PREMIERS CONTINUE WINNING STREAK

Confidence was high in the Ponsonby camp going into the latest round of the Alan McEvoy qualifying competition. They had pulled off a last gasp win the previous week against Pakuranga, but this week they were facing a Marist side that were smarting after receiving an old fashion lesson In rugby in that past round by Eden.

Hopes of an open running and entertaining match looked to be dashed when the day dawned with torrential rain and blustery gales. Fortunately the rain did subside before the first whistle, so spectators did witness a reasonable clash in which Ponsonby were the victors by 29-3.

Ponsonby’s squad this week featured a number of changes from the previous round. Nepia Fox-Matamua, McCarthy Cocker-Filikitonga  and Willie Uili started in the pack, whilst the backline included promising Japanese halfback Tatsuya Hamano, Sione Fakapelea and Blues squad member Jordan Trainor, who had his first start of the season.

Both sides started strongly, and showed a willingness to run. Defensively each side was up to the task. It was Ponsonby that were first on the board with a penalty goal from a handy position from the boot of Wiseguy Faiane.

Much of the first spell was a dour affair with neither side able to gain any significant ascendancy. It was a case where possession changed hands on a regular basis and scoring opportunities were missed.

Marist had an opportunity late in the half to draw even on the scoreboard with a long range penalty goal, but the kick fell just short. William Talataina-Mu cleared from beneath the Ponsonby posts and from this point the blue and blacks launched an assault on the Marist territory. After several minutes on attack Ponsonby eventually crossed the goal line with McCarthy Cocker-Filikitonga scoring beneath the posts, which Faiane converted.

With the breeze at their backs Ponsonby started the second half positively and were able to string several good phases together. It wasn’t long before Jordan Trainor found a gap in the Marist defence and he strolled over the line untouched.

Marist slotted a handy penalty goal in the 54th minute of the match, their only points of the game.

Ponsonby’s third try of the game was scored by number eight Presley Tufuga. The blue and blacks had spent several minutes on attack, but were unable to penetrate the solid Marist defence. However they persisted and the points came.

In the final ten minutes of the fixture Ponsonby searched desperately for their fourth, and bonus point, try. Again the Marist defence was tough to breach. But the try came in the 76th minute when a scything Tufuga run, and excellent support from William Talataina-Mu, was finished off by Freedom Vaha’akolo.

Next week Ponsonby travel across town to Colin Maiden Park to face an old foe, University. In regular competition matches Ponsonby have been somewhat unlucky at Colin Maiden Park in recent seasons, but will be buoyed by their 27-20 semi-final win there a few weeks back in the Waka Nathan Challenge Cup. Last week University eventually swept Otahuhu aside by 52-5, but were made to work hard in the second half given the 5-5 score at the break.

PONSONBY: 29

Tries: McCarthy Cocker-Filikitonga, Presley Tufuga, Jordan Trainor and Freedom Vaha’akolo

Con: Wiseguy Faiane 3

Pen: Wiseguy Faiane

PONSONBY

1 Conner Halangahu; 2 Willie Uili; 3 Herman Huch; 4 Motieva Ngauamo;                                             5 McCarthy Cocker-Filikitonga; 6 Nepia Fox-Matamua; 7 Aleks Dabek; 8 Presley Tufuga;                  9 Tatsuya Hamano; 20 Wiseguy Faiane; 11 Morrison Siliko; 12 William Talataina-Mu;                          13 Sione Fakapelea; 14 Freedom Vaha’akolo;  15 Jordan Trainor; 16 Steven Savali;                             17 Brice Schilling; 18 Tipolo Jr Faalogo; 19 Matt Foote; 20 McCarthy Cocker-Filikitonga;                10 Campbell Woodmass; 211 Aleni Ropati; 22 Cole Garrick;

Remembering Ponsonby v Marist Gallaher Shield Final 1993

Sunday the 8th of August 1993 is a day that will be forever etched in the memories of folk from the Ponsonby and Marist clubs for years to come.

The scene was Eden Park, number one field.

Two of the heavy weights at the time of the grassroots competition had successfully progressed to the Gallaher Shield Final – the prized trophy of Auckland club rugby up for grabs.

It was appropriate that Ponsonby and Marist were drawn to meet in the final, an event that had happened on so many previous occasions.

With a break in the International rugby calendar, Marist seized the opportunity to stack their starting XV with no fewer than seven current or past All Blacks, with the addition of four Auckland representative players.

