Leading sides battle for home semi-final

Leading sides battle for home semi-final

Leading sides Pukekohe and Karaka square off this Saturday in a game that has big ramifications when it comes to hosting a semi-final in the McNamara Cup this season.

The two sides played out a brilliant tit-for-tat game at Karaka Sports Complex earlier in the season and will be in for a big battle at Colin Lawrie Fields this week.

Both teams have secured a semi-final berth but now the battle is on to grab an all-important home semi-final.

Pukekohe, who are yet to lose a game this season, are coming off the bye while Karaka accounted for Bombay at home last weekend.

Patumahoe heads to Bombay having moved to the top of the standings with a win over Ardmore Marist last week.

Bombay led for the first half last time the two sides met and will be desperate to cause an upset and get back into a top four position, having fallen out of the semi-final spot last week.

Manurewa has the chance to skip clear of Bombay in the battle for fourth spot should they beat Ardmore Marist at Bruce Pulman Park.

Coming off arguably their best performance of the season last week, Jeremy Clark’s side will be fired up to put in a big performance.

Three games of Bob Chandler Cup Premier Reserves are scheduled with Bombay looking to knock over top seeds Patumahoe to jump back in front of Manurewa in a battle for fourth.

Manurewa travels to Ardmore Marist while Pukekohe hosts Karaka.

Te Kauwhata has the chance to make a serious play for a top four spot in the Sid Marshall Shield competition when they host Patumahoe at Te Kauwhata.

Fresh off a big win last week, Te Kauwhata needs to bank maximum points to keep their charge going.

Top side Drury hosts fellow top four outfit Waiuku while Weymouth travels to Onewhero in games that will have a big impact at the top of the standings.

Te Kohanga hosts neighbours Tuakau in a must-win game to keep them in the playoff calculations while Manurewa travels to Maramarua.

Pukekohe hosts Karaka in Massey Cup U21 action in what is the Counties Energy Game of the Week. The top ranked Karaka side has been the class of the competition so far this year but Pukekohe are their closest rivals.

Elsewhere, Patumahoe travels to Manurewa while Papakura hosts Ardmore Marist.

The U85kg grade takes a pause this week for National U85 Cup action – local sides Patumahoe and Ardmore Marist square off at Onewhero from 1pm while Onewhero takes on Grammar TEC in the other game at the same venue.