Counties Power Game of the Week - U21 Manurewa v Pukekohe This weeks Counties Power Game of the week is an U21 battle between Manurewa and Pukekohe at Mountfort Park at 1.00pm. The last time these two teams met, Pukekohe edged out Manurewa 18-12 and they drew the first when they played in a friendly earlier in the season. There is only one place separating these two sides on the table. Pukekohe are in fourth place and keen to stay there to make the finals and Manurewa are fifth on the ladder. It is always plenty of competition between these two clubs, they met in the semi-finals last year with Pukekohe taking the win, however unfortunately for the green and white it was the only game Manurewa lost all year. Pukekohe are coached by Darren Butcher who has been with the side for three years and is assisted by Kerry Newson and Alan Gibbons with the useful services of some of Darren’s long time go-to guys. The majority of the team are locals with new faces coming from the U19s who have moved up. There are a few new external faces like prop Shane Ngataki and flanker Curtis Ngataki. Consistency is a key area of focus for Pukekohe as their season has been a bit lumpy. They have the capabilities to play some good footy but need to work out how to get a more even performance week in and week out. Some of the young players that have been consistently playing well include lock Pat Autagavaia, centre Darren Kingi and first five-eighth Adam Te Rangi. Coach Butcher commented on this weekends encounter; “Manurewa are a very good side and are going to be extremely tough to beat at home.” Manurewa coach Lance Rakuraku also acknowledges it is going to be a big game. “Pukekohe will be very hard and tight up front with good direction from their first five, which is what we have known in their last two games,” said Rakuraku Rakuraku and his assistant coach Tom Baniani have been coaching in Manurewa for the last six years, four at the high school and two at the club with the U21s. This year, nine of their players despite still being eligible for the U21s have moved up with some of them entering into the premier side leaving a bit of a bit of a hole. However such is the pathway of rugby and coach Rakuraku is please to be a part of player development. The stand out players are No 8 Saan Tuoro, who is the son of Counties Manukau Centurion Paul Tuoro and captain and second-five Shaun Atumu. Both of these young men have started the season strongly and shown great work ethic. There will be a lot of pressure on openside flanker Brandon Maihi son of local icon Kerri Maihi who is aware of the strengths of the combination of the loose forward trio of Pukekohe. This weeks Counties Power Game of the week is set to be an interesting one so head down to Mountfort Park as Manurewa take on Pukekohe at 1pm.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 19:43:00 +0000
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