Premiers rampant over Otahuhu

The last match of the first round competition last Saturday had the Ponsonby Premiers drawn to face Otahuhu at Sturges Park. This match was essentially a clash between the team at the top of the table (Ponsonby) and the team at the bottom of the table. Ponsonby had already secured a spot in the Alan McEvoy Trophy round, so there was nothing at stake in this fixture, apart from Ponsonby wanting to retain their unbeaten record in 2018.

The Premiers crossed for 14 tries in the 84-10 spectacle, with winger Noah Mataia registering a hat trick. In a match which was extremely one-sided, the game was played with tremendous spirit and featured very few penalties.

This match saw a handful of changes to the run on squad from that which had performed so well against Eden in the previous round. Waha Waitohi, Brice Schilling and Tili Puloka were promoted from the bench to start against Otahuhu, whilst Noah Mataia was called into the team to cover for the unavailable Jordan Trainor.

Ponsonby’s first try of the match came in the opening minute, and from this moment the points came at a regular clip. A Ponsonby clearing kick was knocked on by Otahuhu, the ball falling into the arms of Steven Savali who charged down the right hand touchline. Play halted momentarily, and then went left, then back right again, reaching Savali who crossed the line. William Talataina-Mu converted.

The second try came in the 12th minute when the captain Aleks Dabek completed a move which had seen Ponsonby spend a lengthy period on attack.

Rocky Khan scored Ponsonby’s third try of the game, which was the result of an 80 metre sweeping move. Talataina-Mu initiated an entertaining passage of play, which included a strong burst by Taina Fox-Matamua. Khan slipped in at the right hand corner, the try being converted by Talataina-Mu, in what was his last act of the game, succumbing to a shoulder injury.

No sooner had Talataina-Mu retired from the game, his replacement Matai Fakautoki scored Ponsonby’s fourth, and bonus point try. The blue and blacks were awarded a penalty 25 metres from the Otahuhu line. A quick tap was taken, play going wide to Morrison Siliko who drew the final defender then offloading to Fakautoki to cross the line. Tili Puloka converted extending the score to 31-0.

Otahuhu recorded their first points of the game when they goaled a handy penalty in the 33rd minute.

From the restart Ponsonby went into the attack mode featuring a move that stretched 50 metres and some superb interchanging between backs and forwards. The move was finished by Puloka who dotted down beneath the posts, and then converted by Khan.

The Otahuhu restart failed to go the required 10 metres, Ponsonby being awarded a scrum on the halfway mark. From this scrum an incisive Siliko break took play agonisingly close to the Otahuhu line. Play went left to the left wing for Noah Mataia to cross in the corner. Khan added the extra points, extending the score to 45-3.

Early in the second spell Taina Fox-Matamua crashed over, followed in quick succession by Noah Mataia who scored his second, recording Ponsonby’s seventh and eighth tries of the match respectively.

With Ponsonby having the go forward impetus, players were rested and several others were injected to the game from the bench. One of the replacement props, Daniel Mau’u, charged over in the 53rd minute. The try was converted by replacement halfback Campbell Woodmass.

Morrison Siliko was having an outstanding match from fullback and was making tremendous territory on his many scything runs. Ponsonby took a quick tap penalty in the 57th minute, play going wide to Siliko to cross in the right hand corner.

A few minutes later Ponsonby were awarded a penalty just inside the Otahuhu half, the ball being drilled toward the corner. From the ensuing lineout the forwards drove to the line, Brice Schilling emerging with the ball in hand.

Otahuhu scored their solitary try of the game in the 68th minute from a tap penalty much to the delight of the home crowd, Ponsonby powerless to stop their momentum.

In the final ten minutes of the match Ponsonby crossed for their last two tries, the first by replacement winger Sam Tabuatamata then the last by Noah Mataia who registered his third.

Ponsonby now advance to the Alan McEvoy competition, the seven match round-robin starts next Saturday. In the competition the blue and blacks will square off with home games against Suburbs, University, Pakuranga and College Rifles, and away games against Suburbs, Grammar-Tec and Waitemata. Ponsonby will meet Grammar-Tec at their Orakei home ground at the earlier kick off time of 1.45pm next Saturday.

