News

Patumahoe Hotel Premiers are the new Counties Power Cup holders after defeating Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors 39-13 at Patumahoe in the Counties Power Game of the Week encounter.

The home side got points on the board first through a couple of tries, but Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors climbed their way back into the battle and only trailed 13-10 at half time. Patumahoe Hotel head coach John Penberthy was very pleased that his side showed mental strength to take the win in the second spell.

“It probably could have gone either way in that second half, but we showed a lot of tenacity to get back into it and charge ahead. Right across the board everyone really stepped up and played well, it was a great team effort. We had to step up though, I would have said on paper Ardmore Marist were a better side. Defence was good and I’m happy.”

Penberthy and his side are glad they are now the Counties Power Cup holders and the result was a great confidence booster, but they now want to hold onto the Cup.”

Patumahoe openside Fotu Lokotui was named the A S Wilcox & Sons Limited player of the day. He took home a basket of vegetables for his efforts. Penberthy said he was immense and had a huge work rate. He said he continues to get better and better every week.

Bombay Premiers came away with a 66-5 victory over Papakura Ray White in their Challenge Cup match at Massey Park in wet conditions on Thursday night.

Head coach Jeff Marr was really pleased with his side’s first half. They went into the break with a 45-0 lead. He said they did drop off a bit in the second half.

“We floundered a bit in that second spell but overall I was really happy because it rained the majority of the first half and when it stopped in the second half the ball got quite greasy. So it was good to just keep piling on those points and keeping the pressure on.”

Steelers’ first five Piers Francis had an outstanding game. He played 60 minutes and made a number of breaks and scored a great individual try from a long way out. Francis kicked eight conversions and a penalty.

Marr is expecting to lose him to the Blues at some stage in the next couple of weeks.

“I guess for his sake we hope that the Blues give him some game time, obviously from a selfish Bombay point of view we would love to keep him playing for us but we will just see how we go and keep working with the Blues. Last week we played him for 40 minutes and this week they asked for 60 so hopefully we might have him for Pukekohe next week.”

Bombay debuted 18-year old Mua Tuumaialu on the left wing. He scored two tries and kicked the last conversion from the sideline. Marr said the former Manurewa High School student had a great debut and looks like a real players of the future.

Marr has just one main injury concern with blindside flanker Johnny Kawau having to spend most of the night in hospital with an ankle injury.

Te Kauwhata picked up their second win of the Challenge Cup season with a close 13-7 win over Drury. Te Kauwhata put points on the board through a penalty kick from Vilitati Sabani, and they took a 3-0 lead into the break. Sabani and Whakawhiti Kingi scored two tries in the second half to seal the victory.

Te Kauwhata coach Pat Flavell said it was a real close contest.

“It was a good arm wrestle, it always is when we play Drury. I think for ourselves we had several opportunities from about a metre or so out from the line, but we just didn’t have the patience to hold onto the ball a little bit more. At the same time, Drury had a great forward pack, full credit to them they played really well and it was really a battle of the front row.”

Flavell said they had a couple of guys who started for the Premiers for the first time and they played well and it was great experience for them. Number six Maaka Vaimohea was named player of the day for Te Kauwhata.

Onewhero now sit top of the Challenge Cup table after a 104-7 win over Weymouth. They are now three from three to start the season and head coach Adam Cathcart couldn’t be happier.

“We played well. We just talked about sticking to our game plan for the whole 80 minutes. We just did our thing and didn’t do anything too flashy. We got stuck in from the start and all of our bench got a game too, they all got about 30 or 40 minutes so that was good.”

“We scored some nice tries from the start and it got us on the front foot early. We were up 47-7 at half time. Lachlan Foote, our young 19-year old blindside flanker made a little break and put a chip in for our openside and that was the first try of the game. The boys just got plenty of confidence from there.”

Karaka bounced back from last week’s loss to Bombay with a 48-11 win over Manurewa at Karaka Sports Park. Manurewa scored first with a great try on the left hand corner. They were on the counter attack and spread it wide and caught Karaka out. Head coach Craig Hill said from there they managed to bounce back.

“We put on a few tries after that wake up call from Manurewa and went into half time up 29-11. The scrum battle was certainly interesting, was well contested by both sides. It took us 20 minutes in the second half before we scored again, but we managed to put on three tries at the end.”

Karaka’s number eight Lemipetimalo Lauese was great with the ball in hand and created plenty of havoc, while Hill also credited lock John Fifita and Cardiff Vaenga who was a handful in the midfield.

Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega defeated Waiuku Brian James Contracting 26-5 in their battle at Waiuku.

Callum Adams scored for Pukekohe, while Gafatasi Su’a bagged a double. Joe Reynolds kicked a conversion and three penalties. Samuel Cole scored Waiuku’s try.

In the Don Shuker Cup Premier Reserves Bombay defeated Papakura 24-0, Drury beat Te Kauwhata 31-22, Ardmore Marist Harcourts came away with a 57-8 victory over Patumahoe, Onewhero beat Puni 36-23, Karaka defeated Manurewa 23-7 and Pukekohe beat Waiuku 27-15.

A S Wilcox & Sons Limited Leaderboard after Round Three

 (Information supplied by coaches and team sheets) 

Check out photos from Patumahoe vs Ardmore Marist on Richard Spranger's website below: 

http://spranger.photoshelter.com/gallery/160326-Counties-Manukau-Club-Rugby-Patumahoe-vs-Ardmore-Marist/G0000wfxby3UrKOQ/C00002xqIU04xAG8/u=U0000pU3dyzyTAnw