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We take a quick look at how the ball’s been bouncing during the past week.
Horn again…
The Counties Manukau Steelers will be hoping to go on as they started. Taking the stag by the horns last Friday (July 25), the Steelers wrangled a 45–26 win against the Southland Stags in their first and only preseason matchup.
However, the Taranaki Bulls will be a beast of another nature this Saturday (kickoff 2.05pm) as both rugby teams seek to open their NPC regular season with a win at Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe.
Although this year’s roster is not short on experience (click here to read more), there’s talent amongst the team’s rookies too. In particular, we’re expecting Pukekohe kicker Josiah Unga will replicate his McNamara Cup final form and come through in the clutch for Counties more than once this season.
See cmrfu.co.nz for details.
SA tour tickets still on the line
As previously reported, Papakura Rugby Football Club (PRFC) and legendary All Black centre, Frank Bunce (a Pukekohe local) are making a play to build junior rugby.
While that’s the aim, the strategy is simple – raffle off three tour packages to watch the All Blacks compete in their first tour of South Africa in 20 years.
There is still time to be in to win. Click here for more information.
Lawson in order
An eighth-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix at the weekend has seen former Pukekohe ‘boy racer’, Liam Lawson climb to nineth in Formula 1’s drivers’ standings.
As a result, he is now just 176 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli heading into the next round in the Netherlands (Aug 21–23).
So, please forgive our cheeky crack about you being off the pace and running out of road to catch the leaders, Liam and… please phone home!
Unfor-net-able?
Ryan Fox isn’t the only Beachlands-raised sportsperson in the spotlight lately as gold is the goal for Northern Stars star Amelia Walmsley.
The Silver Ferns shooter has been playing her part as the Kiwi team seeks to net a first Commonwealth Games gold in more than 15 years.
After defeating host nation Scotland during the Glasgow tournament’s opening round at the weekend, the Ferns also racked up wins against Jamaica and Uganda.
The Ferns play their final pool match against Trinidad and Tobago on Friday morning (31.07, 1am NZ time) and the semi-final round tips off this Saturday.
Click here for more information.
In-spur-ational
Well done to 2026 A-League-winning Auckland FC for a gutsy performance against the Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur FC at the weekend. Despite a 2–0 loss, Auckland proved that they can foot it with some of the best.
Blues beat whistle, Matatū
The Blues reinforced their position as the most successful Super Rugby franchise – of the Aupiki variety, that is – at the weekend.
Pulling off a three-peat, the Blues won (28–21) against Matatū courtesy of a match-winning try scored in the 80th minute in Christchurch.
Blues captain, Maiakawanakaulani Roos was ecstatic.
“I am so proud of the team, we had our backs against the wall,” she says. “[But we] never had a doubt, we supported each other and had belief that we could do it with nothing to lose.”
The Blues will now take on the Aussie champions, NSW Waratahs, this Saturday in Sydney in a bid to claim trans-Tasman honours.