Ponsonby: 84

Tries: Noah Mataia 3, Morrison Siliko 2, Steven Savali, Aleks Dabek, Tili Puloka, Rocky Khan, Matai Fakautoki, Daniel Mau’u, Taina Fox-Matamua, Brice Schilling and Sam Tabuatamata

Conversions: William Talataina-Mu 2, Rocky Khan 3, Tili Puloka, Campbell Woodmass

PONSONBY

1 Connor Halangahu; 2 Steven Savali; 3 Brice Schilling; 4 Jamie Lane; 5 Moteiva Ngauamo;

6 Waha Waitohi; 7 Aleks Dabek; 8 Taina Fox-Matamua; 9 Tatsuya Hamano;

10 Rocky Khanl 12 William Talataina-Mu; 11 Noah Mataia; 13 Patrick Tausie; 14 Tili Puloka;

 15 Morrison Siliko;

16 Willie Uili; 17 Daniel Mau’u; 18 Sam Slade; 19 TJ Faalogo;  20 Campbell Woodmass;  

21 Matai Fakautoki;  22 Sam Tabuatamata

Premiers advance to top of competition table

Saturday’s top of the table clash produced the right result for the Ponsonby Premiers against incumbent competition leaders Eden, in the second to last match of the qualifying round of the Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield. Both Ponsonby and Eden had qualified for the next round, so at stake for Ponsonby was the opportunity to leapfrog Eden and claim the top spot heading to the final round. The two sides had successfully won five from five in this competition, Eden claiming the distinction of earning a bonus point in each match.

The four try bonus point 27-5 win sees Ponsonby with six victories in this round, and the outlook for the next round looks extremely positive. Despite the 2-1 penalty count against them, Ponsonby were able to dominate against Eden in most facets of play for two thirds of the match.

The Ponsonby coaching team had the luxury of fielding their strongest available XV for this fixture after several players were unavailable and rested in last week’s match against East Tamaki. Of significance was the appearance of sevens star Rocky Khan in the number ten jersey, who donned the blue and black at this level for the first time since 2014. Khan had 58 previous appearances for Ponsonby at this level and his experience was invaluable in this encounter.

Freedom Vaha’akolo had the honour of leading the team onto the stadium in what was in 40th and blazer game. Sadly his appearance was cut short with an injury forcing him from the field early on.

Eden found themselves with a handful of early penalty goals which allowed them to attack at will. They attacked for much of the first ten minutes and looked to flourish once inside the Ponsonby 22. Alas they conceded a turnover, and the blue and blacks launched a counter attack. Tatsuya Hamano raced away from broken play 20 metres from his own line, the passing to William Talataina-Mu who placed a well timed wipers kick away from the Eden defenders, the ball dribbling out 15 metres inside the Eden half. Ponsonby stole the Eden lineout, and a superb Talataina-Mu break then freed Rocky Khan to sprint to the line and dot down under the bar. Jordan Trainor added the extra two points giving his side a handy 7-0 lead.

With the ball in hand Ponsonby looked dangerous, and extremely entertaining, both backs and forwards producing some silky skills.

Taina Fox-Matamua displayed some gritty determination when he scored Ponsonby’s second try. Ponsonby had spent several minutes on attack deep inside the Eden half. Fox-Matamua had a wee bit of room to move along the left hand touch, and with a couple of defenders in tow he charged to the line.

Ponsonby scored their third try just short of the halftime whistle, with Fox-Matamua a dominant figure in the 50 metre move. He made significant territory, throwing a dummy pass as he drew the final two defenders, then offloading to Morrison Siliko who ran unmarked to the line. Trainor converted, stretching the lead to 19-0, which Ponsonby took to the break.

Nine minutes into the second spell Trainor added a penalty goal from 50 metres out, giving Ponsonby a commanding 22-0 lead.

Just moments later Eden went onto attack, but their move fell down inside the Ponsonby 22 when they watched their hard work come undone as a key pass was intercepted. Khan latched onto a misdirected pass and with the goal line and a lot of daylight some 80 metres away, he unleashed his sublime sevens skills. He raced toward the Eden 22, but was ankle tapped from behind. As he fell toward the ground he offloaded to Siliko, who was in support, for the final 20 metres to the line. Trainor could not convert, but Ponsonby had advanced to 27-0.

As the 60 minute mark in the match approached, changes were made from the bench to Ponsonby’s on field XV, and unfortunately momentum seemed to go begging.

Eden crossed for their only try, and solitary score, of the match in the 64th minute, but it was too little, too late for them. Ponsonby had done the damage and had shut them out of the match.  

Next week is the last match in this round robin competition and Ponsonby journey south to face Otahuhu who have not enjoyed a wonderful season to date. They have registered just one win from their six matches in this round, and whilst they will offer plenty of resistance against Ponsonby, the blue and blacks have already qualified for the next round, but will want to progress with their unbeaten record intact.  

PONSONBY: 27

Tries:     Morrison Siliko 2, Rocky Khan and Taina Fox-Matamua

Conversions:      Jordan Trainor 2

Penalty:               Jordan Trainor

PONSONBY

1 Herman Huch; 2 Steven Savali; 3 Connor Halangahu; 4 Moteiva Ngauamo; 5 Jamie Lane;

6 Nepia Fox-Matamua; 7 Aleks Dabek; 8 Taina Fox-Matamua; 9 Tatsuya Hamano;

10 Rocky Khanl 12 William Talataina-Mu; 11 Morrison Siliko; 13 Patrick Tausie; 14 Freedom

Vaha’akolo; 15 Jordan Trainor; 16 Matangireia Yates-Francis; 17 Brice Schilling; 18 Phil Viane;

19 McCarthy Cocker-Filikitonga; 20 Waharai Waitohi:  21 Campbell Woodmass; 22 Tilitili Puloka

TRAINOR BAGS FOUR TRIES AGAINST EAST TAMAKI

Ponsonby’s fullback Jordan Trainor crossed for four tries and kicked three conversions for a personal tally of 26 points last Saturday afternoon when the Premiers journeyed to South Auckland to tackle East Tamaki in the latest round of the 2018 club competition.

The blue and blacks crossed for eight tries in total in the match, running out the victors by 46-13 after leading by 15-6 at the break. The weather gods again delivered some very dreary conditions in the morning of the match, but the rain subsided prior to kick off, providing a reasonable spectacle for the crowd on hand.

Coming into this round of the competition the bottom placed East Tamaki were still searching for their first win, having conceded 159 points from the first four matches, whilst scoring only 31.

The Ponsonby starting XV for the East Tamaki match contained no fewer than ten changes from that which had started against University the previous week. The Ponsonby coaching team took the opportunity to start several players that had warmed the bench in the earlier rounds. Sam Slade captained the side from lock.

Ponsonby were patchy in the opening quarter and struggled to get their combinations working cohesively, including having issues at lineout time.

Approaching the 20th minute mark in the half Freedom Vaha’akolo was felled in a dangerous tackle, which earned the East Tamaki offender a spell in the sinbin. The ensuing penalty goal attempt from a handy position was missed, but from the restart Ponsonby capitalised. Play went wide from an attacking scrum 40 metres out, finding Trainor in midfield. The fullback had to reach for the awkward pass, and with the ball safely in hand was able to successfully race to the corner.

East Tamaki had attempted several clearing kicks, but too often they failed to find the touchline, some falling into the arms of Vaha’akolo. One such touchfinder in the 27th minute was taken by the right winger who ran round his marker with ease, and with some excellent support from Trainor and Campbell Woodmass, play went to Jamie Lane to complete the 55 metre move.

The home side started feeding of Ponsonby errors, and used the territory wisely. They subsequently recorded the first of their two penalty goals in the 34th minute, taking the score to 10-3 in Ponsonby’s favour.

Moments later Vaha’akolo fielded yet another attempted touchfinder and took play back into the East Tamaki half. Play swept some 50 metres, with Patrick Tausie going very close. After play went to ground, the ball went wide across the field to Matt Foote who crossed in the right hand corner.

The home side goaled their second penalty just short of the halftime whistle.

Trainor crossed for his second try early in the new spell. William Talataina-Mu cleared from inside the Ponsonby 22, finding touch deep inside the East Tamaki territory. A quick throw in and then an attempted clearing kick fell sweetly for Trainor who set sail toward the line. Support was present in the form of John Cooper, who then returned the ball to Trainor to race beneath the posts. He converted his own try, stretching the lead to 22-6.

