North Harbour Premier 1 results - 21 May

The big wet greeted players for the first time this season and had the effect of transforming some of the strong running that had accentuated play this season the teams with the bigger forward packs and strong boots came to the fore.

The eyebrow raiser of the day was Silverdale’s win over high flying Northcote. In this very hard fought contest, the Silverdale forwards dominated in scrum time.  Northcote applied a great amount of pressure in the last 10 mins but great defense by Silverdale holding out for the win.

Of equal surprise was last placed Marist match against top of the table Takapuna. The teams were locked at 0-0 until only a couple of minutes left until the half when both sides traded penalties to turn 3-3 at the break. The score remained within 5 points until the last 12 minutes of the game, when the Takapuna boys put on some late tries to run away with the game – a score line that more than flattered the visitors.

North Shore playing with a very strong breeze in the first half worked hard to edge out to a 6 point lead before James Little increased it to 20-7 at the break with the last play of the half. Turning around, the advantage did not look enough as Glenfield pineed the hosts back in their half and won a succession of penalties that generated points and it looked like they would keep coming. A couple of tries against the run of play saw Shore edge away again with the home side posting a comfortable win.

To buck the trend, the Mahurangi v East Coast Bays fixture saw played wide expansive running rugby marked by solid defense from both teams. Jona Tuitonga was the major recipient of the play scoring over for four tries whilst front rower Jody Allen also got a couple to see the visitors run out comfortable winners.

North Harbour Premier 1 results 21 May:

Takapuna 31 v Marist 3

North Shore 34 v Glenfield 16

Massey 16 v Western Pioneers 9

East Coast Bays 48 v Mahurangi 8

Silverdale 32 v Northcote 26


Results: North Harbour Premier 1 – 21 May

Marist 3 (R McIntosh Pen) Takapuna 31 (Tries: S Langridge, K Jacobsen, J Dutoit; B Gatland 3 Con, 4 Pen). HT 3-3

Silverdale 32 (Tries: Hamish Munro, Raniera Takarangi, Brad Abraham, Franck Friconnet; David McMurtrie 3 Con, 2 Pen) Northcote 26 (Tries: James Doyle, Afa Fa'atau, Theo Hermans, Courtenay McCarthy; Callum Law 3 Con) HT 18-12

North Shore 34 (Tries: L Thompson, J Little, D Hilton-jones 2; J McGregor 2 pen, 2 con, W Walker 2 con) Glenfield 16 (Tries: Tou Viau; David Halaufia 
Con, 3 Pen) HT 20-6

Western Pioneers 9 (Roman Prasad 3 Pen) Massey 16 HT 6-10

Mahurangi 8 (Tries: C Dunn; C Dunn Pen) East Coast Bays 48 (Tries: Jona Tuitoga x4, Jody Allan x 2, Robert Tuli 
Masaki
; Jack Boi, Rhys Bennett Con) HT 3-17

Points Ladder after Round 8:

Photo by John Rau