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It’s a top of the table clash in the Counties Power Game of the Week, with Manurewa taking on Ardmore Marist in the Auckland Women’s Premier competition at Mountfort Park 2 at 1:00pm on Saturday.

Both sides have started the season off with two wins, with Manurewa defeating Ponsonby Fillies and East Coast Bays, and Ardmore Marist beating Marist and Rifles Thunderbirds.

Manurewa coach Kallum Adams was really happy with last weekend’s 32-10 win over East Coast Bays.

“We tried a few different combinations and gave all our new girls a run. We just wanted to see how they could all play together, and they went really well. I was pleased with the result. We didn’t know how East Coast Bays would play, so it was new territory, but it went well.”

Adams can’t wait for this weekend’s local derby match against Ardmore Marist and he said it’s great that both of the Counties Manukau teams are sitting at the top of the Auckland competition.

“That’s how it should be. It’s awesome to see. Ardmore Marist are a good side and they have great coaches. We aren’t expecting anything too flash as they play the same kind of game as us with a lot of muscle and crash and bash. It will be exciting though as both teams have a lot of new players, so it will be a good battle up front. It will be just as good to see how our backs compare against their backs.”

Adams said his senior players have really stepped it up a notch this season, especially with some new girls coming on board and putting the pressure on.

“Teenagers Grace Gago, who plays hooker and Utumalama Atonio, who plays centre have impressed so far. They are a couple of newbies in our side who have done really well. We also have a couple of Cook Island girls playing for us. Now these girls have come on board they are making our senior players go well, because they all have to compete for their position now.”

Ardmore Marist defeated Rifles Thunderbirds 23-17 over the weekend, and coach Davida White said it was a great performance by her side.

“This weekend will be great because a lot of the Manurewa and Ardmore Marist women actually train together as part of the Counties Manukau High Performance women’s group. I think the level of fitness of the two sides has really shown over the last couple of weeks and it’s perhaps been a bit much for the Auckland sides so far. Both sides are in good nick which is great to see at this stage in the season.”

White said there will be some great match ups come kick off on Saturday, with plenty of the women pushing for spots in the Counties Heat side.

“It should be a really great match. We have a couple of girls who have been playing quite well so far. Sheryl Greer our openside flanker has been going great and so has Lauryn Stead at loosehead prop. They haven’t played rep rugby yet but they have really stepped up.”

Make sure to be at Mountfort Park 2 at 1:00pm on Saturday to watch the top of the table Premier Women’s clash between Manurewa and Ardmore Marist in the Counties Power Game of the Week. 

Photo Credit: Teine Rugby on Twitter