New Zealand Club Rugby round-up 18 June

The country’s club rugby championship competitions are now in full swing.

It’s the shortest day of the year this coming Wednesday, so for some competitions it’s just a short drive to the semi-finals.

For example, in Taranaki there’s just a fortnight remaining until the top four sides are found for 2016 and the others head to the beach for the summer. Leaders and unbeaten New Plymouth Old Boys have now booked the top qualifier’s berth with two matches to spare.

Across in Hawke’s Bay, first round winners Napier Old Boys Marist and Taradale are both unbeaten on maximum points after the first four rounds of nine in the Maddison Trophy. This competition is great as the final isn’t until early August, unlike some others that finish far too early.

Hautapu continue to lead in Waikato, but the battle for the minor places is heating up. Melville are second, after they came back to beat mid-table Fraser Tech, with Hamilton Old Boys and Otorohanga rounding out the current top four.

North Harbour is shaping as a three-way race for line honours between Takapuna, North Shore and Massey.

The second round of Canterbury’s Metro competition got underway, with first round winners New Brighton beating Sydenham 29-26 and runners-up and defending champions Lincoln University missing out to Canterbury University 25-31.

College Old Boys affirmed their grip at the top of the Manawatu standings with three weeks remaining. Nearest rivals Varsity met a defeat and Old Boys Marist had the bye. Kia Toa are now in second, after their 36-17 win over the Linton Lions.

New Zealand Mitre 10 Cup provinces Premier Rugby Scores for 4 June–starting at the bottom of the country and moving up - were:

Auckland
Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield
College Rifles 33 – Suburbs 27
Grammar TEC 15 – Marist 7
Pakuranga 44 – Papatoetoe 5
Ponsonby 41 – Waitemata 23
Portola Trophy
East Tamaki 24 – Te Papapa-Onehunga 23
University 83 – Manukau 10
Eden 31 – Mt Wellington 26
Waitakere City 34 – Otahuhu 19

Bay of Plenty – week two of the Baywide championship
Mount Maunganui 44 - Tauranga Sports 20
Te Puna 46 - Whakatane Marist 36
Rotoiti 25 - Rangataua 25
Te Puke Sports 48 - Greerton Marist 20

Canterbury
Section 1
New Brighton 29 – Sydenham 26
Canterbury University 31 – Lincoln University 25
Christchurch 30 – Linwood 16
Section 2
High School Old Boys 30 – Belfast 19
Marist Albion 43 – Shirley 22
Sumner 57 – Burnside 14

Counties Manukau McNamara Shield
Karaka 65 – Papakura 0
Onewhero 20 – Pukekohe 20
Ardmore Marist 78 - Te Kauwhata 12
Waiuku 88 - Weymouth 5
Patumahoe 27 – Bombay 15
Leaders - Pool A: Karaka. Pool B: Bombay

Hawke’s Bay Maddison Trophy
Hastings 25 – Central 22
Napier Pirate 26 – Havelock North 25
Napier Old Boys Marist 59 – Napier Tech 20
Taradale 66 – Tamatea 0
Clive 29 – MAC 14
Competition leaders after 4 rounds: NOBM and MAC

Manawatu
FOB Oroua 27 – Freyberg 21
College Old Boys 32 – Feilding 7
Kia Toa 36 – Linton 17
Te Kawau 20 – Varsity 10
Old Boys Marist = Bye
Competition leaders: College Old Boys

Northland
Southern Districts Premiers
Old Boys-Marist 86 - Hikurangi 7
Mid Northern 46 - Western Sharks 33
Wellsford 38 - Otamatea 8
Waipu 42 - Mid-Western 20
Hora Hora 34 - Kamo 27

North Harbour
Glenfield 41 - Northcote 34
North Shore 54 - Silverdale 19
Massey 49 - Mahurangi 0
Takapuna 23 - Western 19
East Coast Bays 40 - Marist 3
Competition leaders after 12 rounds: Takapuna

Otago
Kaikorai 46 – Harbour 12
Dunedin 30 – Taieri 22
Green Island 32 – Zingari-Richmond 27
Southern 39 – Alhambra Union 17
University 97 – Pirates 22
Leaders after 12 rounds: University

Southland
Woodlands 46 - Pirates Old Boys 12
Eastern-Northern Barbarians 50 - Blues 28
Star 26 - Marist 19

Tasman
Nelson Bays
Stoke 39 – Kahurangi 29
Nelson 53 – Waimea OB 3
Wanderers 27 – Marist 24
Marlborough
Waitohi 22 – Harlequins 14
Renwick 25 – Central 23
Moutere 38 – East Coast 17

Taranaki
New Plymouth Old Boys 43 – Stratford 34
Tukapa 29 – Coastal 13
Southern 25 – Spotswood 17
Inglewood 20 – Clifton 17
Competition leaders after 12 rounds of 14: New Plymouth Old Boys

Waikato
Melville 38 - Fraser Tech 22
Hamilton Old Boys 41 - Morrinsville Sports 5 
Hautapu 52 - Te Awamutu Sports
United Matamata Sports 16 - Hamilton Marist 15 
University 29 - Otorohanga 14 
Leaders after 15 rounds: Hautapu

Wellington
Premier Jubilee Cup
Poneke 24 – Tawa 5
Oriental-Rongotai 25 – Marist St Pat’s 22
Wellington 31 – Upper Hutt Rams 15
Old Boys University 42 – Wainuiomata 37
Premier 2 Hardham Cup
Petone 86 – Johnsonville 10
MSP B 15 – Avalon 12
Hutt Old Boys Marist 63 – Paremata-Plimmerton 3
Northern United 59 – OBU B 0