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Counties Power Club Rugby Round Up 3 July

04 July 2010

Pukekohe are now the new Counties Power Cup holders, the Mitre 10 Cup holders and $1000 richer after beating Waiuku 31-12.  Pukekohe showed dominance throughout the majority of the game and never appeared threatened by an off form Waiuku. It appeared Waiuku seemed to be missing the leadership of Grant Hansen who was out with stitches from the Town and Country game.  Waiuku had already secured a home semi-final so if this was a game not to play well, better this week than next.  Waiuku's points were all scored by the boot of Bayden Morey who kicked four penalties.

For Pukekohe their centre, Seremaia Taglcakibau scored a running try after breaking a couple of tackles and first- five, Army Sanders ran 50 meters to beat several defenders and dot down close to the post.  Right winger, Peni Buakula added his five points to the score board from a move off the scrum and Rob Dennison slotted two conversions and four penalties to cement the win.

In a match that had error ridden patches, Karaka were lucky to beat Patumahoe 20-19 when Patumahoe had a failed penalty attempt in the closing seconds of a very long second half.  Karaka went into the match knowing they were going to be play Pukekohe but needed to score a bonus point to get a home semi but an opportunity to get the bonus point was blundered.

Karaka score the majority of their points in the middle of the game when Patumahoe took finger their off the button. Patumahoe had control up front in the beginning of the match but an injury ravaged season has made it hard for them to field a consistent backline and this showed in stanzas yesterday.  For Patumahoe, Lock, Reece Logan was the stand out player and Hanni Haleua who started at No 8 and then flanker was a solid performer. 

Patumahoe drifted in and out of the game with their Hooker Ilaisa Maasi scoring from a driving try and Douglas Sanft getting five out of six kicks on the day which comprised of one conversion and four penalties.

Karaka scored some good tries with 138kg Prop Unini Atonio showing the big fella can run when he put in the yards for a running try.  Right winger, Simione Saravanua had an aggressive game and hit the ball at pace to smash over the line to score and Renold Lee-Lo scored from a sharp backline move where he feed the ball to John Leteru who got tackled and popped it up to Lee-lo who was in support to score.  Karaka's Siale Piutau put on a class performance and Baden Kerr kicked one conversion and one penalty.

This year's competition has seen some tight matches and some upsets. If past matches are anything to go bye there is not much difference between the top four teams so it is sure to be an outstanding weekend of great semi-final rugby.

In one of the highest scoring premier matches this season, Manurewa beat Bombay 72-5 with Bombay's Zachariah Makavilitogia scoring the only points for his side.  For Manurewa it was simply try heaven.  Mark Selwyn picked up four tries and also kicked two conversions, Bundellu Aki got a hat trick, Simone Gatoloai scored two and Jamie Metcalfe, and Piliatti Pau picked up one each and Ahsee Tuala dotted down once and kicked four conversions.

Ardmore Marist managed to beat Drury 15-8 with Ardmore Marist Kane Ruddle and Sherwin Stowers crossing the line and the side picking up one conversion and one penalty.  Drury's Nathaniel McLean picked up five points for his side and Scott Penney slotted the conversion.

In the Premier Reserve grade Waiuku reversed their senior's results and beat Pukekohe 24-13.  Karaka beat Patumahoe 20-6, Manurewa edged out Bombay 10-7 and Ardmore Marist scored 65 points to Drury's 8.  This now means that Waiuku will host Manurewa in one semi-final and Ardmore Marist will host Pukekohe in the other semi-final.

The Division two results saw Puni beat Te Kauwhata 25-8, Weymouth Blue beat Papakura Black 43-13, Onewhero ITM beat Tuakau 41-10 Tuakau 10 and Papakura Certified Scaffolding beat Onewhero Profarm 28-12.

Bombay U21 beat Papakura 19-13, Ardmore Marist cracked the 100 points beating Waihou 101-5, Te Aroha Old Boys defaulted to Karaka and Patumahoe beat Hauraki North 36-10.  In the Counties Power Game of the week Waihi beat Waiuku 27-22.  The PGG Wrightson man of the match was Charlie Connor and the GJ Gardner Good Bugger of the week award went to Dale (Budda) Loveridge.  In the U21 semi-finals Pukekohe host Manurewa and Karaka host Patumahoe. 

In the U19 Grade, Waiuku beat Onewhero Pak N Save 27-17, Pukekohe beat Onewhero Farmlands 26-5, Patumahoe beat Papakura 36- 10, Karaka beat Drury 50-7.