KEY POINTS:
North Harbour
Marist came agonisingly close to toppling leaders Takapuna in yesterday's feature match when, for the second year in a row against Takapuna, they came from a big halftime deficit with an enthralling second spell recovery.
Last year, they were successful. Yesterday, they missed a late
kickable conversion and so lost 22-21. Takapuna raced away to a 19-0 first half lead but Marist dominated the second spell and, when prop Lance Vale scored near fulltime, looked to have secured the game - only for usually reliable goalkicker Sebastian Karalus to miss the conversion.
Takapuna's win meant they extended their lead over Massey, who had the bye. Previously third-placed Glenfield slipped off the pace when overwhelmed by North Shore. The latter, after a slow start this season, look championship contenders.
Shore won by the surprisingly large margin of 30-3. But they managed only two tries, one to lively halfback Luke Hamilton and the other on fulltime from the game's best move to flanker James King. Shore first-five Ben Botica kicked 20 points.
Helensville, with pacy wing Jonah Tutoga coming on for the last quarter and scoring two tries, got maximum points in their 40-10 win over East Coast Bays. Northcote also got maximum points, their big pack helping subdue Kumeu 32-3, as did Silverdale with a 34-18 win over Mahurangi.
Bottom-placed Mahurangi were extremely competitive, even though the Silverdale pack was boosted by Harbour's Air New Zealand Cup English import Martin Purdy. Mahurangi produced the outstanding forward of the match, No 8 Quone-Lee Wilson.
Auckland
Ponsonby made winning look easy against Te Papapa-Mt Wellington while Suburbs upset University in a round of contrasting fortunes.
Ponsonby yesterday scored a resounding 53-19 victory but, after a focused first half performance, they were guilty of playing too loosely in the second spell and let in three tries.
Fullback Chay Raui and centre Winston Stanley impressed with their intelligent running and clever passing as Ponsonby scored four first-half tries. After Ponsonby made several changes, they lost momentum and also played into their opponents' hands by throwing the ball around.
Te Papapa-Mt Wellington ran the ball from everywhere and started to break Ponsonby's previously solid defence. Centre Saia Fale ran strongly and showed he has a big future.
Fullback Peasipa Moimoi is also an exciting prospect and if Te Papapa-Mt Wellington can put together a more powerful forward pack, they could start testing some of the bigger names in this competition.
Meanwhile, Waitemata fought hard for an important 16-9 win against Marist. A try to impressive halfback Nonu Sua Ausane proved the difference in a game full of big hits and tight defence. Waitemata fullback Henry Lawson was electrifying and first five Mana Ashford just keeps putting his hand up for higher honours. The win was especially sweet for prop Liva Saena, playing his 150th game for Waitemata.
After last week's disappointing loss, Suburbs upset University 28-13, scoring three tries to one and outplaying a seemingly shocked Varsity.
Waitakere City had a welcome win against East Tamaki 47-0. No 8 Toe Sae had a big game and hooker Vaai Ioane crossed for two well taken tries. Frontrunners Grammar Carlton were pushed hard by Teachers Eastern but still won 15-0.