News

This weekend, Karaka and Ardmore Marist do battle, as well as Bombay and Pukekohe to see who will make the McNamara Cup Premier final.

Karaka will host Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors in their semi-final at Karaka Sports Park at 2:45pm on Saturday. Ardmore Marist are coming into some form. They had a great end to the regular season, winning all seven games in the second round after a shaky start to their 2016 campaign. Karaka took out the Challenge Cup in the first round, losing just one of their 10 games. These two sides haven’t played since the 9^th of April, where Karaka won quite convincingly.  

Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors have had Pasifica Physio working over time this week to get the boys back on the field after a bruising encounter against Patumahoe Hotel last weekend. Halfback Jason Guthrie will miss Saturday’s semi-final due to injury. The club will celebrate prop Eukharis Simanus who will play his blazer game. Ardmore Marist have about four players who are touch and go, but pending injury, their side should be mostly unchanged from last week.

Karaka are expecting back Kalione Hala to return from injury, but at this stage they have no other injury concerns.

In the other McNamara Cup semi-final, defending champions Bombay Gough Cat will host Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega on the hill at 2:45pm. This will be an exciting battle, with Pukekohe having won their latest encounter 13-10 just a few weeks ago.

Bombay Gough Cat don’t’ have any injuries affecting this weekend’s semi-final. They are hoping to have winger Sepuloni Taufa back. He’s been out for the last few weeks with concussion and he didn’t play Bombay’s last game against Pukekohe. Taufa has been overtaken at the top of the A S Wilcox & Sons Limited try scoring leaderboard by Pukekohe winger Trent White, so expect a good battle between the wingers. Bombay captain Ben Masoe will play his 50^th game for the club.

Pukekohe number 8 Manoa Lesavua will celebrate a huge milestone on Saturday. He’ll play his 150^th match for the club.

In the Sid Marshall Premier Shield semi-finals, Onewhero Counties Bulk Haulage/Carters host Waiuku Brian James Contracting at 3pm and Patumahoe Hotel play hosts to Manurewa at 2:45pm.

Ardmore Marist take on Rifles Thunderbirds in the Auckland Premier Women’s final at College Rifles at 12:30pm. Both sides will be playing for the Coleman Shield.

In the Under 85kg semi-finals, unbeaten Patumahoe Pak ‘N’ Save face Karaka at Patumahoe 2 at 1:00pm and Bombay Lincoln Farms take on Ardmore Marist Harcourt’s at Bombay at 1:00pm.

To the Massey Cup Under 21 semi-finals, Pukekohe hosts Bombay Roger Gill Agriculture at Colin Lawrie Fields at 1:00pm and Ardmore Marist Ross Roof Group faces Patumahoe Albycon Ltd at Bruce Pulman CM 7 at 1:00pm.

In the Auckland First Grade competition, at 1:00pm College Rifles hosts Manurewa and in the Under 20 Plate match Papatoetoe hosts Beachlands Maraetai at 2:45pm and Pukekohe have a bye.