By Stu Piddington

Defending champions Celtic survived a spirited Harlequins side to remain unbeaten in the Hamersley Cup.

Celtic won 30-20 but only snatched the bonus point away from Harlequins with a last minute try to ever green No.8 Kali Latu, who made his 150th senior appearance.

Celtic at times smashed Harlequins scrum but could not take real advantage as the Quins bravely kept coming back and their defence was at times outstanding.

Pleasant Point proved far too good for Waimate with the Mud Dogs scoring five tries to come out on top 39-20, after leading 15-13 at the break.

Temuka had to battle Old Boys in the first half but in the end were comfortable winners 29-5 at home.

On Thursday night Mackenzie beat Geraldine 25-5 in their annual "duck shooting derby."

Harlequins efforts have breathed life back into the competition after six rounds after it had looked like Celtic may runaway with their eighth consecutive title.

The win however leaves Celtic nine points clear on 28 points

The battle is on below them with second placed Pleasant Point on 19, with Harlequins one behind the Mud Dogs.

The Magpies and the Rams are a further three in arrears and sit fourth equal on 15 points.

At Alpine Energy Stadium big Fijian front rower Viliame Logavatu got Celtic away to the perfect start with a bullocking run to score adjacent points and Willie Wright added the conversion.

Harlequins second five Ken Hellier closed the gap to 7-6 with two well struck penalties.

After 15 minutes Celtic were hot an attack again with Logavatu held up over the line.

Halfback Sekope Maea then took a quick tap and a great pass saw wing Henry Race go over before Hellier again closed the gap with his third penalty.

Celtic then dominated again and fullback Kalifi Latu going over in the middle of a maul.

With five minutes left in the half Hellier missed a penalty but wing Maile I'Ongi then made a great run down the left hand touch to score and close the gap to 22-14 despite appearing to have been largely outplayed.

Harlequins then started to climb back into the game and Hellier penalty closed he gap to five points .

Frustrations grew on both sides and each ahd a man sent to the bin as punches were exchanged.

Celtic wing Henry Race landed a penalty but Hellier again replied to make it 25-20.

In the last quarter defending champions then had a chance to extend their lead but Race missed two penalties until Latu's last minute try.

For Celtic Matt Fetu was superb in the scrums, Matt Stewart ensured plenty of lineout ball, while Nick Strachan battled away at the breakdowns.

In the backs Maea was superb and his quick thinking caught Harlequins out on a couple of occasions while Willie Wright impressed at first five.

For Harlequins it was a gutsy performance by their pack to hang in against a dominant scrum.

Even behind a back pedalling scrum both Tim Penitani and Teki Veikune make enough metres to break the advantage line.

Second five Hellier was superb in defence whiel I'Ongi looked dangerous when he saw the ball.

At Temuka Old Boys dominated the first 20 minutes but didn't have any points to show for it.

The Magpies then started to climb into the game after leading 10-5 at the halftime.

The Temuka pack really started to get into their work with hooker Junior Koli-Sio, lock Ben Hayes and loose forwards Keith Darby and Joeli Kotobalavu all impressing.

Old Boys midfield of Rob Stevens and Glen Sturgess worked hard while loose forwards Danny Wilson and Kane Whiteley never gave up.

At Pleasant Point Waimate were in the game at halftime just down 15-13 but then injuries to a couple of key players and a pumped home side saw them well beaten in the end.

For the Mud Dogs prop Wiremu Cottrell had a big game while halfback George Gibson was very busy.

English wing Max Morris scored a couple of good tries while midfielder Josh Robson also impressed.

For Waimate hooker Toko Fakatava was involved in everything along with prop Conor McCormack.

New Irish first five Shane Airey, fresh of the plane, showed he has plenty of potential while halfback Davidson played well until he limped off at halftime. 

On Thursday night Mackenzie beat Geraldine 25-5 in their annual "duck shooting derby."

Scorers

Celtic 30 (Viliame Logavatu. Henry Race, Kali Latu, Kalifi Latu, try, Willie Wright 2 con, pen, Race pen) Harlequins 20 (Maile I'Ongi try, Ken Hellier 5 pen)

Temuka (Rupeni Cokanasiga Brent Turner, Ben Hayes try, Facundo Columba con, 4 pen,) Old Boys 5 (Isefo Petero try)

Pleasant Point 49 (Max Morris 2, Shane Moseby 2, Alex Cooney try, Brad Tegelaars 4 con, 2 pen) Waimate 20 (Miles Medlicott, Loni Toumohuni try Colin Ryan 2con, 2 pen)