Ponsonby’s head coach, Lin Colling was well known as a deep thinker with an immense rugby brain. Colling pre-empted Marist’s selection policy, so called upon Ponsonby’s several Western Samoan Internationals, plus the one available All Black. The result on paper was a very impressive Ponsonby side.

The blue and blacks played the match at a frenetic pace, scoring five tries in all. They starved Marist of possession, and kept the All Black laden side on the back foot for the full 80 minutes.

Ponsonby scored an incredible 38 points in the match, and did not concede a solitary point.

Prior to this Saturday’s match between Ponsonby and Marist there is an informal gathering at Western Springs which will feature several of the players that took the field that day in addition to speeches by the respective captains. The event will commence at the Western Springs clubrooms at 12.30pm with a complimentary light luncheon.

The bar will be open and everyone is most welcome to attend.

The two teams from 1993 were:

PONSONBY                                                         MARIST

15 Alfred Uluinayau                                        15 Shane Howarth

14 Brian Lima                                                     14 John Kirwan

13 Martin Stanley                                            13 Waisake Sotutu

12 Herati Matipo                                              12 Bernie McCahill

11 Vai’aga Tuigamala                                      11 Terry Wright

10 Darren Kellett                                              10 Paul Doubleday

9  Junior Tonu’u                                                9  Des Allen

8  Ross Thompson                                           8  Zinzan Brooke

7  Milton Froggatt                                            7  Matthew Webber

6  Shem Tatupu                                                 6  Pat Lam/Dylan Mika

5  Jason Chandler                                             5  Stephen Lancaster

4  Daniel Manu                                                  4  Robin Brooke

3  Nick Mantell                                                  3  John Akurangi

2  Mike Turner                                                   2  Rudi Kapeli

1  Peter Buffalora                                             1  Kevin Nepia  

PONSONBY TRIUMPH OVER PAKURANGA IN THRILLER

Last Saturday’s second match of the Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield for Ponsonby saw them journey to Bell Park to tackle a belligerent Pakuranga side.

This contest went right down to the wire and featured a nail-biting final few minutes for both sides, but it was Ponsonby who dramatically snatched the win by 25-22 after trailing by 22-6 at the break.

A trip to Bell Park for a Ponsonby player and fan in recent seasons has not always been a pleasurable occurrence, but to experience such an emphatic come from behind victory is something that will be savoured for a long time. 

The Ponsonby coaching team made a handful of additions to the starting XV plus some positional changes, from that which had been successful against Waitakere City the previous week. Into the side came Conner Halangahu and Presley Tufuga, joining the forward pack, while Cole Garrick was named to start on the right wing. Once again, the energetic loose forward Aleks Dabek captained the side.

Spirits were high in the Pakuranga camp after seeing the two Premier Development sides compete in the curtain-raiser, which Pakuranga took by 50-17. Many felt that this may be the precursor of things to come.

Pakuranga had first use of a strong breeze, and they used it creatively.

Both sides had opportunities to register points in the opening 15 minutes, but errors were made at crucial times. Ponsonby were guilty of lineout throws not being straight, whilst Pakuranga blew a golden chance when a would be try scorer lost the ball from his clutches as he was able to dot down.

It was Ponsonby who were first on the board with a Wiseguy Faiane penalty goal from a handy position.

Pakuranga were the first to score a try, which came midway through the half when centre George Emosi, in his blazer game, strolled through some mediocre Ponsonby defence to score beneath the posts. Hawaii Ahokovi added the extra two points.

Buoyed by plenty of sideline encouragement, Pakuranga looked to be unstoppable. No sooner had they scored their first try, but they were determined to capitalise on their go forward momentum. They set sail down the right hand touch, and again exploited some deficiencies in the Ponsonby defensive pattern. The fullback Sam Shearer dotting down midway between the posts and the corner flag. The conversion in this instance drifted wide of the upright.

Behind by 12-3 on the scoreboard, Ponsonby were not helping themselves. In their haste to record more points they were conceding turnovers at crucial times, especially at lineout time, the breeze causing havoc during the lineout throw.

A few minutes short of the break Pakuranga crossed for their third try of the match, which was duly converted.

Faiane added a second penalty goal before the halftime whistle, but as the half was about to close, Ponsonby infringed and Pakuranga goaled from a handy position. At halftime Pakuranga had what seemed to be a commanding 22-6 lead.

