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Pukekohe have claimed the Max Carter Cup for topping the McNamara Cup standings after round robin play and have booked a home semi-final after beating Manurewa 19-3 at Colin Lawrie Fields on Saturday.

It means the two sides will do it all again next weekend at the same venue but in the semi-finals, where everything that has happened to this point is irrelevant.

Pukekohe had to work hard – they trailed for much of the first half before clicking into gear.

“It was a really hard battle against a good Rewa team,” Pukekohe coach Michael Porter told Counties Sports Hub.

“I was really impressed with our discipline in tough conditions. We didn’t start very well and made a few mistakes but were able to stay in the fight and come through the other side.

“It means a lot to our playing group and to the club to finish top and get a home semi.

“That was a goal we set at the start of the year.

“We look forward to hosting Rewa again next week.”

Patumahoe booked a home semi-final thanks to a 22-5 win over Karaka at Karaka Sports Complex. They finish the round robin tied with Pukekohe on competition points but drop to second on the tiebreaker after Pukekohe won the most recent meeting between the two sides. Pukekohe have beaten Patumahoe twice this season.

“Good quality game in some tough conditions,” Patumahoe coach Brad Healy said. “Karaka came at us for the whole 80 minutes and put us under pressure.

“Proud of the boys’ defense and managed to capitalise on the back of that and score a couple of good tries.

“Looking forward to hosting Karaka this weekend in what will be another big contest.”

Papakura finished a season in which they made significant progress on a high with a hard-fought 13-10 win over Bombay at Bombay.

The two sides battled hard in a game that had little to separate them but…

“The boys have been relentless in their effort all season, so it was great to be rewarded for that effort,” Papakura co-coach Jarrod Firth said.

“The growth we have had in the group in the last eight months has been unreal and we have some pretty exciting stuff planned for next season already so bring on 2024.”

Karaka finished the Bob Chandler Premier Reserves competition round robin on a high – beating previously undefeated Patumahoe 20-14 at Karaka.

Patumahoe still finishes the season on top and claims the Don Shuker Cup, with Karaka a point behind in second.

Pukekohe claimed third place with a comfortable 34-5 win over Manurewa at Colin Lawrie Fields, while Bombay advanced to the semi-finals with Papakura defaulting.

Patumahoe will play Bombay in one semi-final with Karaka meeting Pukekohe in the other.

Te Kohanga’s narrow 13-12 win over Te Kauwhata sealed a top two finish for the small rural club and earned them a home semi-final against Weymouth next weekend.

Drury finished the season on top, winning the Bill Marsh Cup in the process, but had to really work hard for an 18-14 win over Manurewa.

Waiuku sealed the last semi-final berth with a 17-6 win over defending champions Puni.

Onewhero finished the season on a high, beating neighbours Tuakau 60-0 while Maramarua thrashed Patumahoe 51-7.

Karaka went back-to-back in the Massey Cup U21 competition as they held off a determined Pukekohe 10-6 in a gripping final at Navigation Homes Stadium Number 2 in the Counties Energy Game of the Week.

It caps a perfect season for the Karaka side, who won every game they played and defended the crown they won a year ago.

Talented loose forward TJ Pomale was adjudged the AS Wilcox player of the game.

Waiuku edged Karaka 17-16 to ensure they finished the round robin section of the U85kg competition in top spot.

The loss drops Karaka to third, after Patumahoe hammered Drury 73-0 and won a home semi-final.

Pukekohe claimed fourth spot after holding off fifth-placed Onewhero 15-6.

Beachlands Maraetai finished the year on a high, picking up a 19-6 win over Ardmore Marist.

Waiuku will play Pukekohe in the semi-finals while Patumahoe and Karaka meet in the other.

It wasn’t such great news for the two local sides competing in the semi-finals of the Richards-Martin Shield Women’s 10s competition.

Patumahoe were beaten 25-10 by Puketapapa at Clive Howe Reserve, while Weymouth were soundly beaten 52-5 by Grammar TEC.