Football Card
Company Caption Here
MATCH REPORT
Pukekohe 35 v Patumahoe 11 - 2nd July 2011
What a great day for Pukekohe Rugby. In front of a crowd of 5000 at Bayer Growers Stadium, playing for the McNamara Cup in the final of the Counties Power Premiers competition, Pukekohe gave near neighbours Patumahoe an old fashioned thrashing, beating them 35 - 11.
The game kicked off in fine sunny conditions on a firm track which was welcomed after wet muddy conditions experienced over the past few weeks. Patumahoe opened the scoring with a penalty from their flanker Sean Reidy but Pukekohe fullback Rob Dennison replied soon after with a penalty and then added two more for a 9 - 3 scoreline.
Ill discipline was costing Patumahoe and while their fullback Anzac Leteru was in the sin bin for a head high tackle on Armyn Sanders, Pukekohe scored their first try which was one of the best seen anywhere.Pukekohe ran the ball from inside their 22 and with play going from one side of the field to the other and a number of the players handling the ball, young left winger Sione Fifita scored in the corner. At half time the score was 14 - 3 to Pukekohe.
After the interval Pukekohe went on attack after a handling error from Patumahoe and Sione Fifita was able to score his second try. Rob Dennison and Sean Reidy traded penalties and midway through the half Patumahoe scored their only try to centre Bundellu Aki following a period of sustained pressure on the Pukekohe line. The try was not converted and brought the score to 19 - 11 to Pukekohe.
After this it was all Pukekohe with Rob Dennison kicking two more penalties. After he went off with mild concussion, first five James Semple kicked a penalty. Patumahoe centre Bundellu Aki was sin binned and Sione Fifita completed a fine game with his hat trick try which was converted by James Semple making the score 35 - 11 and the victory to the huge delight of the Pukekohe players and supporters. It was one of the highest scoring finals and showed Pukekohe supporters what their team could do and silenced a lot of critics.
It was hard to single out any player but Captain and halfback Kevin Farrell, who had an outstanding season, controlled the game magnificantly with his tactical kicking and sharp running and it is hard to see how he has missed out on a Steelers contract.
The celebrations went on long into the night.
Pukekohe Premiers side for this memorable day was:-
(15) Rob Dennison, (14) Peni Buakula, (13) Nigel Watson, (12) Armyn Sanders, (11) Sione Fifita, (10) James Semple, (9) Kevin Farrell (Captain), (8) Manoa Lesavua, (17) Dennis Tommy, (6) Brendon Farrell, (5) Jamie Chipman, (4) Willy Crisp, (3) Bobby Agnew, (2) Mark Price, (1) Falakiko Balahome.
Reserves:- (16) Snow Cameron, (7) Ben Crisp, (18) Dave Marshall, (19) Dean Morris, (20) Simon Marcel, (21) Tommy Short, (22) Michael Porter.
Management team for the season was :-
Rhys Cullinane (Coach), Kerry Newson (Coach), Mark Brooke -Cowden (Coach) Joeli Vidiri (Coach), Pat Goscomb (Manager) Clayton Marriner ( Manager), Bill Hammond (Manager).
The referee was Simon Brown.
The Under 21's and Under 19's are still going with the Under 21's beating Papakura 21 - 13 and the Under 19's narrowly losing to Weymouth 13 - 12.