By Stu Piddington

Harlequins remain on top of the Hamersley Cup after a solid a 40-20 win over Waimate but the championship remains wide open.

The top four sides have made a break on the chasers after six rounds after all recorded comfortable wins. 

Mackenzie and Temuka are tied in second after Temuka romped home over Old Boys 60-12, while the Rams had beaten Geraldine 27-16 on Thursday night .

Defending champions Celtic sit in fourth after beating Pleasant Point 33-15, but are only four points adrift of Harlequins.

At Alpine Energy Stadium, Harlequins had too much Fijian firepower out wide for Waimate but could not quite shake them off.

Waimate wing Will Saulala landed an early penalty but Harlequins replied with three first half tries to lead 19-3 at the break.

Harlequins second five Vatilia Tora was a key figure, slicing through some poor defence to score, and then making a break that right wing Leone Nawalu finished off, as well as adding both conversions.

On the stroke of halftime left wing Maile I'Ongi scored after good run from himself and lock Joseteki Veikune.

The second half proved a much more entertaining spectacle.

Waimate blindside Stefan van Leeuwen scored early after the ball went several sets of hands, to close the gap to 19-8.

Unfortunately less than a minute later the Waimate defence was found wanting when fullback Sireli Buliruarua stepped his way through and Tora added the conversion.

Tora was in the action again five minutes later when he broke free to score, and his conversion put Harlequins out to an unassailable 33-8 lead.

Waimate however showed plenty of spirit to press again and van Leeuwen grabbed his second try.

Harlequins were however willing to throw the ball around and I'Ongi grabbed his second before Waimate had the final say with a try to openside Tim Caird.

For Harlequins it was hard to go past Tora as man of the match as he set the backline alight, while veteran I'Ongi also impressed.

Front rowers Nathan Tubb and Timaru Tafa had strong games while no.8 Kamal Tackney and Veikune also played well.

The Waimate pack also tried hard with Toko Fakatava and Simon Bleeker carrying the ball well, while Irish No.8 Stephen Smith never gave it away.

Van Leeuwen also put in an honest 80 minutes while in the backs second five Mile Medlicott was tidy and wing Jade Halkett ran hard with limited opportunities.

At School Park Old Boys tried hard against Temuka in their best showing of the season, despite the scoreline.

The Blues were only down 15-5 at the break, while the Magpies flew home with four late tries to inflate the score.

Temuka wing Kalavini Leatigaga showed his class with a hat trick, while loose forward Semisi Paseka got two.

Paseka made a big difference when he came on in the second half and was everywhere.

Hooker Junior Faa'vae and Joeli Kotobalavu had strong games, while Shaun Neame and Leatigaga were the best of the backs.

For Old Boys 200-game veteran Kris O'Sullivan and prop Luke Haslam impressed in the forwards, while backs Levi McCoy and Glen Sturgess never gave up.

At the Celtic Sports Ground, Pleasant Point put in a better performance against the defending champions.

Celtic scored three very good tries off rolling mauls from 5m line-outs but otherwise the Mud Dogs were competitive upfront, especially in the scrums.

Missed opportunities also cost Point dearly but prop JP Koen and loose forwards Mana Taylor and Tate Manson all played very well, while centre Josh Robson also had a solid game.

Point's backline stocks are however getting lighter after English wings Maxx Morris and Tom Costley also returned home this week.

Costley, also a representative cricketer, got five screws in a finger after playing Mackenzie while Morris, who played for South Canterbury last season, could not secure a work visa.

After a unusually slow start to the season Celtic are finding their feet on the back of an impressive pack.

Against Point their best best were loose forward Kerry O'Connor, prop Garret Casey and halfback Willie Wright.

Points table: Harlequins 24, Mackenzie 21, Temuka 21, Celtic 20, Geraldine 14, Pleasant Point 9, Old Boys 5, Waimate 2

Scorers

Celtic 33 (Kerry O'Connor, Jarred Gilmour, Tom Fleming, Henry Race, Zac Saunders tries; Willie Wright 4 con) Pleasant Point 15 (Ben Hewitson, Mana Taylor tries; Brad Tegelaars pen, Josh Walker con)

Temuka 60 (Kalavini Leatigaga 3, Semisi Paseka 2, Brett Turner, Shaun Neame, Junior Faavae, Taleni Tiai, Tenari Saumani tries; Tiai 4 con, Leatigaga con) Old Boys 12 (Tait Chisman 2 tries; Jordan Low con)

Harlequins 40 (Vatilia Tora 2, Maile I'Ongi 2, Leone Nawalu, Sireli Buliruarua tries; Tora  5 con) Waimate 20 (van Leeuwen 2, Tim Caird tries; Will Saulala pen, con)