Straight away from the second half restart Ponsonby infringed. Instead of accepting the three points on offer, Pakuranga chanced their arm and initiated an onslaught on the Ponsonby line. This attack lasted just over two minutes, and the blue and blacks emerged with their line intact.

Through the third quarter of the match, with the wind at their backs, Ponsonby tried valiantly to penetrate the Pakuranga defence, but their attempts were fruitless. The turning point in the match came in the 59th minute of the game, when Ponsonby were hot on attack and just metres from the Pakuranga line their left winger decided to disrupt the movement with an attempted intercept of a pass. Referee Angus Mabey deemed this to be a professional foul, and the winger earned himself ten minutes in the sinbin.

The ensuing penalty was drilled to touch, just five metres from the Pakuranga line. From the lineout, the forwards rallied round Willie Uili and he crashed over. Faiane could not add the extra two points, but Ponsonby were now in a position to strike.

Five minutes later Ponsonby looked hot to score again. From an attacking scrum a few metres from the Pakuranga line they constructed a superb move that saw replacement midfielder Sione Fakapelea carve through the defence and score beneath the posts, complete with a spectacular dive. Faiane converted, and Ponsonby were now just a few points behind at 22-18.

The last seven minutes of this match featured a tense spell that tested the nerves of the Ponsonby management and fans alike. This period of play saw Ponsonby set up camp deep in the Pakuranga half. The blue and blacks were masterful in the manner that they maintained possession. They dominated every facet of play for the dying moments of the match. They spent several minutes agonisingly close to the Pakuranga line, and attempted the ‘pick and go’ method on countless occasions, but the home side were equalled to the task. One side would inevitably crack. With time in the match virtually up, Ponsonby looked to be over the line, but Angus Mabey blew his whistle ruling a penalty in Pakuranga’s favour. Pakuranga were jubilant. They believed that they had the victory. But time was not up. From their line they cleared to touch and formed the lineout just shy of the 22 metre mark in their territory. But, they failed to win their throw to the lineout. Jamie Lane went high, stealing their feed. The ball went wide, and with a clever move by William Talataina-Mu, Ponsonby were in space and Freedom Vaha’akolo sailed through a gap to the line. An eerie silence reigned across the ground.  The sizeable crowd had been very vocal for the previous 79 minutes, but they were stunned.

Faiane converted the Vaha’akolo try, and Ponsonby had a 25-22 advantage.

All eyes were on the referee, expecting fulltime to be called.

But there was time to run. Pakuranga launched a last gasp effort on Ponsonby, but it was in vain.

Ponsonby had pulled off a Houdini act, and had the last say in the titanic tussle.

 They will now turn their attention to next week’s third round match against Marist at Western Springs Stadium. Marist started the competition in style with a nine try, 56-10 flogging of Otahuhu, but last week in the second round were brought back to earth when they went down to Eden by 47-15. Ponsonby played Marist on one occasion in 2017, with Ponsonby emerging from a tough encounter at Dunkirk Road by 23-21.

PONSONBY: 25

Tries: Willie Uili, Sione Fakapelea and Freedom Vaha’akolo

Conversions: Wiseguy Faiane 2

Penalties: Wiseguy Faiane 2

PAKURANGA: 22

PONSONBY

1 Conner Halangahu; 2 Steven Savali; 3 Herman Huch; 4 Jamie Lane; 5 Motieva Ngauamo;

6 Matt Foote; 7 Aleks Dabek; 8 Presley Tufuga; 9 Morrison Siliko; 10 Wiseguy Faiane;

11 Noah Mataia; 12 William Talataina-Mu; 13 Tili Puloka; 14 Cole Garrick; 15 Freedom Vaha’akola;

16 Willie Uili; 17 Brice Schilling; 18 Wilson Lavelua; 19 Tipolo Jr Faalogo;

20 McCarthy Cocker-Filikitonga; 21 Tatsuya Hamano; 22 Sione Fakapelea;

PREMIERS OPEN CAMPAIGN WITH SOLID VICTORY

PREMIERS OPEN CAMPAIGN WITH SOLID VICTORY

The Premiers kicked off their 2018 Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield competition last Saturday afternoon with a 58-3 win over Waitakere City. The blue and blacks scored ten tries in the demolition of the West Aucklanders and whilst the match was not always vintage rugby, the coaching team will be satisfied with the result and the five competition points.

