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Karaka moved back to the top of the McNamara Cup standings with a superb 27-26 win over Patumahoe Troydon Patumahoe Hotel in an epic game at Karaka Sports Complex.

The match was a brilliant tit-for-tat affair with both sides playing enterprising rugby on lovely winter’s day.

Karaka led for the most part but couldn’t shake their neighbours, who hit back almost every time the home side scored.

Patumahoe had a chance at the end of the game to pinch a memorable victory but the home side held on much to the delight of a vocal home crowd.

“It seemed to be we score and Patty come back at us, we score and Patty come back at us. A very good game of club footy,” Karaka coach Craig Hill said.

“If you make errors and teams will hurt you and that was the case for both teams.

“There was not a lot of difference. Patty were very good with their line-out drives.”

Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega needed to beat old foes Manurewa Kidd Contracting at Colin Lawrie Fields to remain in the hunt for a McNamara Cup semi-final berth.

They made a great start and led for a long period before Manurewa got their noses in front.

A late fightback saw Pukekohe draw level and earn a 27-27 draw but Patumahoe’s pair of bonus points ensures Sean Polwart’s side cannot over-take their neighbours regardless of results now.

“It was a great day for rugby and a great spectacle for our sponsors day and supporters who showed out.” Polwart said.

“It was a game of momentum runs. We started strongly but Rewa were able to pounce on our few errors and took control through the middle part f the game. But the boys just hung in tough, absorbed pressure and score two late tries and had a chance to take it.

“A draw probably reflected the way the game went.”

Waiuku Land & Sea Civil had to work extremely hard to get past a determined Onewhero Summit Homes 29-7 at Rugby Park in Waiuku.

The home side grabbed an early advantage but Onewhero levelled at 7-7 on the stroke of halftime.

An early second half onslaught saw Waiuku take the initiative though and they never relinquished it as they eased to victory to maintain a lead in the Plate standings.

Papakura Thirsty Liquor got back in the winner’s circle with a 49-12 victory over Weymouth at Laurie Gibbons Reserve.

They leapt in front of Onewhero on the standings as a result.

Ardmore Marist Barfoot & Thompson earned a crucial 36-31 win over Patumahoe Dave Redshaw Electrical in Bob Chandler Cup Premier Reserves play on Saturday.

The home side raced out to a big first half lead at Bruce Pulman Park before Patumahoe got back into the game in the second half.

Bombay Pokeno Bacon bounced back after last week’s loss to secure a comfortable 31-0 win over Pukekohe at Colin Lawrie Fields.

Karaka thumped Manurewa Wise Property Management 54-15 at Karaka to stay top of the standings.

Drury and Te Kauwhata Proclad maintained their unbeaten run in the Sid Marshall Shield Championship with victories on Saturday.

Drury cruised to a 58-7 demolition of Papakura Thirsty Liquor while Te Kauwhata hammered Puni 64-0 at Puni to keep their perfect seasons alive.

Patumahoe Village Bar & Grill stormed home to pip Maramarua 19-12 in a tight affair at Maramarua.

Te Kohanga battled hard against neighbours Tuakau early before easing away to a 51-14 while Pukekohe beat Manurewa 39-24 in Pukekohe.

Pukekohe earned a key 45-26 win over Karaka in U21s action in the Counties Power Game of the Week.

“I was very pleased with our energy levels,” Pukekohe coach Bruce Lansdowne said. “We were much more consistent both on attack and defence. It was a much better 80 minute performance.

“We constructed nice phases on attach that we managed to finish, which was pleasing.

“Defensively we made a lot of tackles and leaded a few points late but attitude to keep getting off the ground and go again was very good.

“Hopefully we can carry this performance forward for the remainder of the season.”

The win secures Pukekohe a semi-final berth.

Papakura Thirsty Liquor beat Waiuku 34-10 while Manurewa Barfoot & Thompson proved too strong for Patumahoe CLM Construction 26-13.

There were only two matches in the U85kg grade on Saturday – Pukekohe beat Beachlands-Maraetai 27-16 while Papakura Thirsty Liquor edged Bombay 22-17.

Karaka U85s lost to the University Squids in the NZ Barbarians U85kg national competition.

Manurewa women have advanced to the final of the Auckland Premier Women’s competition after completing a 51-15 thrashing of Marist in the semi-finals.

It is the second successive competition final for Manurewa, who lost to Ponsonby in extra-time last season.

Papakura enjoyed an extra-time win themselves on Saturday as they beat Waitemata 22-17 in the Development Championship.

Counties Power Club Rugby Results 12 June 2021:

McNamara Cup (Premiership):

Karaka 27-26 Patumahoe Troydon Patumahoe Hotel

Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega Pukekohe 27-27 Manurewa Kidd Contracting

Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors BYE

Premiership Plate:

Waiuku Land & Sea Civil 29-7 Onewhero Summit Homes

Weymouth 12-49 Papakura Thirsty Liquor

Bombay Super Freight BYE

Sid Marshall Shield (Championship):

Drury 58-7 Papakura Thirsty Liquor

Maramarua 12-19 Patumahoe Village Bar and Grill

Te Kohanga 51-14 Tuakau

Puni 0-64 Te Kauwhata PROCLAD

Pukekohe 39-24 Manurewa

Bob Chandler Cup (Premier Reserves):

Pukekohe 0-31 Bombay Pokeno Bacon

Ardmore Marist Barfoot & Thompson 36-31 Patumahoe Dave Redshaw Electrical

Karaka 54-15 Manurewa Wise Property Management

Massey Cup (Under 21):

Papakura Thirsty Liquor 34-10 Waiuku

Patumahoe CLM Construction 13-26 Manurewa Barfoot & Thompson

Karaka 26-45 Pukekohe

Under 85kg:

Beachlands Maraetai 16-27 Pukekohe

Bombay 17-22 Papakura Thirsty Liquor

Patumahoe; Waiuku, Onewhero BYE’s

Under 85kg NZ Barbarians Cup:

University 35-31 Karaka

Women’s:

Premier Semi Final - Manurewa 51-15 Marist

Premier Development Semi Final – Papakura 17-17 Waitemata playing extra time

Patumahoe BYE

Counties Power Club Rugby Draws 19 June 2021:

McNamara Cup (Premiership):

Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega Pukekohe Karaka

Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors Patumahoe Troydon Patumahoe Hotel

Manurewa Kidd Contracting BYE

Premiership Plate:

Weymouth Waiuku LND & Sea Civil

Bombay Super Freight Onewhero Summit Homes

Papakura Thirsty Liquor BYE