Rugby: National club results

North Harbour
(Buck Shelford Shield)
Massey 36 Northcote 0
East Coast Bays 17 Marist 6
Glenfield 25 Mahurangi 8
Western 39 Takapuna 3
North Shore 19 Silverdale

North Shore kicked off the defence of their premier championship, and the Buck Shelford Shield, with a tight, scrappy 19-17 win over Silverdale.

Both first fives - Tim Blundell for Shore and David McMurtrie for Silverdale - dominated the scoreboard with their boots. At 12-all, the game was anybody's, and then Shore centre Ben Stewart broke through down the sideline to score a converted try, taking the score to 19-12. Silverdale bounced back, pushing into the Shore 22 and from a ruck worked the narrow blindside for a try to flying wing Jacob Lennane-Henry. The conversion was wide, which would have tied up the match.

For North Shore, former Northland rep Whiria Meltzer ran well from fullback and No 8 Dillon Wihongi, a 2013 NZ Schools rep out of St Kentigern, had a strong game. Silverdale halfback Matt Clark distributed the ball well and veteran blindside flanker Darren Wigg was strong in the lineout and around the track.

Elsewhere, Massey swamped Northcote 36-0 at Harvey Wright Fields with six tries, including one to 2014 MAGS First XV captain, loose forward Dylan Lam, and one to wing Tevita Li, unwanted by the Blues.

The head-turning result was Western's 46-3 shellacking of Takapuna. Leading the way for the victors was Ritchie Ah Chong, with a hat-trick, North Harbour lock Michael Farmer, and new recruit from Silverdale, Matt McGahan, who scored 11 points and controlled play well.

Glenfield travelled to Mahurangi and won 25-8, while East Coast Bays had a close game against Marist, winning 17-6, with a try to 42-year-old Slade McFarland, who has extended his extraordinary senior career into a 25th season but is in good nick due to his boxing.

Auckland
(Waka Nathan Challenge Cup)
Final
Papatoetoe 31 Waitemata 7
(Pollard Cup)
Final
East Tamaki 26 Eden 12

Papatoetoe can now add the Waka Nathan Challenge Cup to their other prized silverware, the Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup.

This follows their 31-7 home win over Waitemata in the final of Auckland's pre-season competition. It was Papatoetoe's first Waka Nathan triumph since 2012 and 'The Black Panther' himself was on hand to present his cup to Papatoetoe skipper, the veteran halfback Junior Poluleuligaga.

Papatoetoe looked fitter than they have ever been in March and their big pack rumbled into and wore down their west Auckland opponents, especially in the scrums and collisions areas. In behind, 2014 NZ Barbarians Schools pivot D'Angelo Leuila, blessed with a wide skillset if not a bulky frame, controlled proceedings nicely and kicked four goals.

He will benefit from the technical assistance of former Manu Samoa No 10 Ngapaku Ngapaku. Opposite Leuila, Waitemata first five Phoenix Nofoa threatened at times to cut loose with his backs but there was not enough quality possession to work from, and they too often kicked ball away.

Papatoetoe's opening try saw a good finish by wing Simisone Bolea, son of 1998-99 Teachers-Eastern star and Gallaher Shield winner Pita Bolea. Then followed three more well-taken tries to the home side, who can approach the start of the Alan McEvoy Memorial Trophy on April 11 with some confidence.

East Tamaki, just a mile or so away from Papatoetoe's home ground, won the second tier Pollard Cup, 26-12 over Eden.

Counties Manukau
Karaka 38 Manurewa 8
Onewhero 46 Drury 7
Pukekohe 28 Te Kauwhata 11
Papakura 24 Weymouth 0
Waiuku 24 Patumahoe 18
(Counties Power Cup)
Ardmore-Marist 39 Bombay

Pukekohe remain at the top of the log as the only unbeaten side in the Challenge Cup, while Onewhero is up to second after showing their wares with a solid 46-7 win over Drury.

Pukekohe defeated Te Kauwhata 28-11 with tries to, among others, Niva Ta'auso and outside back Connor Brooke-Cowden, son of former All Blacks flanker Mark Brooke-Cowden. Halfback Richard Judd shone for Onewhero, scoring a try and clinching the player of the match award. Jackson Orr scored 21 points, including two tries. Drury could muster only a converted try, to Tafokilea Mohetau.

The Counties Power Cup has changed hands after Ardmore Marist beat Bombay 39-37 in a 10-try thriller at Bruce Pulman Park. Jonathan Taumateine scored a late try and converted it to break Bombay's hearts. The previous holders have now played three games in a row which have been decided by two points or less. Reece Joyce kicked at 100 percent for Bombay, whose best were wing Epeli Lotawa and No 8 and skipper Josh Allan.

