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Karaka bounced back from last week’s surprise loss to beat previously unbeaten Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors 24-17 in the Counties Power Game of the Week at EcoLight Stadium number two on Saturday.

As a result, Karaka took the Counties Power Cup as well.

“It was certainly a step up from last week. The boys brought the right attitude and were committed,” coach Craig Hill says.

Karaka was stung by an upset loss to Patumahoe last week and Hill thinks that actually helped them be more motivated to knock over the top side.

“It certainly sharpened the focus on what they were doing. It was a bit of reality around being consistent and not taking anything for granted.”

There was little between the two sides with set piece and general play a fairly even affair.

“In those games it is all about taking your opportunities,” Hill explains. “We were able to apply a bit of pressure in the second half and force a few penalties pretty much out in front of the posts and that allowed us to eek points out on the score board.”

Bombay Gough Cat remain in the top four after a convincing 55-5 win over Waiuku Brian James Contracting.

The home side bagged seven tries in racking up the half century with Jordan Goldsmith scoring four of them. First-five Ki Anufi added four conversions and a penalty.

“We were pretty pleased with the way we started the game really,” coach Jeff Marr says. “The first 30 minutes was really excellent from us. It was probably the best half of football we have played all year really.

“We made some changes in the second half – personnel changes – and they kept the pressure on.

“It was a good step forward really.”

Marr took the opportunity to watch Waiuku’s win over Pukekohe last week with his own side playing on the Thursday night. He was impressed with what Waiuku had to offer but was prepared for their challenge.

“To be honest they played exactly like we expected them to play really – a typical Waiuku type of football – they to play it in their forwards and had one strike winger. They haven’t deviated too much from that over the last few years.

“You can’t under estimate Waiuku and on their day they can be a really formidable team.”

Patumahoe Hotel kept their second place on the ladder with an impressive 34-8 bonus point win over Manurewa Kidd Contracting at Mountfort Park.

It extends Patumahoe’s winning streak to four games and keeps them in touch with Ardmore Marist.

The win also keeps a clear gap between the top four sides and the chasing bunch.

“It was actually a really good game. They are a hard team to beat,” Patumahoe assistant coach Josh van Lieshout says.

“Something that’s working well for us is the boys sticking to the game plan that we put forward.

“We made a few mistakes but we were lucky enough that our defense stuck together as a line. Our defense solved some of those problems we were having on attack.”

With six wins from seven matches Patumahoe have surprised some people and van Lieshout says the momentum is building.

“We have just had a nice injection with Joe Royal, who is a New Zealand Maori representative, he has really lifted the younger guys who were a little bit iffy about themselves and he has shown and told them what they can do. They are starting to do that.

“The confidence in the team is still growing but the team is quite a humble team. You don’t win the competition with one performance.”

Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega rebounded from last week’s upset loss at Waiuku to thump Te Kauwhata EnviroWaste 36-0 at Colin Lawrie Fields.

The home side took advantage of a 12-0 halftime lead to run away with a six tries to none victory.

“The boys played really well but in patches though,” coach Waka Setitaia says. “The good thing about this result was they kept their structures but there are still more work-ons for us.

“The intensity was really good.” 

Setitaia thinks the main issue with his side is just not keeping focus for the entire game and while he thought it was better against Te Kauwhata than their loss to Waiuku a week earlier, he knows there needs to be even more improvement if they are to win a big local derby against Bombay next week.

“It is going to a huge game. The boys will need to play for the whole 80 minutes if we are to succeed.”

Onewhero Counties Bulk Haulage also rebounded from a last-start loss to ease to a 37-12 win over bottom of the table Papakura Ray White at Massey Park.

The home side actually led 12-10 at the break but Onewhero pulled away in the second half to ensure a one-sided score line.

“We went back to our basics and started just doing what we had been training during the week,” assistant coach Elliot Hira explains.

“The game changer was the Papakura halfback was sniping around the ruck and making in-roads through there and we just tided that up in the second half.”

Hira was most impressed with one key aspect of his team’s performance that was much improved on recent weeks.

“Some past weeks we have been slacking off in the last 20 minutes but I think we upped the temp in the last quarter and sped the game up and scored some good tries out wide.”

Winger Vaughan Holdt and centre Ilaisa Koaneti bagged two tries apiece and drew special praise from Hira.

With two weeks remaining in the first round Ardmore Marist, Patumahoe, Bombay and Karaka hold the top four spots with six-point gap back to a tight chasing bunch that includes Pukekohe, Manurewa, Onewhero and Waiuku – all separated by four points.

Manurewa took a narrow 18-17 win over Patumahoe Hutton Builders in Premier 2 action. Karaka completed the Premier 1 and 2 double with a win over Ardmore Marist while Onewhero, Bombay and Pukekohe also completed wins.

Weymouth and Te Kohanga recorded wins in their respective Premier 3 fixtures while Patumahoe Albycon Ltd took a 25-20 win over Bombay in Under 21 action.

McNamara Cup (Premier 1) 

Manurewa Kidd Contracting 8

(Viliami Taulani tries; Bradford Lemalufaitoaga pens)

Patumahoe Hotel 34

(Tamati Fromm, Kalim North, Joseph Royal, William Furniss, penalty tries; Jonny Wilkinson 3 cons; Jonny Wilkinson pens)

HT: 15-3

Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors 17

(Sione Tuipulotu, Suliasi Taufaele, Linford Hanipale tries; Solomoana Paraki  cons;)

Karaka 24

(Nicolas Worthington, Kalione Hala tries; Desma Liaina cons; Desma Liaina pens)

HT: 10-11

Papakura Ray White 12

(Shirley Halasima, Lisona Tagaloa tries; Lisona Tagaloa  cons)

Onewhero Counties Bulk Haulage 37

(Vaughan Holdt 2, Ilaisa Koaneti 2, Sam Shuker, Traydon Ewe, Leroy Jack tries; Rhain Strang cons;)

HT: 12-10

Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega 36

(George Maka 2, Gafatasi Su’a, Connor Brooke-Cowden, Lenny Glas, Samu Pailegutu tries; Cody White 3 cons)

Te Kauwhata EnviroWaste 0

( tries;   cons;  pens)

HT: 12-0

Bombay Gough Cat 55

(Jordan Goldsmith 4, Sam Vaka, George Taina, Sepuloni Taufa, penalty tries; Ki Anufe 4, Daniel Kidd cons;  Ki Anufe pens)

Waiuku Brian James Contracting 5

(Irwin Finau tries)

HT: 29-5

Bob Chandler Memorial (Premier 2) 

Manurewa 18 Patumahoe Huttom Builders 17; Ardmore Marist Ross Roof Group 17 Karaka 19; Papakura 20 Onewhero 39; Pukekohe win by default 30  Te Kauwhata 0; Bombay Pokeno Bacon 41 Waiuku 10.

Sid Marshall Shield (Premier 3)

Maramarua 0 Te Kohanga 12; Weymouth 39 Puni 7.

Massey Cup (U21) 

Patumahoe Albycon Ltd 25 Bombay 20; Manurewa win by default 30 Ardmore Marist Ross Roof Group 0; Karaka 62 Waiuku 10; Pukekohe 59 Papakura 0.

Under 85kg: 

Bombay Lincoln Farms 7 Drury 22; Karaka 27 Onewhero 8; Patumahoe Pak N Save 32 Waiuku 9

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