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The Karaka Premier side pulled off a great 46-24 win over rivals Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors in their Challenge Cup fixture at Karaka Sports Park.

The home side attacked right from the kick off but made an early error and turned the ball over. Ardmore Marist made the most of the mistake and went the length of the field to score. Karaka hit back with a try from hooker Sione Anga’aelangi off a lineout drive and they trailed 10-5, before Karaka went on to score three quick tries before half time.

Halfback Desma Liaina scored two tries in five minutes, one just short of the line and the other one from the backs. Then Cardiff Vaega scored off a brilliant pass from Orbyn Leger. Karaka took a 24-10 lead into the break.

Onosa’i Auva’a scored straight after halftime for Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors, but then the score blew out to Karaka, with Liaina scoring his third, Vaega scoring his second and number eight Lepetimalo Lauese scoring a pushover try.

Karaka coach Craig Hill was delighted with his side’s efforts against a quality Ardmore Marist outfit.

“Our backs were outstanding. They cut them to pieces really. Our standouts were Kalione Hala and Cardiff Vaega and in the forwards it was our number eight Lepetimalo Lauese. He had a great game and gave us plenty of go forward. Sione Anga’aelangi was excellent too, he worked really hard for us.”

Hill also credited his young first five-eighth Orbyn Leger, who was selected in the New Zealand Under 20’s side this week.

“He’s a real talent and he’s going to be a really good footballer. He’s a quiet boy but he does his talking on the field really. He’s got all the skills and he just gets on with the job with no fuss.”

Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega’s game against Manurewa was a special one for Pukekohe hooker Mark Price, who played his 200^th club game. His side came away with a 16-5 win at Colin Lawrie Fields.

Pukekohe coaching coordinator Bruce Lansdown said Price had a great game and lasted the whole 80 minutes.

“Yea he said after the game that his lungs were burning a bit but he lasted the whole game and he went really well. He was part of our tight 5 that had really good set piece so that was pleasing. The boys had plenty of motivation for Pricey, and there were two really committed teams. Manurewa contributed to the whole day by putting up a good performance. Pricey is seeing out the season and he is very much a valued and respected member for the premier side and the whole club.”

Lansdown said it wasn’t their best performance, but they’ll take the win.

“It certainly wasn’t out finest game, I think that would be a fair assessment. We dominated territory and possession but we just couldn’t score points so I guess the work on is just to hold onto the ball and cut out those mistakes. We only conceded five points though and our defence was solid so that was a positive. Manurewa were defensively very good too, they were very committed.”

Papakura Ray White collected their first win of the season, defeating Weymouth 25-3 at Massey Park. They picked up five points for four tries, with Dylan Watters scoring a double and Brockson Brown and Keanu Naden also crossing the white chalk.

Papakura coach Gavin Giles was chuffed to get their first of the year.

“Yea I’m happy, obviously it was really hard fought but delighted with the bonus point win. We’re really happy with how the young boys are progressing it was a stand out performance from them yesterday. We still have plenty to work on though.”

Giles gave plenty of credit to his number seven Richie Poki and young prop Brockson Brown, as well as halfback Shirley Halasima who returned from injury.

“Richie and Brockson worked really well together, which was great to see and it was Shirley’s first game back from injury, he hadn’t played since pre-season so he went well. Most of all I was most pleased with the fact that they didn’t score a try against us. We had really good goal line defence and great commitment.”

“We took a few knocks though so we’ll have to see how the boys pull up on Tuesday. A few sore guys after that game, because Weymouth were physical and competitive and they smashed us around a bit, so we will see how they go.”

Counties Power Cup Holders Patumahoe Hotel extended their lead at the top of the Challenge Cup standings with a 59-5 win over Te Kauwhata EnviroWaste at Patumahoe. They ran in nine tries to one in the victory, with John Tangi and Sam Furniss both scoring twice, and Joshua Van Lieshout scoring a hat trick.

Onewhero Counties Bulk Haulage got themselves back in the winners’ circle after last week’s loss to Ardmore Marist. They ran in 10 tries to two in a 64-12 win over Drury. They now sit in second place, alongside Karaka and Bombay on the Challenge Cup ladder.

Bombay Gough Cat were put to work by Waiuku in their match on the hill. The defending champions coming away with a scrappy 26-13 win. It was 8-5 to Waiuku at half time, and Bombay club manager Shay Bailey said Bombay took a long time to get into the game.

“It was a really scratchy performance actually, it definitely wasn’t one of our best games. We did enough to hold on and win but it wasn’t pretty.”

“Waiuku put us under pressure and we made our own silly errors. Waiuku certainly came to play though, I guess it’s just one of those things, when you’re the defending champions everyone comes to win and they’ll always step up a notch no matter how they are going in the season. Our boys just took a little while to get into the game.”

Bombay have an injury concern, with halfback Liam Daniela coming off the field early in the piece with a hip injury. Bailey said the only good thing about that was young Under 21’s player Karl Evans came onto the field as replacement and stepped up to the premier level and played really well. Unfortunately for Evans, however, he broke his nose in the match. Both players will be assessed this week.

In the Don Shuker Cup Premier Reserve, Patumahoe Hutton Builders were too good for Te Kauwhata Trailers & Cabins 64-5, Onewhero Hinemoa Produce defeated Drury 88-17, Karaka came out on top over Ardmore Marist Harcourt’s 27-15, Papakura Ray White beat Puni 38-15, Pukekohe had a tight battle with Manurewa eventually winning 29-22 and Bombay Pokeno Bacon beat Waiuku 38-32. 

In the Counties Power Game of the Week between Pukekohe and Ardmore Marist Ross Roof Group Under 21’s, Pukekohe came out on top with a 38-29 victory over a spirited Ardmore Marist side. Pukekohe's Dylan Fearon was named the A S Wilcox & Sons Limited Player of the Day. He took the ball to the line and created opportunities and exceptional go forward ball. Fearon took home a vegetable pack from A S Wilcox & Sons Limited. 

In other Massey Cup Under 21 results, Patumahoe Albycon Ltd scraped passed Bombay 19-15 and Karaka defeated Waiuku 37-12.

Pukekohe defeated Leamington 55-21 in their Under 20 pre-season hit out and in the Under 85kg’s Bombay Lincoln Farms just defeated Karaka 13-10, Patumahoe Pak ‘N’ Save were too good for Ardmore Marist Harcourt’s 27-10 and Waiuku beat Onewhero 22-18.

 A S Wilcox & Sons Limited Leaderboard after Round Five

Information supplied by coaches and team sheets.

Photo Credit: Richard Spranger Photography