He registered his hattrick in the 53rd minute, picking up a well-timed Matai Fakautoki grubber kick, and racing to the line. Trainor again converted his own try, extending the Ponsonby score to 29-6.

Just two minutes later East Tamaki launched an assault on the Ponsonby territory, but spilled a pass close to the halfway mark. Tausie was swift to the loose ball, scooping it up cleanly and displaying a clean set of heels on a 50 metre run to the line, successfully staying clear of the would-be defenders. Trainor added the extra two points, taking the score to 36-6.

Ponsonby’s seventh try of the match was scored by Vaha’akolo, who was set loose 35 metres out, and had some work to do, but crossed out wide.

At 41-6 ahead Ponsonby had done the hard yards, but were unable to prevent East Tamaki from a significant advance toward their line. The move was judged to be dragged down short. The result was a penalty try in East Tamaki’s favour, and a Ponsonby man heading to the sinbin.

In the dying seven minutes, and with a man down, Ponsonby were still able to apply some extensive pressure to their opposites, and eventually Trainor crossed for his fourth try of the encounter.

With five minutes to run the referee decided that everyone needed a break, so he called full time.

Next week’s penultimate round of the competition promises to be a real cracker of a match when Ponsonby square off against Eden, in what is a first versus second place in the competition fixture at Western Springs Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Eden have been one of the top performing sides in the competition for the past two seasons and have taken numerous prized scalps. Eden had no trouble in the last round despatching Waitakere City by 71-5

Ponsonby underestimated the might of Eden in the 2017 season, going down by 27-17.

Fast forward to 2018 and Ponsonby faced Eden in the final of the Waka Nathan Challenge Cup just five weeks ago, and in what was a physical encounter the blue and blacks edged their neighbours by 34-30.

Back at home next week many will be hoping for a break from the rain that seems to fall on a Friday night nowadays, to provide club rugby with some better underfoot playing conditions.

PONSONBY: 46

Tries: Jordan Trainor 4, Matt Foote, Jamie Lane, Patrick Tausie and Freedom Vaha’akolo

Conversions: Jordan Trainor 3

PONSONBY

1 Brice Schilling; 2 Steven Savali; 3 Wilson Lavelua; 4 Sam Slade;

5 Jamie Lane; 6 McCarthy Cocker-Filikitonga; 7 Matt Foote; 8 Tipolo Jr Faalogo;

9 Campbell Woodmass; 10 William Talataina-Mu; 11 John Cooper; 12 Aleni Ropati;

13 Patrick Tausie; 14 Freedom Vaha’akolo; 15 Jordan Trainor; 16 Matangireia Yates-Francis;

17 Herman Huch;  18 Connor Halangahu; 19 Moteivo Ngauamo; 20 Tatsuya Hamano;

21 Matai Fakautoki; 22 Cole Garrick                        

PREMIERS VICTORIOUS AT COLIN MAIDEN PARK

Last Saturday afternoon the Ponsonby Premiers journeyed to Colin Maiden Park in Glen Innes to tackle the current Gallaher Shield holders, University, in the fourth round of the 2018 club competition.

In what would always be a titanic tussle Ponsonby were on the end of a lopsided 2-1 penalty count, but were more convincing than the scoreline may suggest, running out the winners by 28-25. This was a match where Ponsonby made a clear statement about their intentions this season and so many players stood up and showed their class in this extremely exciting team. Ponsonby’s squad this week featured a couple of changes from the previous round. Inspirational loose forward, and former University player, Taina Fox-Matamua returned from injury to start, whilst Patrick Tausie had his first start of the season in the midfield.

Against University every man in the jerseys numbered from one to 22 played their part in a commanding performance. On attack Ponsonby were electrifying, and on defence they tackled as though it were the end of year grand finale.  The commitment in this fixture can be highlighted by the tremendous resilience displayed by seasoned campaigner Willie Uili, who suffered a nasty injury to his nose early on. After stemming the flow of claret and some running repairs, Uili returned to the field and carried on, only to succumb to the blood bin once again. This time some more permanent repairs were introduced in the form of some heavy black tape, leaving Uili resembling someone donning a mask. He played a huge part in the match, leading from the front and guiding his young peers to their domination at set piece and the lineouts.

