News

A pair of Sid Marshall Shield contests will take place on Thursday night this week to avoid the start of duck shooting season wreaking havoc on team selections.

Onewhero will host Maramarua at Onewhero Domain at 7pm on Thursday night, while Patumahoe meets Waiuku at Rugby Park in Waiuku with kick-off at 7.30pm.

Both Onewhero and Maramarua will be looking for bounce back results after disappointing losses last week against Te Kohanga and Puni respectively.

“We have had a great turn out this week and the boys are amped for the game,” Onewhero coach Sean Bagshaw told Counties Sports Hub.

“We just want to focus on what we can do together and putting phases together. Defence is going to be massive as we know they will be out for blood.”

In reference to the start of duck shooting, something pretty special to many players in the rural community, Bagshaw said it was a no-brainer to move the game to Thursday night.

“We’re really focussed and concentrating on duck shooting and we’re going to give them both barrels,” he joked.

Waiuku were forced to work very hard and secured their second win of the season late against Tuakau, while Patumahoe are coming off the bye last weekend.

The remaining games of the round will take place in their usual slot on Saturday with Weymouth hosting Tuakau at Laurie Gibbons Reserve.

Te Kohanga travel to Drury Domain to face top-of-the-table Drury while reigning champions Puni head to Mountfort Park to tackle Manurewa.

Te Kauwhata has the bye.