Young guns spark up rugby rivals

Another chapter will be written into the Pukekohe v Patumahoe rugby rivalry this weekend as the two clubs’ Under 21 sides square-off in the Counties Power game of the week.

In a replay of last year’s championship final, Pukekohe will host their near neighbours in a game that attracts significant local interest.

The two rival clubs will clash across all three grades at Colin Lawrie Fields in Pukekohe on Saturday – Premier 1, Premier 2 and Under 21s.

With many of the Under 21 players from each side going through school together or being from the same social circles this fixture always has a little bit more riding on it than a regular weekend game.

Barney Te Tai’s Under 21 Patumahoe side is unbeaten so far this season and is determined to

‘‘It is a good, strong, healthy rivalry and we expect the usual tough encounter against them on Saturday ... The intensity always seems to go up a notch when these two sides meet and we'll enjoy the tough test on the field as well as the camaraderie off it afterwards.’’

try and get one back after being beaten convincingly in last year’s title game.

‘‘We have made a really strong start to the year but we know that the games at the end of the season will determine whether we achieve our goals or not,’’ Te Tai said.

Te Tai enjoys the clashes with Pukekohe and speaks highly of the long-standing rivalry between the two clubs.

‘‘It is a good, strong, healthy rivalry and we expect the usual tough encounter against them on Saturday.

‘‘The intensity always seems to go up a notch when these two sides meet and we’ll enjoy the tough test on the field as well as the camaraderie off it afterwards.’’

Pukekohe Under 21s lie second on the table – three points behind Patumahoe.

‘‘We’ve got a very young team – our youngest player just turned 18 last week - so we are at the younger end of the spectrum for Under 21s,’’ Pukekohe team manager John Le Prou said.

‘‘Patty has obviously been running pretty well this year – unbeaten – so we are looking forward to testing our younger side against Patty and see how far along our evolution for this year is.’’

The key match-up in Premier 1 action sees second-placed Bombay meet third-placed Karaka up the hill at Bombay.

Southern neighbours Onewhero and Te Kauwhata will battle it out to claim the famous gumboot.