Maheno trailed 28-15 at halftime but finished stronger to snatch a 36-35 victory in a thrilling clash.
Kurow and Valley with wins over Excelsior, 43-37 and Athletic Marist, 39-10 retained their positions. Kurow is third and Valley fourth.
Old Boys dominated the first half against Maheno and scored after just two minutes when flanker Suliasi Tuivailala crossed for the first of Old Boys’ tries.
Maheno used its pace out wide and took the lead through tries to speedster Adam Johnson and lock Tom Abernathy before Old Boys fullback Lemi Masoe was in for a converted try to put his side out to a 14-10 lead.
Midway through the first half Abernathy went in for his second try to narrow the Old Boys lead to 21-15. Some typical Ralph Darling footwork added to Old Boys first-half tally with a try and Masoe’s conversion put Old Boys ahead 28-15 at halftime.
Old Boys hooker Isaac Fariu, aided by a Masoe conversion, took Old Boys out to a 35-15. Maheno fullback Llew Johnson put his side brought his side back into the game with his pace, outflanking the Old Boys defence and his conversion brought Maheno closer, trailing 35-22. Llew’s brother Adam then outpaced the Old Boys defence and Llew added the extras to narrow the margin to 35-29.
Maheno was on the front foot with eight minutes remaining when lock Callum Flutey scored from a tap penalty and Llew Johnson’s conversion gave the green machine a 36-35 victory.
Kurow confirmed a place in the semifinals when it outplayed Excelsior after it cruised to a 24-13 halftime lead
Excelsior had the edge in the first 30 minutes after two Josh Phipps penalties and Phipps conversion of flanker Tayne Russell’s try.
Kurow bagged tries to hooker Mike Paterson, Angus Morris and midfielder Ben Nowell, taking it out to a 24-13 halftime lead. Glen Robertson’s two tries in the third quarter, one of which was converted by Burgess, plus a try to flanker Josh Reid took Kurow out to 43-20.
Excelsior made late contributions from Phipps with a try and two conversions and a try to prop Samuela Baibau.
At Weston Park, Valley was held to a 17-10 halftime lead by Athletic Marist.
Athletic’s Mason Kinzett opened the scoring with a penalty for his side but the bulk of the Valley scoring came late in the half. Hayden Gold crossed for Ben Paton to convert and put Valley into a 7-3 lead and tries to Jake Greenslade and Cameron Rowland had it ahead at the break.
In the second half Greenslade scored his second try, as did Gold. Flanker Junior Fakatoufifita and prop Logan Dunlop also touched down, as Valley marched to a comfortable 39-10 victory.
- Terry O'Neill