A knee injury to Antony Papenfus in a game on Saturday which really didn't matter could be a big blow for the Feilding Yellows.

Papenfus, the former Zimbabwe international, calls many of the shots on the field for Feilding and is the co-coach.

If the injury proves to be serious, it would be a major dent in Feilding's title hunt in the second round.

Feilding battled to beat Bush at Pahiatua on Saturday, needing a late penalty, but the outcome was of no consequence to either team, Feilding safely in the top six, Bush not.

The injury happened in the first few minutes after Papenfus tried to charge down a kick.

When there was an all-in brawl in the same game, an unknown spectator raced over and joined in.

On paper at least, Te Kawau still has a chance of making the top six but might rue its one-point loss to Kia Toa, whose first-five Graham Smith slotted the winning penalty with three minutes to go.

Should Te Kawau beat Feilding next week and Feilding Old Boys come away with only a point against the staggering Linton Army, the Rongotea men could still reach the top six. But don't put money on it.

A star emerged for Marist in the form of flanker-No 8 Nathan Jefferies who made many scything runs against the patched-up Linton Army. Jefferies, a bobcat driver, has come out of the Marist Bs after returning from England where he had two years playing for Newmarket in the Eastern Counties division and representing Cambridgeshire County.

Playing his last game for Linton was No 8 Karl "Bongo" Stewart who left the army on Friday and is off to work as a plumber in Kerikeri. Aged 28, he said his rugby career was over.

VARSITY 54 FREYBERG 0

Varsity fullback Alex Nixon scored three tries for the second week in a row as the students scored nine tries to zip, with new Welsh lock James Goode adding size and zest.

Varsity was up 8-0 when Freyberg lost two players injured in a sickening head clash. While Freys competed at scrums, they had only 18 players and couldn't handle the pace. They stood and watched when a penalty kick missed, but Varsity hooker Daniel Webby raced in and scored in the deep dead-ball area.

After halftime, Varsity scored every five minutes as Freys ran out of steam. Other Varsity standouts were Jason Cudby, Chris Brown, Josh Bradnock and Isaac Thompson.

At Massey University:
Varsity 54 (Alex Nixon 3, Hamish Clare, Max Pearson, Blair Robinson, Jason Cudby, Daniel Webby, Cameron Hayton, tries; Chris Brown, pen, 3 con)
Freyberg 0,
HT 15-0.

FEILDING 16 BUSH 15

Aaron Smith slotted the late penalty to win as Bush let another one slip.

The breeze was a big factor in each half, Bush racing to 13-0 and 15-3 at halftime but Feilding winning the second half 13-0. Injuries to Papenfus and Frank Bryant (Bush) near halftime hurt. Bush though turned up and Feilding didn't, Bush being better in mauling and loose play led by Jared Brock and flanker Raymond Allen, with Simo Afamasaga tackling well and Francisco Bosch doing everything slickly.

Feilding scored soon after halftime and late in the game, but struggled to put phases together and was outnumbered at the breakdowns.

At Pahiatua:
Feilding 16 (Nick Crosswell, Brad Powell tries; Brad Carr, Aaron Smith pens)
Bush 15 (Francisco Bosch, Matty James tries; James con, pen)
HT 3-15.

COLLEGE OB 31 FOB 12

COB seemed strangely obsessed with taking on the bigger, mauling FOB pack for most for the first half and got through few phases.

With Tony Falloon dictating, FOB led 9-0 at the break. Lock Ali Cox had one of his best games, pinching COB throws, the loose men turned over ball and prop Greg Falloon had a big impact until subbed off. Turbos No 8 James Su'a played 30 minutes and looked willing.

But after COB looked shaky with Hamish Gosling and Sam Mitchell binned for killing the ball and wasting three try chances at the start when players fell short, FOB's fitness flagged and it made the COB 22 only three times in the second half. The COB backs pounced on mistakes in the backline to score five tries, having the clear edge out wide.

At Johnston Park:
COB 31 (Jason Morgan 2, Thomas Trollope, Matt Ball, Sam Mitchell tries; Morgan 3 con)
FOB 12 (Tony Falloon 4 pen)
HT 9-0.

MARIST 32 LINTON ARMY 3

This was a scrappy affair, passes thrown wildly and mostly spilled by two patched-up teams. Linton played virtually who it could get, Tim Kareko referring to a "hell of a week" for the soldiers after four games in eight days.

Marist, without Turbo Johnny Leota, also had two hookers in the frontrow and was rolled in the scrums, grabbing two tightheads. On a wet Oval, Linton had early chances but lacked men like Aaron James and the injured Matt Oldridge to power over. Finally the brave Linton defence cracked when Marist wing Yohei Shinomiya applied the afterburners for the first of two tries.

But it was the dynamic Jefferies doing the damage with searing runs off a retreating scrum. He, Iliki Naikatini with hot hands, second-five Aaron McMaster and lock Lisiate Fa'aoso opned up a flagging Linton to run in five tries.

At FMG Stadium:
Marist 32 (Yohei Shinomiya 2, Nathan Jefferies 2, Shaun Brown tries; Jason Temara pen, 2 con)
Linton Army 3 (James Kingi pen)
HT 10-3.

OROUA 14 HSOB 7

Oroua, spurred by last week's big win, had confidence, fitness and determination for 80 minutes to shut out HSOB. Oroua's try came in the 31st minute to hooker Tim Bailey from a lineout rumble. HSOB's try came eight minutes from time when Turbos No 8 Bertus Mulder, ranging wide, scored from a dropped ball and Frank Lene converted from the sideline.

Just before halftime, HSOB put the ball through phases but Oroua repelled them. Jason Holland's three penalties were enough and he dictated play with help from No 8 Kris Callon, lock Josh Masters, props Aidan Nicols and Karl Shepherd and flanker Ian Honeyfield.

At Kimbolton:
Oroua 14 (Tim Bailey try; Jason Holland 3 pen)
HSOB 7 (Bertus Mulder try; Frank Lene con)
HT 11-0.

KIA TOA 11 TE KAWAU 10

Te Kawau turned on its best team effort of the season only to be foiled near the end.

Kia Toa has found how to win, had a slight territorial edge, a stronger frontrow and the class of Smith to get it through.

The usually dangerous Kia backs were cut down, notably by Te Kawau's Pio Savali, while Charlie Beetham had a tough tussle with Kias' Joggie Viljoen. Te Kawau No 8 Bryan Matenga again made plenty of yards, but prop Matt Avery was sinbinned.

The lineouts were even, but the Kias scrum was good. After halftime, Kias led 8-7, then Te Kawau was up 10-8 before the decisive penalty.

At Rongotea:
Kia Toa 11 (Siaosi Anamani try; Graham Smith 2 pen)
Te Kawau 10 (Charlie Beetham try; Anthony Porima pen; Karl Field con)
HT 7-5.