Seeing double the rugby action
A double-header at Maramarua features as the Counties Power game of the week in the Counties Manukau Rugby competition as all four sides in Premier 3 square off at the one venue.
A popular addition to this year’s championship is seeing both Premier 3 games played at the same venue so all four sets of supporters can come together and see the teams play.
The initiative is the brain child of Puni Rugby Club stalwart Jack Kani.
‘‘It has really been helping our team. The young boys are really excited before and after the game to see a lot of people at the venue.’’
‘‘I approached the other clubs and told them if we play at one venue with two games and four clubs it will create a bit of atmosphere,’’ Kani said.
‘‘It has really been helping our team. The young boys are really excited before and after the game to see a lot of people at the venue.’’
Maramarua club president Russell Hana agrees and thinks the concept has worked really well and encouraged the fourteam competition.
‘‘There is a very good group of people to be working with among these clubs,’’ Hana said.
‘‘It is really good having all four clubs at the one club each week.’’
Maramarua plays host to the games this week and the home team faces a tough challenge from Te Kohanga with Hana expecting a close contest.
‘‘They have a strong forward pack and a young back line and we expect a big challenge.
‘‘We have a core group that comes to training every week and are pretty fit,’’ Hana said.
‘‘We are hoping that our fitness will get on top of them in the end.’’
Puni, who are yet to win a game, come up against the unbeaten Weymouth side this week and Kani knows it will be a big challenge.
‘‘The talent is really raw and they are just trying to knit in together,’’ Kani said.
‘‘Weymouth is a very good team. They come with that experience of being in the premiers for the last few years.
Weymouth coach Mike Tuua is looking long term as he attempts to grow the club again.
‘‘We are rebuilding as well and there are some young players as well. Our goal is to get our club back in prems at some stage.’’
In Premier 1 action there are several spicy match-ups with second-placed Bombay meeting fifth-placed Onewhero, thirdplaced Karaka hosting seventhplaced Pukekohe and fourthplaced Ardmore-Marist taking on sixth-placed Manurewa.