin 15 Harbour 12
University 49 Alhambra-Union 3
Southern 31 Kaikorai 10

Southland
Marist 26 Blues 14
Woodlands 57 Star 12
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 44 Pirates-Old Boys 15