News

Patumahoe will be the sole Counties Manukau representative that will continue to play for the inaugural John Spiers Trophy after they thumped Manukau 60-0 in their Wider Auckland Club Knock Out opener.

The Gallaher Shield champions were missing a number of their top line-up in the opening week clash at Williams Park and Patumahoe took full advantage. 

Patumahoe will face Grammar TEC in week 2 after the latter scored an impressive 55-19 win over McNamara Cup champions Manurewa at Mountfort Park.

Grammar TEC looked like a team playing their third game as they played well with a strong wind at their back in the first spell.

Missing the majority of their title-winning side, Manurewa were outplayed up front by their Auckland opponents.

Pakuranga edged Karaka 38-24 in a game that was closer than the final score suggests at Karaka Sports Complex.

The visitors opened the scoring in the fifth minute before Karaka responded moments later.

The two sides traded blows before Pakuranga pulled away in the final stages.

North Shore beat Ponsonby 31-19 at Takapuna Grammar in a game in which North Shore celebrated their 150^th anniversary. 

It means North Shore will meet Pakuranga in week 2.

Papakura showed off some impressive new recruits and got their reign under former Steelers prop Jarrad Firth and Mark Thomas off to a winning start as they beat Papatoetoe 34-26 at South Park in BCITO Te Pukenga Pool 2.

Pukekohe thumped Eden 50-7 at Colin Lawrie Fields while Bombay ensured that all three local sides won in the Pool when they held off Kumeu 31-19 to give new coach Michael Tuiloma a winning start.