Rugby: Marist outgun Rifles for new home win

File photo / Paul Estcourt

AUCKLAND

Marist began a new chapter in the club's proud history with a hard-fought 15-8 win over College Rifles in the opening round of the Alan McEvoy Memorial Trophy in Auckland yesterday.

The game was Marist's first at their new home base in Panmure, after a pre-season merger with Tamaki, and they were good value for the points despite conceding a late try.

First-five Piers Francis was the match winner, kicking five penalties including a boomer from halfway.

The 20-year-old from Kent, England, made the Auckland under-20 reps last season and his combination with halfback Auvasa Faleali'i, who outplayed his Blues' opposite Toby Morland, was a highlight.

Marist's hooker and captain Patrick Leafa drove powerfully with ball in hand and threw accurately to the lineouts, despite the slippery ball.

Leafa looked to have scored under the posts in the first half after a storming run by No 8 Joe Tupe, but promising 21-year-old referee Kyle Harris ruled the try out.

Possession and territory favoured Marist throughout but they were unable to break College Rifles' tenacious defence, well marshalled by No 8 Jonathon Hope.

In other games, the southern derby between Papatoetoe and Otahuhu was always going to be a fierce battle, with Otahuhu losing five players to the sin bin and the match by 37-11.

Grammar Carlton thrashed Waitakere City 51-6, Ponsonby had a resounding 78-3 victory over Teachers Eastern and University ran in seven tries to beat Manukau Rovers 49-5.

Pakuranga surged past Suburbs 41-3, while Waitemata sneaked past Eden 11-10 and East Tamaki defeated Te Papapa-Mt Wellington 18-17.

- Peter White

NORTH HARBOUR

Livewire halfback Luke Hamilton, who has been playing representative rugby for Northland in the past couple of seasons, made a timely return yesterday to his North Shore club to help it end Western Pioneers' dream start to the North Harbour premier competition.

Hamilton scored one of Shore's three tries as the side ground down Western in poor conditions for a 28-13 win. Outside Hamilton, Ben Botica was again in top goalkicking form, contributing 13 of Shore's points.

Glenfield, one of three sides with wins in the first two rounds, also came unstuck for the first time this season. On a heavy Stafford Park pitch, used for the first time for many years for premier rugby, Northcote's well-drilled pack, led by the promising William Whetton, prevailed 31-8 over Glenfield.

The losses by Western and Glenfield have left Silverdale as the outright table leaders.

Building on a strong first half performance, Silverdale beat a gallant East Coast Bays side 39-20 and they now have a four-point ladder lead over the sides sharing second place, Shore and defending champions Northcote.

Massey won a close contest with Marist 18-13, to leave Marist, Bays and struggling Mahurangi as sides yet to win this season.

The soggy conditions on their home ground at Warkworth failed to prove a leveller for Mahurangi and they were overwhelmed by the big Takapuna pack, which was responsible for the bulk of the side's 11 tries in a 71-0 rout.

Jon Elrick complemented the Takapuna forwards with his tactical boot and a tally of 16 points.

- Lindsay Knight