News

No silverware was awarded in 2020 after the McNamara Cup competition and all other club grades were cancelled due to COVID-19 but Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega did manage to get their hands on one reward.

After beating Bombay late in the season, Pukekohe took hold of the Counties Power Cup – figuratively and physically – a rare occurrence after the actual Cup disappeared for most of the last year.

It was a mystery that baffled union staff and clubs and saw much hunting but eventually (and we won’t name who located it) it turned up.

So how did the Counties Power Cup end up in Pukekohe’s hands and who held it (figuratively) through the season?

Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors began the 2020 season as the nominated holders having won the Cup during the latter part of the 2019 season, although the Cup wasn’t actually in their possession.

A late comeback saw them narrowly retain the trophy up the hill at Onewhero Summit Homes before they lost it to Manurewa Kidd Contracting in a 20-19 cliff hanger.

Manurewa successfully defended the Cup against Onewhero and Pukekohe before losing it to reigning McNamara Cup champions Bombay.

Bombay retained possession with a successful defence against Onewhero but saw it fall to Pukekohe in a 51-30 loss just prior to the second enforced lockdown, that would ultimately prove the final nail in the coffin of a disrupted season.

The clubs of Counties Manukau would like to thank Counties Power and AS Wilcox and Sons for their loyal support of club rugby and for sticking with us through these trying COVID times.