The Ponsonby Premiers received a rigorous and thorough workout from their Papatoetoe opposites last Saturday in the opening match of the Alan McEvoy Memorial Trophy round. It was in stark contrast to the match between the same two sides just three weeks earlier, a match in which Ponsonby were able to play a fluid open-running style of game. In last Saturdays encounter Ponsonby encountered a bruising pack that brought a physical game to Western Springs Stadium and they found themselves unable to crack Papatoetoe’s resilient defensive line with the same ease as the earlier fixture.

During their pre-match warm-up, the Premiers would have seen the Premier Development side leading their Papatoetoe opposites in the curtain-raiser. Ahead by 26-21 heading into the final quarter of the match, Ponsonby were unable to prevent the visitors from scoring three late converted tries, and winning by 42-26. This outcome may have provided the Premiers with an insight as to the physicality which lay ahead.

Ponsonby started the match strongly, and indications were that it might be plain sailing. The Papatoetoe kick off was claimed by Jamie Lane, which then allowed halfback Pele Cowley to return a well-positioned box kick back to the opposition territory, which was duly knocked on by their right winger. From the following scrum, play went wide and John Cooper and Freedom Vaha’akolo combined in a pacy move and with a two man on one overlap Papatoetoe were powerless to prevent Vaha’akolo from scoring the opening try.

Papatoetoe’s first penalty in the match was awarded in the eighth minute, and D’Angelo Leuila goaled with ease from 35 metres out.

Joe Royal’s work rate was his usual very high standard, and he was in the thick of it in the opening quarter.  He crossed for his first of two tries in the 15th minute, leading an excellent forward drive to the line.

In the second quarter of the first spell Ponsonby had a series of scrum feeds five metres from the visitor’s line. Attempts at scoring were foiled by Papatoetoe forcing the referee to rule that the try scorer was held up. Eventually from a rolling maul the forwards went close, and Pele Cowley grabbed the ball and planted it over the line. Cooper added the extra two points, stretching the Ponsonby lead to 17-3.

Ponsonby’s fourth try was scored in the 32rd minute by Vaha’akolo. Cooper booted a very clever wipers kick which bounced out just ten metres from the visitor’s line. Papatoetoe threw long to the lineout, much to the delight of Royal who was waiting to grab their feed. He and Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa combined to take play close to the goal-line. The ball was recycled and a long pass from Rocky Kahn to Vaha’akolo saw the Ponsonby fullback stroll over.

Just a few minutes out from the halftime break Papatoetoe put together an excellent move which involved phase after phase of pick and go. Their move halted a metre short of the Ponsonby line and just a metre from the touchline, they seized an opportunity to dot down in the corner. Leuila converted superbly from wide out.

Ponsonby turned with a 22-10 lead, and were determined to add to their points tally in the second spell. However it was Papatoetoe who were first on the board in the new half, with a 38 metre penalty goal.

Robert Cobb scored Ponsonby’s fifth, and what was to be their last score of the match in the 59th minute.

Much of the second spell became a very physical tit for tat fixture, which left injuries and bruising. Ponsonby will rue several missed opportunities, including when Papatoetoe were reduced to 14 men when one of their own was despatched to the sinbin for a deliberate foul.

With time virtually up on the clock Ponsonby looked good to score, only to have Papatoetoe scoop a loose ball and they scampered 80 metres to score, which was subsequently converted.

This match will be viewed as a good work out in preparation for the gruelling weeks and matches ahead.

Ponsonby 29

Tries: Freedom Vaha’akolo 2, Joe Royal, Robert Cobb and Pele Cowley

Conversions: John Cooper 2

Article added: Monday 27 May 2019