Ponsonby profits from Otahuhu slip

Ponsonby went top of the Auckland premier one table after Otahuhu lost 18-15 to Waitakere City in front of their home fans at Sturges Park.

Waitakere deserved their narrow victory as Otahuhu had home advantage - and their Blues' Super 12 lock Brad Mika playing for the club for the first time this season.

Mika scored one of Otahuhu's two tries while Waitakere City's highly promising loose forward Malu Faumaono scored two tries. Waitakere City led 12-8 at halftime, with young first five-eighth Ben Mailata making the difference to the scoreline with one conversion, a penalty and a dropped goal.

Ponsonby cruised to an easy 33-3 win over promoted Pakuranga and they now have a two-point lead over three teams - Otahuhu, Waitakere City and Marist - midway through the second round.

Marist scored an important win over last year's Gallaher Shield finalist Grammar Carlton to keep themselves well in contention for a place in the four-team playoffs for the Gallaher Shield. Grammar Carlton led 13-10 at halftime but couldn't keep out Marist in the second half.

University moved up to fifth, one place ahead of Grammar Carlton, after their comfortable 41-10 win over Te Papapa Onehunga while East Tamaki edged past Papatoetoe 13-3. In premier two, Waiheke had their first win of the season, beating Eden 17-13.

NORTH HARBOUR fullback Andrew Whiteman, who will start for the representative side in Wednesday night's match against Manu Samoa, saved Massey from their second defeat of the season in the North Harbour premier.

With Takapuna leading 19-16 in the last minute, Massey took advantage of a failure to find touch and forced a penalty from about 35 metres which Whiteman landed calmly.

Massey also hung on to the Les Pearce Shield in their first defence of the trophy, now played on a challenge basis in conjunction with the competition's second round.

In the chase for the four semifinal places, Massey are virtually unassailable with a 10-point lead in the table with only three matches left.

Takapuna's effort, though, was a reminder that, if the sides meet again in the playoffs, their pack could mount a formidable challenge against a Massey side near full strength yesterday, with Steve Jackson and Roger Dustow in their eight.

But, after yesterday's draw, Takapuna are now under severe pressure to make the final four. They are in a four-way tie for second with Northcote, East Coast Bays and Marist.

Those sides all emerged with the maximum five points with respective wins yesterday, each including at least four tries despite the rain-sodden grounds.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY