Rugby: Rifles confirm top-eight status

The artificial pitch held up to the wet conditions. Photo / Greg Bowker

AUCKLAND

The artificial pitch at College Rifles was the best place to play rugby in wintry conditions yesterday as the home side confirmed their top-eight status for the upcoming Gallaher Shield with a hard-fought 33-23 win over Otahuhu.

College Rifles scored six tries and impressed in patches against an inexperienced Otahuhu side that never stopped trying. Two of Otahuhu's youngsters to stand out were athletic locks Kelly Meafau and Robert Lolehea, while captain Ronnie Patea scored the try of the match.

College Rifles captain Stu Bell's opening try was soon cancelled out after Otahuhu winger Peni Sapau charged down a clearing kick. Hooker Taka Aniseko, first-five Robbie Scott (with two) and lock Jarrod Bear scored tries to give College Rifles a useful 27-11 advantage.

Otahuhu struck back well with some hard-driving play rewarded with late tries to Meafau and Patea, before Ata Matatuma kicked two penalties to clinch the win for College Rifles.

At the top of the table, University had a comfortable 33-7 home win over Suburbs, while in-form Papatoetoe stunned Eden by scoring 15 tries in a 99-5 rout with No 8 Ben Masoe getting four.

Bryce Heem scored three as third-placed Grammar Carlton beat Teachers Eastern 30-7, Ponsonby are a point behind in fourth after a 67-8 win over Te Papapa-Mt Wellington, while Pakuranga stay fifth after beating Manukau Rovers 43-16.

Last placed East Tamaki put in a good effort before succumbing 32-23 to Waitakere City, and Marist impressed in beating Waitemata 29-6.

- Peter White

NORTH HARBOUR

North Shore may have lost their champion goalkicker Ben Botica to representative duties probably for the rest of the season, but yesterday's key premier match unveiled an able replacement in Hayden Abercrombie.

The competition leaders retained their top of the table position by beating Western Pioneers 18-17. Abercrombie scored all Shore's points with six penalties. The only try in the match went to Western's Ray Alo, and it was Western's pursuit of another try early in the second spell which may have cost the side the result.

Instead of Regan Oxenham taking an easy shot at goal from a penalty, Western chose to tap and go for the five-pointer, only to miss out.

Shore now look certain to be the top qualifier for the playoffs.

Silverdale moved into second equal spot with Western with a hard-fought 24-20 win over East Coast Bays, but the two sides now trail Shore by seven points.

Silverdale looked as if they might be upset yesterday when Bays early in the second spell took a 20-12 lead, only for Silverdale to recover with two unanswered tries.

Massey overcame a half-time deficit to beat Marist 17-10 to consolidate fourth position.

Takapuna and Northcote both won to ensure playoff places. Northcote beat Glenfield 36-0 and Takapuna routed a hapless Mahurangi 92-0.

- Lindsay Knight