The second round of the Citizens Shield was affected by a default from Excelsior, which gave Valley a win.
Excelsior club member John Tito said the funeral of St Kevin’s College pupil Watson Tuapati (17) at 1pm on Saturday meant that Excelsior was unable to select a team.
The round began at the Maheno domain on Friday, when the home team met the young Athletic Marist side.
The Athletic team displayed tenacity, going down 42-33.
Athletic held its own in the first 40 minutes and trailed 17-12 at the break.
Maheno flankers Aiden McPherson and Marcus Balchin crossed for tries in the first quarter and halfback Robbie Smith added two conversions and a penalty to give his team a 17-7 lead.
Sharp Athletic Marist first five-eighth Abel Magalogo had scored a converted try.
Athletic Marist hooker Teanikumi Piukala added a further try to narrow the lead.
Loosehead prop Hayden Tisdall touched down for Smith’s conversion, taking Maheno out to 24-12 before the talented Magalogo scored and converted to reduce Maheno’s lead to five points. A Smith penalty and a conversion of Sam Tatapu’s try extended Maheno’s lead to 34-19 before Magalogo struck again with a try.
Maheno second five-eighth Jackson Attfield’s try extended the home side to a 39-26 lead. Athletic Marist’s No8 Mosese Aho touched down with Magalogo adding the extra two.
Smith slotted his final penalty to give Maheno a 42-33 victory.
Kurow caused a boilover when on its home ground it defeated second-placed Old Boys 29-27, after leading 12-10 at halftime.
Old Boys was ahead 10-5 but Josh Reid scored a converted try before a minute from halftime to give Old Boys the halftime lead. Manu Keike put Old Boys into a 17-12 lead but Kurow’s powerful forward pack forced a penalty try and hit the lead 19-17 early in the second half.
An unconverted try put Old Boys back in front 22-19.
Eight minutes later Old Boys’ Pat Ngata put Old Boys out to a 27-19 before Kurow came roaring back in the final 10 minutes.
Josh Reid scored his second try and Burgess converted the try and added a penalty to get Kurow home.
- Terry O'Neill
