ANZAC Weekend Rugby Report

PREMIER ONE RUGBY

Takapuna 43 Northcote 32

Massey 33 Glenfield 23
Western 36 East Coast Bays 12
Silverdale 41 Mahurangi 13
North Shore 52 Marist 3

Takapuna and Northcote contested an open game of North Harbour premier club rugby, with the home side prevailing 43-32 at Onewa Domain.
The four points take Takapuna to fifth place on the log after five rounds. Centre Braxton Stanley, a former Junior Warrior, was a standout and crossed for two tries. It might have been a third, from a long-range intercept, but he was run down by Northcote wing Peter Hurst in one of the more spectacular plays of the day. Taka fullback Junior Tofa Va'a and prop George Tuinukuafe, who scored a try, were also prominent for the victors. First five Jon Elrick slotted 13 points with his trusty left boot and got Takapuna out of trouble on several occasions with his punting.

Referee Danny Morrison allowed a free-flowing game in perfect conditions for running rugby.
Northcote was more than competitive, earning a pushover try and placing Takapuna under pressure at various stages, while going to the break down 20-26.
Elsewhere, Massey remained at the top after defeating previously unbeaten Glenfield. Rhema Sagote was again among the tryscorers, while Matt Vaega, untried yet with the Blues, slotted five goals for Massey.
Western Pioneers jumped to second on the table after dispatching East Coast Bays 36-12, with a hat-trick to rep threequarter Pita Volavola the highlight, while five-eighths Matt McGahan chalked up 16 points. The evergreen Slade McFarland scored one of Bays' two tries. Silverdale got on the board for 2015 with a 41-13 defeat of Mahurangi.
On Friday night, North Shore went 4-1 and into third position on points differential following a 52-3 thumping of Marist. Former NZ Schools loose forward Dillon Wihongi scored a brace and Willie Walker slotted eight goals for Shore. They will defend the Les Pearce Memorial Shield next Saturday in an enticing clash with the resurgent Glenfiel
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