The Ponsonby Premier coaching trio of Peter Leuluso’o, Tani Fuga and Kevin Senio have named a formidable line up to take the field against Grammar-Tec this Saturday afternoon. Against Eden last week the blue and blacks were unable to play the style of game that they are accustomed to, a match that became rather scrappy and disjointed, predominantly due to the tactics adopted by Eden to unsettle the Ponsonby game plan.

Grammar-Tec have recorded two wins and two losses from their matches in this season. Their wins were over Otahuhu and East Tamaki, and the losses were at the hands of Eden and Marist. Both their victories, as expected, were high scoring events, with Grammar-Tec registering 81 and 94 points, respectively.

Ponsonby and Grammar-Tec squared off on three occasions in 2019, with Ponsonby taking the honours of each occasion. The first match that year was the semi-final of the Waka Nathan Challenge Cup, Ponsonby being too clinical in the 52-15 victory. In the Gallaher Shield qualifying round at the end of June, Ponsonby prevailed by 25-22 in the Orakei Domain clash. Then in the semi-final of the Gallaher Shield two weeks later at the Western Springs Stadium Ponsonby overpowered Grammar-Tec by 25-15.

This Saturday’s starting fifteen sees the return of Jonah Mau’u to the side of the scrum after missing last week’s match, and Trujon Nomani-Brown slides in to the left wing position.

1. Hamdahn Tuipulotu

2. Joseph Royal

3. Marco Fepulea’i

4. Presley Tufuga

5. Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa

6.  Jonah Mau’u

7. Aleks Dabek (C)

8. Terrell Peita

9. Danny Tusitala

10. Reece Suesue

11. Trujon Nomani-Brown

12. William Talataina

13. Paul Roache

14. Joel Cobb

15. Jordan Trainor

16. Willie Uili

17. Nathaniel Cocker-Valu

18. Herman Huch

19. Ben Bacon

20. Noah Perelini

21. Rilloy Suesue

22. Kisione Ahki

23. Ryan Nankivell

Article added: Friday 17 July 2020