Rugby: University hold on for win

Jamie Helleur of University makes a break during the Alan McEvoy Trophy match against Grammar Carlton. Photo / Getty Images

AUCKLAND

The showdown between the top two teams on the Alan McEvoy points table went right down to the final second as University held on grimly for a 17-13 win in the mud at Colin Maiden Park yesterday.

The loss sends Grammar Carlton down to fourth, and Pakuranga jump to second after they upset Ponsonby 28-23 at Western Springs. Ponies scored three tries to one but Gareth Arlidge kicked seven penalties for Pakuranga.

University went into the halftime break leading 12-3 after tries to hooker Ash Dixon and outstanding young fullback Unaloto Pita. A defensive howler then gifted an easy try to Pauliasi Manu to make it 17-3, before Grammar Carlton finally began to dominate territory thanks to some woeful kicking from Varsity.

Hadleigh Parkes set up a sharp move down the left touchline, continued by Kara Pryor and finished in style by wing Ben Lam to bring Grammar Carlton right back into the game.

A wonderful sideline conversion and penalty from Doug Sanft meant a try could win it for the visitors but, after pounding away at Varsity's line for the final few minutes, they turned the ball over to end the game.

Papatoetoe defended the Fred Allen Challenge Cup by beating College Rifles 31-14, Marist were 51-10 winners over Waitakere City and Waitemata beat Suburbs in a thrilling 18-17 win.

Teachers Eastern had a rare win, beating Eden 34-17, Otahuhu beat Te Papapa-Mt Wellington 16-8 and Manukau defeated East Tamaki 14-8. - Peter White

NORTH HARBOUR

East Coast Bays, unlucky in some of their earlier games, sprung the big surprise in North Harbour premier club rugby yesterday with a gritty 17-11 win over second-placed Western Pioneers.

Bays, led by experienced hooker and try-scorer Roger Dustow, held the Pioneers out in the second spell after having been given a handy halftime lead through the boot of Corey Rei.

Bays might now have an outside chance of making the top six for the playoffs, though their cause was not helped yesterday when sixth-placed Northcote, in a mud heap at Stafford Park, beat Marist 22-10.

The Pioneers' defeat enabled North Shore to open up a four-point lead on the competition ladder, with Shore gaining a 24-15 win over Takapuna who slumped from third to fifth with this defeat.

Takapuna suffered further misfortune with injuries to their best forward, Chris Smith, and key back Jon Elrick, and might well have lost by more but for two late tries.

The second was scored when Shore were down to 14 men, with replacement back Brendan Watt sin-binned.

Massey stayed within sight of the championship lead with a 39-27 win over Silverdale, who had the consolation of securing a bonus point by scoring four tries.

Massey scored three tries and missed a bonus point. First five-eighths Richard Lobb scored 24 points for Massey, completing his scoring spree with a dropped goal when some might have preferred going for a try.

Glenfield won the battle of the bottom sides, 23-17 over Mahurangi, who now seem doomed to collect the wooden spoon.