Taumateine, with 19 points, and flanker Ritchie Mariota, were standouts for the victors.
Elsewhere, Papakura picked up a bonus point 24-0 victory over Weymouth, while a Sione Molia hat-trick helped Karaka to a 38-8 win over previously unbeaten Manurewa. Waiuku scored their first win of 2015, James Faiva bouncing back off the tee with 100 percent in the 24-18 win over Patumahoe.

Thames Valley
Waihou 31 Hauraki North 28
Te Aroha COBRAS 30 Waihi 10
Thames 29 Tairua 11
(Kevin Barry Memorial Cup)
Mercury Bay 27 Paeroa West 19

Bay of Plenty
(Western BOP)
Tauranga Sports 27 Mount Maunganui 19
Te Puna 23 Te Puke Sports 19
Greerton Marist 32 Rangataua 20
(Central BOP)
Waikite 27 Marist St Michael's 14
Whakarewarewa 59 Kahukura 5
Rotoiti 85 Ngongotaha 0
(Eastern BOP)
Opotiki 31 Poroporo 21
Whakatane Marist 51 Paroa 19
Te Teko 27 Ruatoki 10

Waikato
Fraser Tech 20 Te Awamutu Sports 13
Hamilton Marist 23 Otorohanga 17
University 21 Morrinsville Sports 20
Hautapu 69 United Matamata Sports 15
Melville 46 Hamilton Old Boys 28

King Country
Waitete 29 Taupo United 9
Coast 66 Bush 5
Tongariro 21 Taumarunui Districts 13
Taumarunui Eels 28 Kio Kio 27
Waitomo 15 Pio Pio 3

Poverty Bay
HSOB 65 Pirates 5
YMP 20 Ngatapa 16

Hawke's Bay
(Tui Nash Cup)
Taradale 35 Napier Tech 22
Hastings Rugby and Sports 34 Central 29
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 19 Old Boys-Marist 17
MAC 21 Havelock North 18
Clive 44 Tamatea 17

Taranaki
Stratford 15 Spotswood United 13
NPOB 33 Clifton 7
Tukapa 47 Inglewood 16
Coastal 30 Southern 25

Wanganui
Pirates 40 Kaierau 30
Taihape 35 Ratana 0
Utiku OB 52 Marist 23

Manawatu
Kia Toa 59 Freyberg 0
College Old Boys 47 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 0
Old Boys-Marist 30 Te Kawau 10
Varsity 34 Linton Army 19

Horowhenua Kapiti
Paraparaumu 39 Athletic 16
Waikanae 27 Shannon 17
Levin College Old Boys 38 Levin Wanderers 6

Wellington
(Swindale Shield)
Tawa 23 Oriental-Rongotai 18
Marist-St Pat's 30 Avalon 15
Hutt Old Boys-Marist 25 Northern United 7
Wainuiomata 44 Paremata-Plimmerton 5
Upper Hutt Rams 40 Petone 18
Poneke 15 Old Boys-University 8
Wellington 17 Johnsonville 12

Tasman
(Tasman Trophy)
Kahurangi 20 Nelson 19
Stoke 27 Wanderers 27
Waimea 31 Marist 7
Central 24 Moutere 12
Harlequins 65 Renwick 27

Buller
Westport 42 Reefton 5
White Star 25 Ngakawau-Karamea 7

Mid Canterbury/Canterbury Country
Southbridge 37 Rakaia 35
Oxford 20 Celtic 7
Methven 40 Saracens 15
Hampstead 22 Ashley 12
Burnham/Dunsandel/Irwin 18 Darfield 12
Southern 37 Ohoka 7

South Canterbury
Celtic 46 Waimate 28
MacKenzie 24 Old Boys 22
Temuka 53 Geraldine 14
Pleasant Point 22 Harlequins 19

North Otago
(Citizens Shield)
Old Boys 48 Valley 15
Athletic Marist 20 Excelsior 19
Kurow 15 Maheno 10

Otago
(Metro)
Taieri 65 Green Island 7
Harbour 24 University A 13
Southern 31 Pirates 3
Dunedin 15 Zingari-Richmond 5
Alhambra-Union 48 Kaikorai 13
(Central Otago)
Alexandra 15 Roxburgh 12
Upper Clutha A 71 Wakatipu Wanderers 0
Maniototo 46 Cromwell 14
Arrowtown 26 Wakatipu 10
Matakanui Combined 57 Upper Clutha B 12
(South Otago)
Clutha 48 Clutha Valley 0
Heriot 81 Owaka 19
Clinton 22 Crescent 10

Southland
Pirates-Old Boys 72 Midlands 5
Woodlands 37 Eastern-Northern Barbarians 34
Marist 49 Blues 12