Paty’s needed win over Karaka
Patumahoe scored well after 80 minutes had ticked over to bag a vital 18-15 win over Karaka in the Counties Power Game of the Week in Saturday’s Counties Manukau club rugby premier round.
The home side never led the match until the final play when they scored on the back of a sustained period of attack as Karaka fought hard to hold them out.
Eventually the weight of possession took its toll and a try that all but guarantees Patumahoe of a semifinal spot was scored.
‘‘I was obviously willing them on from the other end of the field but I have a lot of belief in this team and these boys have a lot of belief in themselves and that is what we have done – encourage the boys to make decisions for themselves out on the field,’’ coach Reon Graham said.
‘‘It is something we put a lot of emphasis on – doing everything to the max and playing through the line if you will.’’
The match was played in good spirits between the neighbouring clubs and featured a playoff atmosphere and intensity throughout.
Broc Hooper controlled the Patumahoe attack well from first-five while Tamati Fromm, Willie Furniss and the Royal brothers were involved in everything.
Manurewa secured a bonus point 58-19 win over Onewhero to join Patumahoe in a share of second on the McNamara Cup standings.
‘‘Last week we had the bye so we kind of knew we would be a bit rusty,’’ Manurewa coach Jeremy Clark said.
‘‘We had to be really on our game to get five points and to give ourselves the best shot at a home semifinal.’’
The home side ran in 10 tries in the victory including a hattrick to winger Willie Tuala and doubles to Joshua Tafili and Pisi Leilua.
The trio tops the AS Wilcox Leaderboard – Tuala has a stunning 19 tries on the season while Tafili (17) and Leilua (10) are not far behind.
‘‘I think they (the outside backs) are there and getting final touches and putting themselves in a position to score tries but the team is helping provide those chances,’’ Clark said.
‘‘The forward pack has been laying the platform for the backs to take advantage. ‘‘It is hard to single guys out as individuals.’’
Manurewa meets Patumahoe this week at Mountfort Park in a battle between the second and third ranked sides with a home semifinal very much up for grabs.
Four-time defending champions Bombay did their part to keep a hold of a semifinal spot with a 36-17 win over Papakura at Massey Park.
They scored six tries in the win to crucially grab a bonus point in what is starting to look like a head-to-head race with Karaka for a semifinal spot.
‘‘They took it to us and played really well,’’ Bombay coach Jeff Marr said. ‘‘It was a good competitive game and we took it as an opportunity to rotate our squad a little bit and we got a fair bit out of it.
‘‘I think Papakura have improved considerably over the past couple of years and are not easy-beats now.’’
Results went Bombay’s way over the weekend with Karaka losing to Patumahoe and Pukekohe falling to Waiuku. It means that they can probably win their last two games and make the semifinals.
‘‘We are in that position now,’’ Marr admitted.
‘‘Those results probably did help us but Karaka has three more games and we only have two. Puke has got two and one of them is against us.
‘‘If we want to take our place in the top four we want to win these last two games and not limp into the semifinals.’’
Waiuku secured a big win at home over Pukekohe to all but end the latter’s semifinal chances.
There was little between the two sides at the break with the game locked up at 8-8 but Waiuku took their opportunities in the second half and recorded a narrow victory.
The Waiuku Premier 2 side tipped over top-of-the-table Puke- kohe 17-10 in the performance of the round in Bob Chandler action.
That loss sees the competition close up behind Pukekohe on the ladder.
Patumahoe produced a superb performance as they beat Karaka 31-21 to move into third position on the standings.
Manurewa thrashed Onewhero 66-0 to cement their position in the top four while Papakura proved too strong for Bombay 20-3 in their clash.
Drury enjoyed a 43-21 win over Maramarua in Premier 3 play while Te Kauwhata kept their top two aspirations alive with a 52-15 win over Puni.
Karaka took a vital 24-23 win over Pukekohe in an enthralling Massey Cup Under 21 match at Karaka Sports Complex that takes Karaka to within three points of the competition lead in third.
It also sees Pukekohe’s advantage fall to a solitary point.
Patumahoe holds second place thanks to a 46-0 win over Papakura.
Waiuku snuck a narrow 17-15 win over Bombay in Under 85kg action. Karaka held out Pukekohe 19-12 in a match that had playoff implications while top-ofthe-table Patumahoe routed Papakura 37-10.
It means that Papakura, Karaka and Pukekohe will fight out semifinal order behind Patumahoe over the last couple of weeks.