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Papakura Ray White Premiers hosts Waiuku Brian James Contracting in the Counties Power Game of the Week at Massey Park on Saturday afternoon.

Papakura took a few bumps and bruises away from their loss to Manurewa last weekend and coach Gavin Giles is waiting to see how hooker Blair Kennelly pulls up.

“We won’t know until later this week whether he comes through an injury or not. We certainly took a few knocks in that game. One of our up and coming players in the Reserves team broke his leg unfortunately. Our game had to start around an hour later while we waited for the ambulance. It was all a bit unfortunate over the weekend.”

Giles is expecting Waiuku to be a tough challenge in the Counties Power Game of the Week on Saturday.

“They have a very good line out so we will have to try and counteract that aspect of their game. We know they will be a very hard and physical challenge.”

Giles said Papakura’s stand out players this season have without a doubt been prop/hooker Brockson Brown, Jordan Morrison and blindside flanker Darryl Hemopo.

“We are just waiting to see whether Darryl is available this week as he has been out with injury. Also our fullback Dylan Watters will return this weekend after a three week stand down from concussion. He is looking really good too.”

It’s also been a tough season injury-wise for Waiuku Brian James Contracting. The Premier squad has had 14 season-ending injuries, but coach Jimmy Robinson has found plenty of positives out of the rough situation.

“We’ve blood a lot of young and Reserves players who have really stepped up. It’s been great to see these players given a chance and they have stepped up. It’s been tough, but whoever we seem to put out there steps up. Our forward pack has been going really well in terms of the set piece and we just need to keep getting the ball out to our Fijian wingers Tevita Nabura and Akariva Niubalavu.”

Waiuku will have openside flanker Ben Thornton back this weekend, as well as lock Petelo Richardson. Robinson is well aware of the threat Papakura poses.

“Obviously they will be dangerous on their home ground. They have a good coaching set up and dare I say it they will have a few things up their sleeve. Our defence has to carry on from last week. We have to be right up to the mark or they will punish us because they are a good attacking team. They throw the ball around and our defence needs to be up to it.”

Get to Massey Park at 2:45pm on Saturday to watch the Counties Power Game of the Week Premier fixture between Papakura Ray White and Waiuku Brian James Contracting. 

Richard Spranger - Photo Credit