Any thoughts that at 31 Craig Innes is on the decline were emphatically dispelled during Ponsonby's frothy 55-15 victory over Pakuranga in the penultimate game of the second round of Auckland rugby's Gallaher Shield competition.
Innes frequently displayed his talent for drawing tacklers and, with perfectly timed passes, sendingsupport players - especially Dale Rasmussen - into gaps.
And, to Pakuranga's dismay, he often stepped through himself to cause mayhem in the easterners' defence.
Pakuranga's midfield defence was the poorer for second five-eighths Star Machong being carried from the field 10 minutes into the second half, but by then Innes' class was already stamped on the game.
The Pakuranga tight five, especially the front row of Agene Mulipola, Myles Williams and Clinton Wright, competed strongly with the Ponsonby unit of Tonga Nginingini, Nathan Kemp and Josh Robertson, and there was plenty of pace in wings Grant Truman and Pop Sale and fullback Steve Ellison.
But their normally unflappable first five-eighths, James Arlidge, was given a devil of time by Ponsonby loosies Ed Langi, Bevan Leckner and Stanley Afeaki.
After shutting Arlidge down it was a question of how much Ponsonby would win by. The blue and blacks scored their first try in 40 seconds when Darren Kellett went over from the kickoff, and by halftime led 22-3.
Fifteen minutes after the break Truman sprinted over for Pakuranga, but that simply woke a sleeping giant. Five tries were added by Ponsonby in the last quarter, to one by Pakuranga.
There was an unusual twist 27 minutes into the match when top referee Glen Wahlstrom tweaked a hamstring and was replaced by Grant Clegg, who did an excellent job, given that it was his first run with the whistle this season.
Suburbs beat Waitakere City 46-10 and University consigned Papatoetoe to the promotion-relegation series with a 50-5 victory.
Xavier Rush scored three tries and Waisake Sotutu one, as Marist pulled away from Waitemata 48-17.
And, despite a strong performance by Grammar Carlton against Otahuhu, a 13-24 loss leaves them also in the promotion-relegation series.Graham Reddaway
