NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Rugby

Depleted but confident Ponsonby chasing title

25 Mar, 2005 08:18 AM6 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Ponsonby will be chasing their third Auckland premier club championship in the past four years when the 2005 season starts today.

Despite being without more than half of last year's championship-winning team, there is still an air of confidence at the club's Western Springs headquarters.

One of the club's most
famous sons, Bryan Williams, is the club's rugby director. While he concedes the loss of key players is a blow, he says there is great depth at the club and other players will now get opportunities.

"Our senior 1 and senior 3 sides won their championships last season while our under-21s were beaten in the championship final by Marist after winning the championship for the previous three years.

"So there is a lot of talent at the club. We remain confident of a strong showing in this season's championship."

Former All Black Ofisa Tonu'u has moved on with the blessing of the club. Ponsonby's loss is Waitakere City's gain as Tonu'u will turn out for the west Aucklanders and will run the backs as assistant coach to former Manu Samoa loose forward Pati Malagi.

Others missing from Ponsonby's side from last year are first five-eighths Murray Williams, hooker Nathan Kemp, props Census Johnston and Soane Tonga'uiha, lock Sam Woods, flanker Regan Tamihere, centre Gavin Williams (son of Bryan Williams) and No 2 halfback Kane Hancy.

Ponsonby takes on Otahuhu at Otahuhu's home ground, Sturges Park, and Waitakere City, one of last season's big improvers, play University at Colin Maiden Park.

While too much cannot be read into pre-season matches, Waitakere City have shown good form, beating last season's North Harbour club champion Massey and another high-ranking North Harbour club, North Shore, and losing narrowly to Northcote.

Ponsonby have also had pre-season wins over Massey and North Shore.

Grammar-Carlton, beaten 29-18 by Ponsonby in last year's championship final for the Gallaher Shield, open their season against Suburbs at Avondale No 1.

Suburbs, often a contender for the premier championship, struggled last season, finishing ninth in the 10-team Gallaher Shield round and narrowly missing relegation.

In today's other premier 1 matches, Marist meet East Tamaki at East Tamaki and 2003 Gallaher Shield winner Waitemata play Te Papapa-Onehunga at Fergusson Park.

Interesting newcomers to Auckland premier rugby are Waiheke Island, who take on Roskill Districts at Fearon Park.

NORTH HARBOUR

Having a number of players who are fringe Blues Super 12 squad members could have a spin-off for the North Harbour premier club rugby competition which begins today.

The likes of Nick Williams (Northcote), Tom Harding and Ben Meyer (North Shore), Tom Coughlan and Rudi Wulf (Marist) and Roger Dustow (Massey) have had little or no game time with the Blues and it is likely many of them will be released to their clubs for the early rounds.

Another of the Blues' expanded squad, Rua Tipoki, who had a fine NPC with Bay of Plenty, is also likely to be with Glenfield for much of this season.

Last year's impressive championship winner, Massey, even though they have lost coach Graham Lowe to the representative colts side, again loom as a force.

The experienced Steve Jackson will again captain the side from lock. The return of Tusi Pisi (from Italy) and Anthony Tuitavake (from the Highlanders), will mean another imposing backline.

Shore, Takapuna and Northcote should again be Massey's main rivals though Takapuna will be without last year's captain, representative halfback Billy Fulton, who has signed up with Northampton in England.

Silverdale, the championship winners in 2003, may be forced to rebuild with coach Charlie McAlister having moved to Palmerston North to run Manawatu's NPC team.

He has taken some Silverdale players with him and his talented son, Luke, following his return from the Super 12, is not likely to be available for too much club rugby.

Former All Black forward Blair Larsen is coaching Takapuna, former All Black centre Frank Bunce will assist his old Manu Samoa team-mate Matthew Vaea with Shore, Walter Little (for the second consecutive season) will be assisting with Glenfield and Wayne Shelford has an advisory role with Navy.

The tightest matches in round one should be between Shore and Northcote at Devonport and between Massey and Helensville at Helensville. Glenfield meet Takapuna at Kaipatiki Park and are tipped as big improvers.

COUNTIES MANUKAU

In the union's 50th jubilee year, major changes have happened in the premier club competition.

Twelve clubs have entered the new competition, with the club reserve teams travelling and playing curtain-raisers for their premiers.

The teams will be split into two pools of six based on last year's placing. One grading round will be played with the top three teams in each pool going to the premier 1 competition; the bottom three head to the premier 2 competition. Two full home and away rounds will be played before the club finals on July 23.

Last year's undefeated champions, Pukekohe, look to be the team to beat when competition begins next week.

The Joeli Vidiri-coached team have retained the core of last year's side and picked up some handy additions in winger Tui Taufoou and seven's star Amasio Valence.

The other major contenders look to be Waiuku, Manurewa, Ardmore Marist and possible dark horse Patumahoe.

Waiuku will again be strong. They were unlucky not to win last year's final against Pukekohe, and will have a strong forward pack. They have managed to keep the core of last year's side but the loss of second-five Duncan Bell and lock Raymon Lyndsey could affect their chances.

Manurewa have a number of new young and talented players, including New Zealand under-19 representative Sekope Kepu and exciting wingers Lelia Masaga and Setefano Sauqaqa.

The return of prop Vai Folau from injury will add to the forward pack.

Ardmore Marist have lost props James Afoa and Andrew Tiiti but this has been offset by the introduction of Ronnie Sua.

The club is also looking forward to the arrival of Tongan international lock Lisiate Fa'aoso. Their backs again look promising.

Patumahoe have recruited key Auckland players in No 8 Geoff Maka and halfback Kane Hancy and should be strong enough to make the premier 1 competition and unsettle some of the larger clubs.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rugby

All Blacks

All Blacks v France third test: All you need to know

Rugby

'Why did you punch me?': College coach claims referee assaulted him after heated first XV clash

All Blacks

Springboks No 8 to miss Eden Park test after head-butt ban


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rugby

All Blacks v France third test: All you need to know
All Blacks

All Blacks v France third test: All you need to know

All you need to know as Scott Robertson’s side take on France in Hamilton.

15 Jul 08:03 PM
'Why did you punch me?': College coach claims referee assaulted him after heated first XV clash
Rugby

'Why did you punch me?': College coach claims referee assaulted him after heated first XV clash

15 Jul 08:00 PM
Springboks No 8 to miss Eden Park test after head-butt ban
All Blacks

Springboks No 8 to miss Eden Park test after head-butt ban

15 Jul 07:07 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP