Source: Manawatu Standard 

Varsity 67, Linton Army 5

 The students are a threat for the second round after three impressive victories in a row and the best team effort in more than a year on Saturday.

They careered in for 10 tries in this rout of what was the under-strength third-placed team, the scarfies' backline excelling through Isaac Thompson, Casey Stone and Steve Barron. The Varsity forwards won plenty of ball but most of the tries came from broken play, No8 Louis booth storming back from three weeks out. Varsity made plenty of desperate tackles as the soldiers went close.

Linton won enough ball from their big pack but when they got close, turned the ball over and Varsity scored at the other end.

At Massey University: Varsity 67 (Steve Barron 3, Casey Stone 2, Louis Booth 2, Scott Davidson, Ben Koch, Isaac Thompson tries; Thompson 7 con, pen) Linton Army 5 (Zinzan Ransfield-Kake try) HT: 29-0.