PONSONBY v GRAMMAR-TEC 29 APRIL 2017

This Saturday afternoon Ponsonby host an old foe, Grammar-Tec at the Western Springs Stadium. The Premiers kick off at 2.45pm, and the Premier Development sides and the Under 20 sides meet at 1.00pm.

The Ponsonby Premiers played Grammar-Tec twice in 2016, the blue and blacks registering wins on both occasions. The first came in May when Ponies won by 40-33, and then a month later they overcame their opposites by 23-20.

Coming into this match Grammar-Tec had recorded two wins from two outings – firstly 23-22 over Otahuhu and a 29-19 success at the expense of Waitakere City in the second round. By their own admission, these victories had been rather fortuitous over two sides that have traditionally languished at the lower end of the competition table in recent seasons.

The Ponsonby starting XV for this match includes a handful of personnel changes in the backs from that which started against University last Saturday. Danny Tusitala and Pat Tausie move from the bench to start at halfback and centre respectively, and Pryor Collier switches to fullback for this match. Ben Meredith has his first start of the season on the right wing, with former Waikato Juniors representative Cole Garrick featuring on the left wing.

1.Steven Savali

2.Charles Napa'a

3.Marco Fepulea'i

4.Tom Fisiihoi

5.Jamie Lane

6.Waharai Waitohi (c)

7.Aleks Dabek

8.Presley Tufuga

9.Danny Tusitala

10.William Talataina-Mu

11.Cole Garrick

12.Keenan Masina

13.Patrick Tausie

14.Ben Meredith

15.Pryor Collier

16.Jacob Scott

17.Alex Matapo

18.Moteiva Ngauamo

19.Taina Fox-Matamua

20.Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa

21.Shigeru Kohiyama

22.Freedom Vaha'akolo

PREMIERS FALL SHORT AGAINST UNIVERSITY

The Ponsonby Premiers came up short on the scoreboard against University in the second round of the 2017 club competition, going down by 20-12 at Western Springs on Saturday afternoon.

After falling to Pakuranga in the first round two weeks earlier, Ponsonby would have been seeking a polished performance, with a greater defensive effort. Against the students Ponsonby produced a mammoth defensive effort, but on attack the all-important accuracy and execution was absent.

On paper Ponsonby fielded a very exciting side, including Blues squad member Jordan Trainor at fullback. However Trainor’s appearance was brief, being forced from the field early in the match with a nasty injury. The pack for this game included the very athletic Tom Fisi’ihoi, who last ran out for the Ponsonby Premiers in 2015. The experience gained by Fisi’ihoi overseas was evident as he added some much needed impetus at scrum time.

University enjoyed a lion share of possession throughout the match, feeding off numerous Ponsonby errors, however for 39 minutes of the first spell the visitors could only register three points, being a penalty goal from the boot of Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald.

Ponsonby were forced to defend their line in the dying moments of the first half, and right on the stroke of halftime University took a quick tap penalty and the try was scored. The successful conversion gave them a 10-0 advantage at the break.

In the first minute of the second spell William Talataina-Mu goaled a superb 44 metre penalty to put the blue and blacks on the board. However another attempt just three minutes later fell short.

Approaching the midway point of the half, Ponsonby were reduced to 14 men when Presley Tufuga was despatched to the sinbin. The ensuing penalty was goaled by Elkington-MacDonald, extending the University lead to 13-3.

Whilst Ponsonby were down to 14 men, Talataina-Mu added two more penalty goals in the 61st and 68th minute bringing Ponsonby closer on the scoreboard at 13-9 down.  A further penalty goal by the Ponsonby flyhalf took his side closer at 13-12 with eightminutes to play.

However a converted try in the last few moments against the run of play by University sealed the victory for them.

Next Saturday afternoon Ponsonby host Grammar-Tec, who were not totally convincing in the last round against a resurgent Waitakere City side. Grammar-Tec trailed by 16-11 at halftime, but two second half tries saw them run out the victors by 29-19.

In last Saturday afternoon’s curtain-raiser at Western Springs the Ponsonby Premier Reserves defeated their University opposites by 25-19.

UNIVERSITY 20

Tries: Brenton Helleur and Conor McCowan

Conversions: Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald 2

Penalties: Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald 2

PONSONBY: 12

Penalties: William Talataina-Mu 4

BAR MANAGER/ FRONTLINE SUPERSTAR

About the Company

Establishedin1874,  PonsonbyRugby Club is the Auckland Union's oldest and most successful rugby club. We are centrally and conveniently located, near the motorway on/off ramps with plenty of off street parking and easy access to the CBD. Consistency positive attitude and people are some of the key driving forces behind the club's success.

About the Role

•           Provide top quality customer service

•           Train and develop your bar staff team

•            Be able to price and calculate costs of the products

•           Stock take and ordering

About the Candidate

•            Will have a background in a similar role

•            Valid GM certificate

•            Available to work various shifts which include nights & weekends

•           Highly organised with solid leadership and people skills

•            Positive can do attitude

•            Clear spoken English

•             New Zealand Residency or valid work permit

•            Good presentation

If this sounds like an environment that you'd be happy to work in do not hesitate and APPLY NOW!!!

Sandra loane

E: admin@ponsonbyrugby.co.nz 

No later than 27 April 2017, 5.00pm.