By GRAHAM REDDAWAY
The old master Eroni Clarke had Auckland's newest All Black, Doug Howlett, sorted out in an absorbing rugby club battle between Suburbs and Marist.
Marist desperately needed to topple the championship leaders to avoid playing in a promotion-relegation series.
Robin Brooke and Dylan Mika were in their starting lineup and
Howlett, not required in Dunedin, was introduced at fullback 27 minutes into the game, when Suburbs were leading 17-5.
The Suburbs offence had been up the middle, where Marist had defensive problems, but the threat of Howlett's pace and ability brought a complete change of tactics, and Clarke was the instigator.
"We had to manipulate their backline so Howlett had only one place to run," Clarke said after the game. "We closed that avenue down and closed him down."
Five minutes after the break, Howlett found enough space in broken play to outsmart Clarke's game plan and score a try that took Marist to within five points of Suburbs.
But Clarke had a trick or two of his own and replied with a lovely shimmy past the Marist defence to set up a second try for a very good Suburbs lock, Mango Kaho.
The Suburbs defence was solid around their loose trio of Andrew Blowers, Nisifolo Naufahu and Mose Tuali.
Otahuhu consolidated second place on the ladder, with a 29-15 win over Pakuranga, but not with the authority they would have liked.
Pakuranga had first use of the wind and led 15-5 just three minutes from the break. But Terry Fanolua kicked a penalty and, from the kick-off, Faivale Toailoa scored for the red and blacks. Fanolua's conversion tied the scores.
University held on to third place with a clinical 33-5 victory over Grammar Carlton and Ponsonby held off a Waitemata second-half comeback to win 25-12 after leading 20-0 at halftime.
Waitakere City scored six tries to two in beating Papatoetoe 34-17.
