Pukekohe heads to a McNamara Cup semi-final against the defending champions in Patumahoe on Saturday looking to reverse a run of exits at this stage of the season.
Michael Porter’s side has lost a McNamara Cup semi-final in each of the previous four seasons, but they go into Saturday’s do-or-die contest with Patumahoe on the back of their best performance of the season and with little to lose.
“We are looking forward to the semi-final against Patumahoe,” Porter told Counties Sports Hub.
“It is the same semi as last year and we know we will need to be at our best to get the win.”
Top seeds Karaka host Ardmore Marist in the second semi-final at Karaka Sports Complex and both teams come into the contest on the back of a form reversal.
Karaka lost for just the second time all season last week when they went down to Pukekohe in their final round robin match, while Ardmore Marist handed Patumahoe just their second loss in a brilliant performance that secured Suliasi Taufalele’s side a place in the knockout stage.
“We are looking forward to the semi-finals,” Taufalele said.
“It’s been a while for us, but we know finals are a different beast, so we know we have a lot of work to do coming up against Karaka.”
Karaka and Pukekohe meet in the Massey Cup U21 final at Navigation Homes Stadium in what promises to be an entertaining decider.
Karaka have dominated the competition all season and are chasing a three-peat of titles while Pukekohe have hit form at the right time of the year.
Pukekohe and Waiuku will contest the U85kg grand final, also at Navigation Homes Stadium. Waiuku will look to back up last season’s triumph, but they face a Pukekohe side that has been the pick of the local teams throughout 2025.
In the Bob Chandler Cup Premier 2 competition, Pukekohe hosts Patumahoe at Colin Lawrie Fields while Ardmore Marist travels to Karaka Sports Complex in games that match the McNamara Cup.
Weymouth and Onewhero meet in a Sid Marshall Shield clash that will determine where next week’s semi-final between the two sides is played.
Maramarua hosts Drury in a dead-rubber match with Maramarua having already booked a semi-final against top seeds Te Kauwhata.
Puni will look to finish the consolation bracket off in style as they travel to Mountfort Park to play Manurewa, while in the other game, Waiuku faces Te Kohanga over the bridge.
The final round of the Bright Cup takes place over the weekend with Patumahoe hosting Waiuku on Friday night while Rua North takes on College Rifles at Maramarua.
