By Stu Piddington

Waimate looks likely to decided the finishing order of the Hamersley Cup senior rugby top four.

The disappointing thing however for Waimate is they are unlikely to make it after an injury-ravished season hurt them at crucial times.

Waimate will however host the two teams tied for season place in the final two weeks of the round robin.

Pleasant Point and then Temuka have to travel south to battle at Manchester Park but should collect wins on their other remaining outings against Old Boys and Geraldine respectively.

If Waimate collect both scalps they could put the pressure on fourth placed Harlequins who tackle Celtic on Saturday.

Unbeaten Celtic had already confirmed their No.1 spot sitting on 58 points, with Temuka and Pleasant Point tied for second on 37 while Harlequins have 34.

Temuka's Lewis Jackman tries his best to escape the opposition.
MYTCHALL BRANSGROVE/FAIRFAX NZ
Temuka's Lewis Jackman tries his best to escape the opposition.

Waimate have 29, a bonus point win behind Harlequins.

On Saturday Celtic were untroubled in beating Geraldine, although the country side competed well for 30 minutes and held the defending champions to 5-all before the score blew out.

The Temuka did themselves a big favour by not only beating Harlequins 30-20 but denying them a bonus point.

Temuka's CJ Millar tackles Chris McCarthy.
MYTCHALL BRANSGROVE/FAIRFAX NZ
Temuka's CJ Millar tackles Chris McCarthy.

The Magpies also grabbed a four try bonus point as did Pleasant Point against Old Boys.

The Mud Dogs romped home 54-21 against the Blues to remain tied with Temuka in second place.

Waimate managed to put away Mackenzie 22-14 at home to keep their slim semi-final chances alive.

At Alpine Energy Stadium Harlequins landed an early penalty courtesy of Ken Hellier but CJ Millar replied with a well taken try for Temuka.

A the 15 minute mark hooker Junior Faavae scored Temuka's second after second five Ricki Neame kept the ball alive to catch out the Harlequins defence.

First five Taleni Tiai kicked the sideline conversion to have the Magpies up 12-3.

Temuka continued to dominate and Tiai landed another penalty but then Harlequins came back.

After several good runs building pressure prop Telusa Latu burrowed over with Hellier converting.

Both kickers then landed a penalty each to make halftime 18-13 to Temuka.

Wing Shaun Neame extended the Magpies lead when he ran hard at the line from 6m out and crashed over in the corner after an excellent pass from halfback Tenari Saumani  got him underway, and Tiai landed another sideline conversion.

Temuka were in again after 51 minutes when No.8 Paula Fonokalafi made a great run and wing Darryl Saunders took advantage to score.

Just as the game looked over the young Harlequin pack climbed back into the game substitute lock Lucas Rosewell scoring, after an earlier good break from Tim Penitani 30-20, but that was as close as they could get.

For Temuka prop Vaka Taelega had a strong game as did Fonokalifi while the inside back combination of Saumani and Tiai impressed.

Harlequins best were Timaru Tafa and Penitani in the pack while Hellier tried to fire his backline, with centre Leone Nawalu making some good metres.

Celtic's second half was one-way traffic after Geraldine put in a solid opening 40 minutes,

Celtic's outstanding No.8 Kali Latu took advantage of a dominant pack to score four of his side's 10 tries off the back of the scrum and close to the line.

Lock Matt Stewart had a great game in the lineouts, including a couple of steals, which gave his backline plenty of ball.

On the back of the flow of possession midfielders Hamish Strachan and and Steve Burt had very good games.

 For Geraldine their lack of depth in the front row hurt them but they scavenged well at times.

Converted second five Richard Harley played well as did Kipione Manumua, while wing Waisale Lieroti scored a superb length of the field try.

Pleasant Point ran in eight tries against Old Boys with fullback Shay Moseby and wing Max Morris getting two each but Old Boys' centre Levi McCoy got the the most, collecting a hat-trick.

While the score blew out the Blues competed well for periods against the Mud Dogs.

Old Boys best were were McCoy, halfback Glen Surgess and prop Robert Hough.

For Pleasant Point wing Josh Craig-Bradley, midfielder Kevin Moore and fullback Moseby played very well while Ben Hewitson had a solid game up front.

Morris also scored a superb individual effort and will go close to Heartland selection.

Mackenzie and Waimate both played constructive rugby in an entertaining game at Strathconan Park.

The Rams dominated the first half but Waimate had the edge in the second, cleaning out superbly at the rucks, and scored the points on offer.

For Waimate wing Jade Halkett impressed in his first run of the season and scored a try while in the pack prop Conor McCormack and No.8 Don Lolo had a strong game.

The Rams best were No.8 Ryan McNab, who grabbed a couple of tries, while first five Antoni Fushimalohi put in a polished performance.

Scorers
Celtic 62 (Kali Latu 4, Jarrad Mannex 2, Nick Strachan, Steve Burt, Viliame Logavatu, Pat Tupuola try, Willie Wright 6 con) Geraldine 10 (Waisale Lieroti, Richard Harley) 
Temuka 30 (CJ Millar, Junior Faavae Tiai Taleni, Shaun Neame, Daryl Saunders 2 pen, 2 con) Harlequins 20 (Telusa Latu, Rosewall try, Ken Hellier 2 pen, 2 con)
Pleasant Point 54 (Max Morris 2, Shay Morris 2, Luke Brice, Mana Taylor, George Gibson, Kevin Moore, Brad Tegelaars 7 con)  Old Boys 21
Waimate 22 (Tokoma'ata Fakatava, Conor McCormack, Jade Halkett try, Shane Airey pen, con, Theo Davidson con) Mackenzie 14 (Ryan McNab 2 try, Antoni Fushimalohi, 2con)