North Shore 55 Takapuna 23
Western Pioneers 37 Glenfield 6
Massey 25 East Coast Bays 3
Silverdale 3 Marist 3
Northcote 47 Mahurangi 19
Massey celebrated 100 premier games for front-rower Adrian Smith with a 25-3 victory over East Coast Bays in the penultimate Buck Shelford Shield round.
Smith, who debuted in 2007, and has appeared for North Harbour, is just the ninth player from the Massey club to appear in a century of top grade games. His front-row colleague Ray Niuia scored one of four Massey tries. Two of the other three went to 2014 First XV captains and loose forwards, Dylan Lam of MAGS and Hapakuki Moala-Liava'a, the latter an NZ Schools rep. Massey always looked the goods after leading 15-3 at the break.
On form they will be favourites to beat Takapuna this Saturday and claim the first round honours.
A depleted Glenfield fell 37-6 to the dangerous Western Pioneers, for whom Pita Volavola scored a brace.
But Glenfield did lead 6-3 at halftime until they were over-run.
In blustery conditions, Marist registered their first competition points of the season, a dour 3-all draw with Silverdale, Max Asera kicking the sole penalty for the home side and Sebastian Langridge the three points for the Dale.
Northcote, with a number of their injury concerns behind them and the big unit in Jason Alexander playing his 100th premier game, notched up a convincing 47-19 win over Mahurangi, Renata Roberts-Tenana scoring a double.
North Shore went to 6-2, and fourth position, with a fine 55-23 win over old rivals Takapuna. Daniel Hilton-Jones and Ben Stewart crossed for a pair of braces, as did Takapuna loosie Jordan Manihera, while Willie Walker kicked 20 points for Shore.
This weekend's most enticing match will be North Shore v Western at Vauxhall Road, though Northcote and Bays will surely have a tight tussle.
© 2023 North Harbour Rugby | Web Design by Benefitz.