Varsity might not be the force of yesteryear but don't write the students off as top six prospects just yet.

In the sun and on the emerald carpet at the Rugby Institute on Saturday, Varsity was but a dropped goal from toppling unbeaten College Old Boys.

It was a tribute to the Hankins Shield champion that it didn't allow Varsity to set up for the dropkick.

Cast aside the scoreline. COB scored its fourth try in the last second of injury-time after a risky chip from Varsity first-five Chris Brown. At that stage the students trailed only 25-23 and it was game on.

Both teams were under-strength through injuries, COB missing half of its backline and Varsity minus five frontliners.

Varsity lost games when its key five were away with New Zealand Universititeis and will have to beat Linton Army, Freyberg and High School Old Boys to have a sniff of the top six.

Coach Verne Wilson said Saturday's fightback was good for his players' belief.

"We've got to be looking at five points in those games and the it might depend on a couple of other results," he said.

"I certainly hope we make the top six because we can be a threat to any team there."

An intercept try three minutes from time to HSOB's John Dodd camouflaged a tight game with Freyberg, Freys attacking when 23-19 down at the time. Freyberg and Oroua, both winless, play the wooden spoon test match next Saturday.

Feilding Old Boys missed out on any sort of bonus point for only the second time this season but still beat Te Kawau, which is dropping off the pace.

Feilding took second place from Kia Toa, whose game with Linton Army has been deferred.

Don't write off the boys from Bush just yet. They monstered Oroua for their fourth win of the season.

COLLEGE OB 30 VARSITY 23
When COB scored three tries in 30 minutes to get out to 22-6, it seemed sure to reach its average of six tries a game. Fullback Thomas Trollope twice stormed down the blind with perfectly-timed runs and two seven- pointers before the Varsity defence woke up.

COB's first try came from a chargedown and turnover but Varsity, against the run of play, scored its first after a chargedown of an Aaron Good clearing kick and by halftime COB was ahead only 25-16.

Into the breeze, COB's kicking game was exposed, the backs dangerously running out from their line, enabling Varsity to stay downtown. Quick ruck ball saw Varsity over again but the superior COB scrum with loosehead Jeremy McKenzie doing the damage meant Varsity couldn't get usable ball. Varsity's Chris Brown used the wind better. Talau Hala and Jason Morgan stood out for COB.

At Rugby Institute:
COB 30 (Thomas Trollope 2, Fabian Snaith, Ben McDonald tries; Aaron Cruden 2 con, 2 pen)
Varsity 23 (James Oakes, Max Pearson tries; Chris Brown 3 pen, 2 con)
HT 25-16.

FEILDING OB 19 TE KAWAU 10
FOB improves week by week while Te Kawau heads are hanging as the top six seems a long way away. Led by livewire flanker James Gutsell, FOB had this one covered, the scrum taking two tightheads and the backline defence too tight.

It was an even first half with Te Kawau missing three penalty shots and only once looking like scoring in the first half after a 50-metre breakout, only for the ball to be spilled. FOB was more creative and had the better of the forward battle, prop Daniel Harper back as a sub after a six-week layoff. Other FOB standouts were lock Jeremy Waitoa, No 8 Exham Wichman, fullback John Robin and but for wrong options and turnovers, should have got the four-try bonus point. Te Kawau looked too one-dimensional.

At Johnston Park:
FOB 19 (John Robin, James Gutsell, Jeremy Waitoa tries; Crete Cribb, Gavin Wairau cons)
Te Kawau 10 (Bryan Matenga try; Karl Field con, pen)
HT 7-0.

HSOB 30 FREYBERG 19
Freyberg territorially had the better of the game but HSOB took its chances to snatch four tries. HSOB was bigger all round but Freys had the territory in the first half into the wind only for HSOB to score two tries, one from a passing movement, the other from a maul, an area where the Toffs excelled.

Freyberg's defence was sound against HSOB's half breaks, new prop Semisi Fakova standing out as did flanker Willie Aie, Paul Rodgers until injured and lock Noel Corbett. Freys' best were second-five Joel Burns, Sef Patelesio, who scored after running from halfway, and Elliki Gavidi.

At Colquhoun Park:
HSOB 30 (Frank Lene, John Dodd, Bertus Mulder, Semisi Fakova tries; Dodd 2 con, 2 pen)
Freyberg 19 (Joel Burns, Sef Patelesio tries; Burns pen, dg; Taha Wihongi pen)
HT 15-8.

FEILDING 40 MARIST 19
Feilding scored six tries to three, and Marist's last came right on fulltime. The Yellows were too accurate around the field, in the loose and general play despite scrums and lineouts being even.

The Feilding backs hit form, running strongly and hard through average Marist tackling. Feilding was too urgent and this was one of its best three games of the season but it lost Vaughan Antonio with a dislocated shoulder. Gary Simpson, Con Rider and Brad Carr were Feilding's best and flanker Nick Crosswell got through another game.

Marist tackled in the second half but Feilding still added another 20 points. Marist got one try from running the ball from its own dead-ball line. Its best were again lock Lisiate Fa'aoso, Johnny Leota, Waisea Qoikata and No 8 Nathan Jefferies, in for the injured Koli Sewabu.

At FMG Stadium:
Feilding 40 (Aaron Smith 2, Vaughan Antonio, Antony Papenfus, Con Rider, Andrew Clare, tries; Brad Carr 2 pen, 2 con)
Marist 19 (Shaun Brown, Waisea Qoikata, Willie Mailo tries; Brown, Johnny Leota cons)
HT 20-0.

BUSH 32 OROUA 18
A crowd of about 1000 at Old Timer's Day failed to galvanise Oroua, whose forwards were shocked by a rampant Bush pack. A blanket would have covered the Bush men, who made Oroua look ordinary, disappointing after almost beating Marist a week previously.

For three-quarters of the game, Bush had all the ball, scored four tries to two set up by its strong- running forwards.

The Bush outside backs didn't see a lot of ball, Frank Bryant made a few breaks and Matty James peeled off good touchfinders. He had other goal-kicking chances but Bush still mustered 32 points.

The Oroua forwards were too loose, flanker Adam Digby, Ali Webb and Tim Bailey the best.

Strong for Bush were prop Campbell Lawrence, hooker Jarred Brock, flankers Jacob Tipene and Dallas Christie and lock Brandon Young.

At Kimbolton:
Bush 32 (Jarred Brock 2, Frank Bryant, Dean Reiri tries; Matty James 2 pen, 3 con)
Oroua 18 (Danny Smith, Adam Digby tries; Walker Jacobs 2 pen, con)
HT 22-6.