University were brimming with confidence coming into the game, but an error right from the kick off saw Ponsonby on the board in the first minute with a penalty from Wiseguy Faiane.

The next ten minutes belonged to the hosts. A series of penalties in their favour were used for territory, and they then set up camp in the Ponsonby 22. The students eventually crashed over in the 11th minute, the try remaining unconverted.

The blue and blacks scored their first of four tries in the match in the 28th minute, and it was a long range effort, plus a delight for the spectators. University conceded possession deep inside the Ponsonby 22 area, and rather than kick for touch they opted to run. Play went wide to Freedom Vaha’akolo on the right wing, who set off on an exhilarating run down the touchline, stepping his marker and the opposition fullback with ease. Once inside University territory, he changed angle and headed infield, staying away from the defenders on his 70 metre dash.

A few minutes later another scintillating move was to prove fruitful. Ponsonby nabbed a University lineout 10 metres on their side of halfway. Play went left then right across the field, and after some clever interchanging between the backs it was Jordan Trainor displaying some blistering pace as he sped to the line.

The last few minutes of the spell included some contentious calls, as well as a yellow card to William Talataina-Mu. Additionally an attempted University penalty goal from a handy position in front of the posts failed, a miss that was to prove costly.

They did however succeed with a penalty goal a couple of minutes into the second half, taking the score to 13-8 in Ponsonby’s favour.

Through the period that Ponsonby were reduced to 14 men on the field they attempted some adventurous attacking play. During a backline move Trainor looked to kick to the corner, only to see the ball charged by a University man. As luck would have it the ball rebounded into the arms of Patrick Tausie, much to the surprise of the opposition. Tausie made a clean break through the midfield and offloaded to Trainor to race and score beneath the posts. Faiane added the additional two points.

In the 58th minute University were on attack deep inside Ponsonby territory, and whilst under penalty advantage they were able to sneak through to score beneath the posts.

With the scoreline a little close for Ponsonby’s liking they looked for ways to extend their lead. Grabbing a turnover just metres from their own goal line, they initiated a counter attack. After some excellent work from Trainor, play went right to Vaha’akolo who again stepped the defence on a 65 metre sprint to the line, finishing the move with a classic dive.

Faiane further extended the Ponsonby lead at 28-15 with a 40 metre penalty goal in the 67th minute.

University added two late tries, but Ponsonby held on to win by 28-25.

Past the halfway point of the round Ponsonby sits in second place on 19 points from four wins, with just one of the recognised heavyweights of the competition to play. They will now focus on their next assignment which is a visit to East Tamaki on their home ground in Otara. East Tamaki are yet to register their first victory of this round, having lost four from four, most recently being defeated by Waitakere City by 12-3. Whilst Ponsonby are likely to be too slick for them, East Tamaki tend to offer plenty of resistance when on their home ground.  To date East Tamaki has conceded 159 points from four games, being on the end of beatings by Pakuranga, University, Eden and Waitakere City. Ponsonby and East Tamaki last met in May 2017 at Western Springs, the blue and blacks the victors on that day by 67-21.

PONSONBY:

Tries: Freedom Vaha’akolo 2, Jordan Trainor 2

Con: Wiseguy Faiane

Pen:  Wiseguy Faiane 2

PONSONBY

1 Conner Halangahu; 2 Willie Uili; 3 Herman Huch; 4 Motieva Ngauomo; 5 McCarthy Cocker-Filikitonga; 6 Nepia Fox-Matamua; 7 Aleks Dabek; 8 Taina Fox-Matamua; 9 Tatsuya Hamano;     20 Wiseguy Faiane; 11 Morrison Siliko; 12 William Talataina-Mu; 13 Patrick Tausie;                          14 Freedom Vaha’akolo;  15 Jordan Trainor; 16 Steven Savali; 17 Brice Schilling; 18 Samuel Slade; 19 Matt Foote; 10 Campbell Woodmass;  21 Aleni Ropati; 22 Cole Garrick;