The underfoot conditions would always be a factor in the match due to heavy rain leading to kick off. The inclement weather did subside before the opening exchanges, greatly aiding ball handling throughout the match.

Ponsonby were always going to have too much pace for the Waitakere City side, and the visitors cause was not helped when they lost a man to a ‘red card’ offence in just the sixth minute of the match. To their credit, they rallied on and played an expansive game, defending gallantly and disrupting Ponsonby’s game-plan regularly.

Ponsonby opened their scoring account in the third minute of the encounter when an attempted clearing kick by Waitakere City failed to find the touchline. Freedom Vaha’akolo, who was to become a dynamic attacking force from fullback in this game, gladly accepted the kick and took play deep into the visitor’s territory. Some good support followed and eventually space was created for Noah Mataia to stroll over in the left hand corner. The try went unconverted.

Vaha’akolo was a key in Ponsonby’s second try, when from an attacking scrum on the visitors 22 metre mark play went right and with an incisive break from the fullback, John Cooper was able to dot down in the right hand corner. This try also went unconverted.

Both playing ranks on the field were evened up midway through the first spell for ten minutes when Ponsonby lost Steven Savali to the sinbin for an infringement. During this period neither side was able to gain any ascendency, despite some promising attempts.

It wasn’t until the return of Savali to the onfield XV that Ponsonby were able to complete an assault on the visitor’s line. A driving maul to the line saw the skipper for the day, Aleks Dabek, emerge with the ball amidst a mass of bodies. The unconverted try saw the lead move to 15-0.

A few minutes later Vaha’akolo again was a key component in an attack on the visitors line. He made an incisive break down the right hand touch, freeing Cooper to score his second try of the afternoon.

Ponsonby’s one man advantage on the field was gradually becoming evident, as almost immediately another try scoring opportunity came, finished off by the lock Moteiva Ngauamo.

The sides turned at the break with Ponsonby leading by 25-0, having scored five unconverted tries.

Just one minute into the new half Ponsonby extended their lead further. From the restart by the visitors, an extensive interchange swept up the field. The move featured a clean break through the midfield by Tili Puloka, in addition to the handling and support of most of the forward pack, the 70 metre move was eventually finished off under the posts by Morrison Siliko. Cooper added the extra two points.

Ponsonby’s seventh try was scored by replacement hooker Willie Uili. Jamie Lane dragged the ball down from the lineout a few metres from the Waitakere City line. A rolling maul ensued, and as he has done so often in the past, Uili skilfully eased the maul to the line and crashed over. Cooper again converted, stretching his side’s advantage to 39-0.

The eighth try was finished off by the winger Cooper, who was enjoying the opportunity to run in the open spaces. A deft break by William Talataina-Mu, scything through the defence, and in support was Cooper who had come to the left hand side of the field to score his third of the match. The try went unconverted, and Ponsonby had now raced out to a 44-0 lead.

With 12 minutes to go, Waitakere City was awarded a penalty 30 metres out from their line. Rather than attempt a five or seven pointer, they opted for the three points on offer.

Talataina-Mu displayed his pace and skills when he sprinted down the right hand touch as one of the key contributors in his side’s ninth try. The extended move was completed under the posts by replacement tight forward Tipolo Jr Faalogo. Cooper added the additional two points, and the blue and blacks now lead by 51-3, and Cooper had bagged 21 for the match.

With time almost up, Ponsonby were awarded a five metre scrum, and as the scrum drove toward the line a Waitakere City forward saw the opportunity to disrupt the promising move. Referee Angus Mabey saw no option but award a penalty try.

Ponsonby will be encouraged by the 58-3 hiding of Waitakere City, and will be buoyed by the exciting talent in the 2018 ranks, which may see a selection headache or two for the coaching team and management. They will now focus their attention to next week’s opponent, Pakuranga, which is to be played on their home ground at Bell Park. Pakuranga had a satisfying 50-8 win on Saturday over East Tamaki at the East Tamaki Domain. Ponsonby did battle with Pakuranga on two occasions in 2017. The honours in the first encounter in April, played at Pakuranga, were taken by the homeside by 31-13. In the second, played in July at Western Springs, Ponsonby were the victors by 37-19.

PONSONBY: 58

Tries: J Cooper 3, N Mataia, A Dabek, M Ngauamo, M Siliko, W Uili, J Faalogo. Penalty try.

