New Zealand club rugby round-up 16 April

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Leading teams throughout the various competitions continued to press on this weekend, some in spectacular fashion. None more so than in Wellington where competition leaders and defending champions Old Boys University won on the hooter against Oriental-Rongotai. Staring down their first loss in five games, OBU’s wing Maile Koloto crossed outwide to give them a 25-24 win. 

In Southland, the Eastern-Northern-Barbarians are now the only unbeaten side in the six-team competition, pipping Pirates Old Boys 24-23. The Barbarians came back from a 0-15 deficit to overrun the Pirates, a penalty try the deciding play of the match.

In the Waikato competition, it’s Hautapu that continues to set a hot pace. With the help of All Blacks halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow, they beat Te Awamatu Sports 10 tries to two, 73-12, for their sixth straight victory in 2016. New Zealand Club Sevens champions Melville are just a win back in second after they beat Fraser Tech 39-5. In two much closer results, Otorohanga pipped University 26-25 and Hamilton Marist overcame United Matamata Sports 37-31.

In Hawke’s Bay, it’s Napier Old Boys Marist leading the charge. NOBM won their fourth game on the trot in the nine-round Nash Cup, beating Napier Tech 47-10. NOBM have now opened up a clear lead on a congested chasing pack that sees the next seven teams all closely bunched. In a key clash yesterday, Clive lost for the first time, going down 17-20 to MAC.

The leading three teams each won their fourth straight victories in the Bay of Plenty Baywide competition. Whakatane Marist and Mount Maunganui were both pushed close however, Whakatane Marist edging Rangataua 38-36 and Mount Maunganui defeating Whakarewarewa 24-21. The third unbeaten side is Tauranga Sports and they beat Greerton Marist 39-12.

In Canterbury, there was success for the two university sides in round three of the Hawkins Cup, with defending champions Lincoln University remaining unbeaten in easing past Burnside 26-13 and Canterbury University grabbing their second win with an 81-8 outing against Belfast. New Brighton also kept their unbeaten run alive with a 27-19 victory over Sydenham.

Of note, Christchurch beat Linwood 41-21 in their famous Crying Towel match on Saturday.

In Dunedin, Taieri remained unbeaten after beating Southern 25-15 yesterday in their fourth round encounter. Harbour remains second after defeating Alhambra-Union 45-22, while University A leapfrogged Dunedin into third after beating them 23-17.

It’s the Nelson Wanderers club that remains unbeaten after five rounds of the Nelson Bays competition in Tasman. Wanderers beat New Zealand’s oldest club Nelson 67-0 yesterday.

Wanderers have now scored 266 points and conceded 40. At the other end of the table, Stoke won for the first time in 2016, beating Waimea Old Boys 27-23. In Marlborough, Central and Moutere have now won four from five, Central beating new side East Coast 55-19 and Moutere defeating Waitohi 40-25.

Two teams are unbeaten in the Manawatu after six rounds (five games played each, with a bye round), these being defending champions College Old Boys and Kia Toa. Both battled for their wins yesterday, COB overcoming Feilding Yellows 18-8 and Kia Toa edging Linton 8-0.

Another key result in Manawatu club rugby was Freyberg’s five tries to three 31-24 win over Feilding Old Boys Ororua being their first victory in the competition since 2014.

In Taranaki, New Plymouth Old Boys registered their third straight bonus point win to start 2016, defeating Clifton 40-34. NPOB are the only side yet to taste defeat after Southern lost 24-27 to Coastal in dramatic fashion. The Southern side was on track for victory, but a late try converted from the sideline was followed by a penalty on the hooter to give Coastal the win.

The opening round of the 16-team Auckland competition proper saw recent Waka Nathan Challenge Cup champions Pakuranga ease to a 100-7 win over Otahuhu. Pakuranga ran in 16 tries in the win. In the same pool, Grammar Tec inched past Manukau Rovers 35-29.

In Counties Manukau, Patumahoe made it six from six in 2016 with a 23-6 win over Waiuku. Karaka, Onewhero and Bombay are all nipping at their heels though, each having dropped just one game. Karaka thrashed Drury 121-0, with 14 players getting on the try-scoring sheet. Onehwero beat Te Kauwhata 37-0 and Bombay beat Manurewa 40-19.

The third round of the North Harbour Premier competition was played on Saturday [results unavailable Sunday morning].

Round five of the Northland Southern Districts Premier competition saw leaders Old Boys Marist maintain their form in beating Hikurangi 60-0 and Mid Northern, just a point back, defeat the Western Sharks 44-12.