The remarkable run continues at Pakuranga with all six senior teams winning on Saturday, extending out to four unbeaten weekends in a row. 

The Belles joined the party with their first match of the 2023 season resulting in their first ever win. 

The Premier and Premier Development teams travelled to central Auckland for matches against Eden. 

A first half double to number 8 Sione Hifo had the premiers leading 12-7 at the break, only for Eden to score in the opening minutes of the second spell to take the lead. 

From there though, it was one way traffic with four second half tries and 22 unanswered points for the 34-14 win. 

Premier coach Grant ‘Boof’ Henson said the team were guilty of trying too hard early in the game. 

“We started well but our skills let us down. We were trying to push the game too hard, we were turning over ball and then our discipline on defence let us down in terms of the offside line. 

“We got a yellow card and that seemed to wake the boys up. We started playing territory, holding on to the ball rather than throwing silly passes and built scoreboard pressure. 

“So we are happy with the performance but plenty to build on ahead of Otahuhu this weekend,” said Boof. 

The prems move up into third place after five weeks of competition, sitting behind Manukau Rovers and Ponsonby. 

In somewhat of an opposite match it was a first half flurry of points that secured a strong win for the premier development team. 

Tries to Lisiate Pau’uvale, Jamie Shaw, Charlie Spooner, Caleb Nyantachi and Byron Thomas had the PDs leading 33-8 at half time. They absorbed some second half pressure from Eden but locked in a 36-25 win to sit second equal on the points table, with Manukau also leading the way. 

The Under 21s were across town playing against Ponsonby and also produced a particularly strong first half. 

Oliver Hughson crossed for a try and converted the efforts of Aisea Tonga and Kayle Ludick to lead 21-0 at the break. Francis Morrison was the only Pakuranga player to score in the second half but sealed the bonus point 28-19 win. The Cannons now sit at the top of the table. 

The Belles were the feel-good result of the weekend, recording their first ever win. Trailing to College Rifles at the halftime break, they scored 26 unanswered second half points for the victory. 

The Under 85kg Panthers had their first match of the National Club Cup and ground out a 14-8 win over last year’s semi-finalists Karaka. 

Premiers 34 (Sione Hifo 2, Sione Fifita, Polynesia Crichton, Carter Hackett, Paula Maama tries, Riley Harrison 1 con, Memphis Ngaruhe 1 con) Eden 14 

Premier Development 36 (Lisiate Pau’uvale, Jamie Shaw, Charlie Spooner, Caleb Nyantachi, Bryon Thomas tries, Lantze Davids 4 con, 1 pen) Eden 25 

Under 21 Cannons 28 (Aisea Tonga, Oliver Hughson, Kayle Ludick, Francis Morrison tries, Oliver Hughson 3 con, Francis Morrsion 1 con) Ponsonby 19 

Under 85kg Panthers 14 ( Daniel Devane, Ben Biggelaar tries, Kyle Jonson 2 con) Karaka 8

Belles 38 ( Mele Maliepo, Manu Mehau 2, Lua Akana, Megan Grayson, Jess Richmond tries, Olivia Sanders 1 con Cassandra Keenan 3 Con) College Rifles 27 

Presidents 4 Ponsonby 1

Article added: Monday 08 May 2023