Con: J Cooper 3

PONSONBY:

1. R Cobb; 2. S Savali; 3. H Huch; 4. M Ngauamo; 5. J Lane; 6. W Riedlinger-Kapa; 7. M Foote

8. A Dabek; 9. M Siliko; 10. W Faiane; 11. N Mataia; 12. W Talataina-Mu; 13. T Puloka;

14. J Cooper; 15. F Vaha’akolo; 16. B Schilling; 17. C Halangahu; 18. W Uili;

19. T Jr Faalogo; 20. M Cocker-Filikitonga; 21. T Hamano; 22. S Fakapelea 

PREMIERS WIN WAKA NATHAN CHALLENGE CUP

The 2018 season started positively for the Premier side when they successfully claimed the Waka Nathan Challenge Cup last Saturday afternoon, edging a belligerent Eden side in the final by 34-30. Ponsonby’s path to the final saw them trounce Manukau Rovers by 70-14 in the opening round back on the 17th of March, then a week later in the semi-final they overcame University in a thriller by 27-20. Eden were always going to be a tough opponent for Ponsonby, and they had progressed to the Waka Nathan Challenge Cup final with impressive victories over Suburbs and College Rifles.

Played at Fearon Park in Mt Roskill, Eden had first use of a blustery westerly breeze, and for much of the first spell they used it creatively.

But it was the blue and blacks that registered the first match points when Connor Halangahu barged over in the second minute.

Eden responded within minutes with a converted try. An attempted Ponsonby clearing kick from their 22 metre line was charged down by Eden first five eighth Adrian Lole, who successfully pounced on the ball before it drifted over the dead ball line.

Eden further extended their lead to 13-5 with a two penalty goals and with the advantage on the scoreboard and the wind at their back Eden were showing some tremendous determination.

However a miscued pass during an Eden attack saw possession shift Ponsonby’s way, and the result was a gem of a try. The ball bounced off the legs of an Eden tight forward into the arms of the Ponsonby midfielder Sione Fakapelea who placed a well-timed kick ahead for the speedsters to chase. The winger Johnny Cooper displayed some blistering pace to beat the covering defenders to the line for the try, which went unconverted.

Jamie Lane was a dominant figure in the lineouts, and he neatly claimed the restart following the Cooper try. A superb passage of play which extended some 50 metres ensued, including some excellent work by the livewire flanker Aleks Dabek. The entertaining move was finished off by Taina Fox-Matamua who touched down alongside the posts. Cooper added the extra two points, putting Ponsonby back in front on the scoreboard at 17-13.

Shortly before the break Jamie Lane was shown a yellow card, which allowed Eden to capitalise. They crossed in the right-hand corner, which the fullback Max Leaana converted with ease from the sideline.

Early in the second spell Eden further extended their lead to 23-17 with another Leaana penalty.

As the spell progressed Ponsonby started to gain some ascendency over the very physical and resolute Eden side. It was not until the 15th minute of the half that Ponsonby were able to crack the Eden defence with a well worked try from a five metre scrum. Play went wide to the unmarked replacement Noah Mataia who crossed for the five pointer.

Eden held onto their slender 23-22 advantage approaching the ¾ mark in the match, and a missed penalty goal at that time from a handy location was to prove costly.

William Talataina-Mu joined the team from the bench in the final quarter and immediately added some impetus. A superb break freed Patrick Tausie for a well-constructed try, which Cooper converted, giving Ponsonby a 29-23 lead with ten minutes to play.

In the final moments of the match Wiseguy Faiane placed a clever crossfield kick behind the defence for Cooper to run on to. The right winger once again outpaced his opposites, and pounced on the ball in the right-hand corner.

Eden managed to cross for a late converted try, but Ponsonby had successfully done the hard work and secured the 34-30 win in emphatic style.

Ponsonby will now turn their attention to the opening round of the Alan McEvoy Memorial Trophy which commences next Saturday afternoon at Western Springs Stadium. Based on the exciting talent that will be wearing the blue and black hoops in 2018, Ponsonby’s fixture against the first up opponent, Waitakere City, is sure to be an entertaining match.

PONSONBY: 34

Tries: Johnny Cooper 2, Connor Halangahu, Taina Fox-Matamua, Noah Mataia and Patrick Tausie

Conversions: Johnny Cooper 2