Marist survived a horror second spell to gain a 15-10 win over East Coast Bays in North Harbour's key premier club match yesterday and now seem likely for the semifinals.
Bays fell back to fifth and need upsets if they are to make the playoffs.
Marist cleared away to 15-0by halftime and played with such command the score could have been higher. Tony Coughlan, Joe Ward and Peter Bielski provided Marist with a powerful set-piece advantage and Scott Adams at first five-eighths and Tom Berry and Alex Florian had the measure of their opposites.
But Bays mounted one of their celebrated second spell charges and two late tries almost snatched a remarkable win.
Two of the other leading contenders, Takapuna and Northcote, both secured maximum points yesterday with 29-3 and 33-23 wins over Kumeu and Silverdale respectively. Northcote scored six tries but again sorely missed the goal-kicking of Terii Rahui.
Auckland
Waitakere City and University won crucial matches in Auckland premier one club rugby's chase for Gallaher Shield semifinal places. Waitakere dashed any hopes Grammar Carlton had of repeating last year's Gallaher Shield final appearance. University beat another semifinal contender Marist 16-10.
Waitakere, with former All Black halfback Ofisa 'Junior' Tonu'u controlling the game expertly, proved far too strong for Grammar Carlton winning 35-25, including five tries. The winning margin should have been even larger but for a soft try being conceded in the final minute with Waitakere City having only 13 players, with one in the sin bin and another injured.
The University-Marist game was much closer with Marist leading 7-3 at halftime before James Foote scored a second-half try for University, converted by Jamie Helleur, with Helleur adding two penalties to the one he kicked in the first half.
Ponsonby romped away to defeat East Tamaki 55-5 and continue to lead the second round points table with two weeks of matches left before the shield semifinals.
