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Ardmore Marist and Manurewa women’s teams will continue their long-standing rivalry this week when they meet in the Counties Power Game of the Week at Bruce Pulman Park.

The match will be livestreamed on Counties Manukau Rugby and Counties Sports Hub Facebook pages and will feature two of the dominant sides in Auckland.

Ardmore Marist tops the Auckland Premier standings at present while Manurewa lies in third place but went undefeated last season until going down to Ponsonby in the final after two periods of extra time.

The game will feature a host of Counties Heat players and members of the Chiefs Women’s team that played the Blues Women in the very first Super Rugby Aotearoa Women’s match at Eden Park last weekend.

Harono Te Iringa, Leilani Perese, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Hazel Tubic, Ngatokotoru Arakua will all line-up for Manurewa while Langi Veainu will play for Ardmore Marist.

“I love playing Ardmore and it’s probably the game both teams most look forward to,” Marino-Tauhinu said. “For us it’s the battle of the south, whoever wins gets to claim bragging rights.

“In regard to playing against some of my Heat teammates, there’s no friends on the field, but once the final whistle blows, we are back to best mates again.”

The two sides have alternated wins with Ardmore Marist dominating in 2019 before Manurewa had the edge last year.

“I am looking forward to this weekend’s local derby,” Ardmore Marist coach Brent Krone said.

“It’s always fun playing our neighbours.

“This weekend will be our toughest challenge so far this year as Rewa will be one of the competition favourites.”

Papakura meets Marist in the other Premier Women’s clash at War Memorial Park in Mt Roskill while Patumahoe Searle Group tackles East Tamaki at East Tamaki Reserve.

In the McNamara Cup Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega hosts Waiuku Land & Sea Civil in what is shaping as a must-win match for the home side if they want to make the top bracket when the competition splits into two groups in four weeks.

“Yea it is a must win game for us to stay in the hunt for the top five,” Polwart said.

“It will be a tough game against Waiuku, who have made a good start to their season.”

Patumahoe Troydon Patumahoe Hotel returns home to face the very much in-form Manurewa Kidd Contracting at Patumahoe Domain in our live-streamed fixture.

Patumahoe has had a mixed season so far, winning three of their five matches so far against Pukekohe, Bombay and Papakura but left it late to earn the points last weekend at Massey Park.

At their best, they look a side capable of mixing it with the leading teams and this week’s opposition have hit their straps with four wins from five.

Onewhero Summit Homes hosts Papakura Thirsty Liquor in a battle between two sides that have struggled to get over the line so far this season.

Papakura will be hurting after a heart-breaking loss last week while Onewhero will be desperate to get into the winner’s circle for the first time in 2021.

Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors travel to Laurie Gibbons Reserve in Weymouth to take on the winless Weymouth outfit.

Results have not been there for the home side so far but they continue to play for a full 80 minutes as they adjust to life back in the Premier division.

Top-of-the-table Karaka hosts reigning McNamara Cup champions Bombay Super Freight at Karaka Sports Complex in what should be a quality game.

In Bob Chandler Cup Premier Reserves Patumahoe Dave Redshaw Electrical hosts Manurewa Wise Property Management in a repeat of last week’s clash at Mountfort Park.

Elsewhere Karaka hosts Bombay Pokeno Bacon while Ardmore Marist Barfoot & Thompson travels to Pukekohe.

Drury made a terrific start to the Championship grade last weekend and will host newbies Te Kohanga, who were also impressive in their return to competition games.

Heavyweights Te Kauwhata Proclad hosts Tuakau while Patumahoe Village Bar & Grill heads to Massey Park to face Papakura Thirsty Liquor in a battle of two first week winners.

Puni hosts Manurewa while Maramarua travels to Pukekohe.

Neighbours Patumahoe CJM Construction and Pukekohe do battle at Patumahoe in Massey Cup U21 action while Papakura Thirsty Liquor and Karaka meet at Massey Park.

The final game of the round sees Manurewa Barfoot & Thompson travel to Rugby Park to meet Waiuku.

The U85kg club competition takes a break this week for the National U85kg competition with Patumahoe Pak N Save Pukekohe facing Hamilton Marist Bulldogs at Patumahoe and Onewhero taking on Melville in Hamilton.