News

Manurewa and Patumahoe meet on Saturday in a replay of last year’s thrilling McNamara Cup final and both teams have a big point to prove.

The two sides square off at Mountfort Park looking for their first win of the new season.

Manurewa, who famously lifted their first McNamara Cup since 1998 last season, dropped their opening game to Karaka last weekend.

Having lost a few players from their championship winning side, some questions have been asked about their strength this season but their showing against Karaka is an indication that Jeremy Clark’s side is once again a contender.

Patumahoe will be playing their first competition game of the season having had the bye last week.

Brad Healy’s side took out the inaugural Wider Auckland Club Knockout competition and lifted the John Spiers Trophy in the pre-season but that will count for little when both sides run out onto Mountfort Park in this week’s livestream game.

Coach Brad Healy is adamant the narrow loss in last year’s final has not been mentioned this week.

“We haven’t spoken about last year at all,” he told Counties Sports Hub. “It’s a new Rewa team and we are a new team as well.

“We are just concentrating on ourselves.

“We know Rewa will be a big and physical side so our attitude on defense will have to be on from the start.”

Elsewhere, Ardmore Marist meets Pukekohe at Patumahoe with Bruce Pulman Park being out of action this week.

Pukekohe will look to continue their winning start to the season while Felipo Levi and his Ardmore Marist side will be chasing their first win.

Papakura hosts neighbours Karaka at Massey Park. The home side pushed Pukekohe hard in the opener while Karaka got off to a winning start.

A full round of Bob Chandler Cup Premier Reserves will run prior to the Premier games.

All other grades pause for the Easter Weekend.