Rugby: Youngster Lam snatches win with second try

Michigan Lam. Photo / Getty Images

AUCKLAND

A match-winning try in injury time by 18-year-old first five Michigan Lam clinched a thrilling 38-35 victory for Grammar Carlton over College Rifles yesterday.

Lam, son of Blues coach Pat, capitalised on a great break by Kara Pryor to score his second try with a brilliant step through the cover defence.

Grammar Carlton were missing four key backs through injury but were superbly marshalled by the experienced Doug Sanft. College Rifles will wonder how they lost after leading 23-13 at halftime.

Hooker Taka Aniseko and sevens star Ed Cocker shone out with some strong bursts but the accurate passing that led to tries for wingers Paul Fisiahi and Sabir Sachaumkhel deserted Rifles in the crucial final quarter.

The win keeps Grammar Carlton second on the table behind University, who had to work hard to overcome winless Te Papapa-Mt Wellington by 33-17.

Ponsonby's Gareth Anscombe scored 19 points in a 49-14 win away to Waitemata, while in-form Marist defeated Otahuhu by 55-23. Papatoetoe struggled past East Tamaki 23-15, Pakuranga scored 15 tries in a 91-10 rout of Teachers Eastern, while Suburbs moved up to seventh after a solid 38-8 victory over Eden. Waitakere City beat Manukau Rovers 33-9 for their first win of the season.

- Peter White

NORTH HARBOUR

A last-minute try by experienced midfield back Brett Cameron enabled East Coast Bays to produce a major upset, holding last year's champions Northcote to a 21-21 draw.

With Northcote ahead 21-14, Cameron made a strong run to score midway between posts and the corner, with his try converted by first five-eighths Dave McMurtrie.

Northcote again had a good return from their first five Matt Clark who, with 16 points, completed a scoring grand slam. The other surprise yesterday was North Shore's 46-16 hammering of Massey, who went into yesterday's match top of the table. Shore, well led by former representative hooker James Hinchco, dominated in the forwards and at first five-eighths Ben Botica had a field day - scoring two tries and landing eight of 10 attempts at goal.

Shore had the Blues squad members, Matt Luamanu and James King, back to reinforce the forwards, but Shore's outstanding players besides Botica were livewire halfback Luke Hamilton and equally energetic openside flanker Josh Blucher.

Massey's loss left Western Pioneers as the outright table leaders, after the competition newcomers had another big win, this time routing a hapless Glenfield 100-8. Regan Oxenham went on a scoring spree, scoring two of Western's 14 tries and landing 10 conversions and a penalty.

Shore move into second spot, just two behind Western, while Silverdale moved into third spot with a 65-3 win over Mahurangi. Takapuna won the round's other match, 30-70 over a Marist side improved by the return to the front row of representative Michael Reid.

- Lindsay Knight