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Victory in the final moment for Patumahoe - your Weekend Rugby Wrap

Bombay Super Freight bounced back to winning ways with a comfortable 34-17 win over Onewhero Summit Homes in McNamara Cup action on Saturday.

The 2019 champions had suffered successive losses heading into the banana skin game against a spirited Onewhero side that are struggling for playing numbers and shot out of the blocks quickly with three tries in the opening quarter.

The visitors continued to show fight however and scored a nice try to stay in the hunt before the break.

The second half was scrappy and Bombay did enough to secure the points while Onewhero fullback Sam Shuker was rewarded for his good form with a double.

Bombay coach Sam Aiono conceded his side was a long way from its best but he was pleased to secure the win.

“Frustrating but like we say every week, we will take the win,” Aiono said. “A win is better than a loss but a lot of work ons for next week.

“I am pretty happy [with the first month] – we have had a lot of boys pulling out with injuries and we are slowly getting them all back so we struggled for a couple of weeks but we are starting to look good now.

“Our seven Brashy and Cole and then Vai our winger stood out today.”

Former Highlanders and PIC Steelers prop Kalolo Tuiloma enjoyed a superb game, looking fit and had a high work-rate.

“It was good to have Kalolo back out there,” Aiono said.

“We have got six or seven boys back from last year but the rest are new boys so a lot of learning and combinations to work out.”

Patumahoe Troydon Patumahoe Hotel took until the final minute to secure victory over Papakura Thirsty Liquor at Massey Park thanks to a dropped goal from skipper Riley Hohepa.

The visitors scored a pair of early tries before Papakura fought back to make a game of it.

They drew level with a late try and had the go-ahead conversion bounce back off the posts.

Hohepa then delivered the game-winner with time gone on the clock to break Papakura hearts.

“I was happy with our start to the game,” coach Reon Graham. “In the second half we were put under a lot of pressure and Papakura kept coming at us.

“I was very happy with the way we kept our composure to close out the game but there is a lot to work on ahead of an in-form Manurewa.

“Dylan Leckner, against his old club, had another solid performance and the 9-10 combo of Liam Daniela and Riley Hohepa directed the team well especially when it mattered at the end.

“Joe [Royal] led from the front again as well so all of our Counties reps stepped up when it counted.”

George Crichton had a hat-trick for the home side.

“Kerry [Petrie] and the team are doing a great job building the culture at Papakura,” Graham said.

Karaka maintained their unbeaten run to start the season with a hard-fought 15-8 win over Waiuku Land & Sea Civil in a quality contest at Rugby Park in Waiuku.

There was little between the two in-form sides but Karaka did enough to stay as the only side yet to taste defeat in 2021.

“A real battle, which is pretty traditional when we go out there,” Karaka coach Craig Hill said. “Waiuku defended really well and were a handful as indicated by the score.

“It was a different sort of game – starting really open with both teams playing with pace. As the game went on it became more set piece oriented with a number of penalties.”

Manurewa Kidd Contracting kept in touch with Karaka as they trounced Weymouth 97-5 at Mountfort Park.

They scored 15 tries in total in the one-sided result over their neighbours with Aseli Tikoirotuma scoring a hat-trick.

Weymouth earned a try however that serves as reward for a side that made the step up to the Premiership at the 11^th hour.

“Credit to Weymouth for playing out the 80 minutes – the score line didn’t reflect the game really,” said Manurewa coach Jeremy Clark.

“We got a solid platform from our pack and the backs finished off some good set piece and some good counter attack.”

Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors bounced back from last week’s narrow defeat to Karaka to beat Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega 40-15 in a convincing performance at Bruce Pulman Park.

Coach Doug Sanft was disappointed with his side’s attitude and effort the week earlier and demanded more from his players this week.

“It was a lot better this week,” Sanft said.

“It was an OK performance. We are still trying to build and correct some stuff.

“We concentrated on having better physicality this week and I was pleased with that.”

Te Kohanga made a dream start to the Championship season and return to senior rugby as they beat Puni 37-24 in the Counties Power Game of the Week.

They picked up the Blackie Cooper Memorial Shield in the process, much to the delight of a huge home crowd that turned up in support.

Ray Hira was named the AS Wilcox & Sons player of the day and took home some local produce for his efforts.

Drury turned some heads with a 58-8 thumping of Maramarua at Maramarua while Te Kauwhata Proclad earned a 47-5 win over Manurewa at Mountfort Park.

Papakura Thirsty Liquor were too strong for Tuakau 12-5 at Tuakau while Patumahoe Village Bar & Grill enjoyed a 43-26 win over Pukekohe.

Patumahoe Dave Redshaw Electrical produced arguably the performance of the weekend as they beat Manurewa Wise Property Management 61-20. What made the result so extraordinary is Patumahoe had been forced to default the game earlier in the week due to a lack of numbers but were boosted late by a handful of U85kg players that made it possible to play.

Karaka edged Bombay Pokeno Bacon 31-29 while Ardmore Marist defeated Pukekohe 33-25.

Pukekohe had a better time of it in Massey Cup U21 action as they beat Karaka 33-26. Manurewa Barfoot & Thompson and Patumahoe CJM Construction battled out a 13-13 draw while Papakura Thirsty Liquor beat Waiuku 36-7.

Onewhero edged Waiuku 7-3 in a tight U85kg battle while elsewhere Karaka beat Beachlands Maraetai 29-3 and Pukekohe beat Papakura 41-10.

Manurewa flexed their muscles in Women’s action with a 103-0 thumping of Grammar TEC. Ardmore Marist beat Papakura 42-0 while Patumahoe earned a 17-17 draw with Eden.

Papakura 0-42 Ardmore Marist

Counties Power Club Rugby Results 1 May 2021:

McNamara Cup (Premiership):

Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors 40-15 Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega Pukekohe

Waiuku Land & Sea Civil 8-15 Karaka

Bombay Super Freight 34-17 Onewhero Summit Homes

Papakura Thirsty Liquor 17-20 Patumahoe Troydon Patumahoe Hotel

Manurewa Kidd Contracting 97-5 Weymouth

Sid Marshall Shield (Championship)

Maramarua 8-58 Drury

Te Kohanga 37-24 Puni (Counties Power Game of the Week)

Tuakau 5-12 Papakura Thirsty Liquor