The Richmond Premiers played their last round game at New Lynn Stags home ground, Lawson Park. The Richmond Premiers this week have a few injuries to Savi Hafoka, Lafi Faamausili, Steve Watkinson and Pati Taula so called up from Premier 1st was Andrew Kake, Santos Taurua and James Finlayson who all are confidently capable of filling in the holes. In the opening first 10 minutes Richmond started slowly missing a number of crucial tackles and allowing a lead of 12-6 to New Lynn. Our line speed was far too slow, our marker defence did not defend as well as it should and it showed with the half time score being 18-14 to New Lynn.

The second half started with both team’s not trading tries but making mistakes and incomplete sets of six. New Lynn started off better scoring an unconverted try to extend their lead 22-14. We had to be the next to score to get back in the game. This came in the form of a picture perfect pass from Tama Guthrie finding Nale Bourke who went in to score a converted try to take the score to 22-20 to New Lynn. We scored two quick converted tries to Junior Uale and Hector Purcell (picture left) to take the lead 32-22 to the Doggies. With 10 minutes left in the game we made several mistakes and surrendered field position. This allowed New Lynn back in to the game in which they scored a converted try to take the game to 32-28 to Richmond. We had a set of six and with two minutes to go we gave up the ball on the 4th tackle to hand over possession and position. New Lynn attacked the blind side and found a hole to score in the corner. With full time up it was a 32-32 draw. Thank you to the Richmond supporters who came to support their team.

The Richmond Premiers played the Te Atatu Roosters at Grey Lynn Park. The Doggies started well with two quick tries and led 10 nil at the 20 minute mark. With our forwards making heaps of ground with Toleafoa Leaupepe and Junior Uale (pictured left) leading the way we showed much grit, perseverance and determination to control the game. Unfortunately we couldn’t covert these in to points. The boys fatigued losing direction, ball possession and field position to surrender their lead. At half time the score was 16-12 to the Doggies.

After the half time break Te Atatu had their own ideas and scored two quick converted tries and took the lead to 24-16. With 20 minutes to play the oggies were next to score taking the score to 24-22 to Te Atatu still. With 15 minutes to play Te Atatu scored again with a  conversion to take the lead further to 30-22. The Doggies attacked the line several times showing much determination but also desperation as careless passes  were thrown around on the first tackle. We were not patient enough during the  later stages of the game and loss the ball in early sets. It wasn’t until the  79th minute that we scored which was converted to take the score 30-28 to Te  Atatu Roosters.

We would like to thank our new Player of the Day sponsor Waterview Superette &  Laundromat and thank you to the Richmond supporters who came to support  their team.

Player of the Day was Steve Watkinson
Runner up  Player of the Day was Ojay  Guttenbeil.

Premiers came away with a  solid 52 - 14 win over the Manukau Magpies at Moyle Park. With key players returning from New Zealand Touch duties including Aaron Nootai and Tama Guthrie back on board along with explosive Centre Joe Alesi the  Richmond Premiers pack were sure to fire all cylinders and get their season back on track. The Richmond forward pack and backs started the game with a hiss and a roar shooting out to a 12 nil lead in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Doggies played to their strengths and game plan taking the lead to go to the half time break with a 20 - 6 lead.
Early in the second half the boys found it harder to mount pressure and complete their sets. The RIchmond forwards persisted with strong carries by Junior Uale and Toleafoa Leaupepe grinding the opposition forwards which allowed our spectacular halves to find space around some tiring Manukau edge defenders. Captain Aaron Nootai capitalized on some solid quick play the ball and showed great intuition to score 3 brilliant tries. The flood gates opened for  the doggies with Tama Guthrie & Joshua Siaosi touching down also in the second half. Richmond came out from Moyle park with a 52-12 win and there season campaign back on track.
 
A big thanks to Alex Afa from the Premier 1st who converted all but 2 tries. The big difference in todays game was BELIEF and the team each believe the 2012 season has only just started. There are two games remaining in this round. Player of the Day was The Whole team. Thanks to the supporters who came out to support and a big ups to Alipa Solomona, Peter Ah Kuoi and Gus Fepuleai for their words of wisdom. This Saturday the boys play Te Atatu Roosters at home in a must win game. Premier 1st open up the weekend with a kick off time of 2.45pm and Pre1miers kick off at 2.30pm. Be there at Grey Lynn park to support the boys with your colours, posters, banners and vocals.

Congratulations to the Late Afi & Karen Ah Kuoi's daughter Amy & her husband Willie Bernard who delivered a baby girl at 11.15pm last evening, Thursday, 08 May, 2012 in Brisbane, Australia. Amy's secondary/surrogate Richmond Family are proud to relay the wonderful news to the Rugby League fraternity and knowing the special relationship many of our Richmond community all had with Afi (oh how we miss our dear friend and leader) we felt indebted to relay the news to you all. To add to the wonderful news Fred Ah Kuoi's daughter Danielle also delivered a baby girl on the same day but in the United States of America. A double blessing for the Ahkuoi and spouses families. All the best to the young families from your Richmond family.

Richmond 11s 38 – Hibiscus Coast 0
Went up to Stanmore Bay, and played Hibiscus Coast came away with a fantastic win and held the defence all the way through the game. Solid performance from the whole team. Way to go Richmond Top Dogs!!

U13 v Otara Braves: Won 80-0
After getting schooled last week by Mt Wellington, we worked hard on our dummy half running and line defence. This seemed to work for us and had Otara in trouble by half time (48-0). Dylan Tavita had an outstanding game at right centre as well as his wing man Nathan Ngaropo. They scored hat-tricks as did Hayes Okesene and Dylan converted 12 of 14 tries.
The left side had a pretty quiet day as all the play happened on our right side. The whole team played well and could see combinations developing nicely. There were also strong performances by Mikey Williams, Carlos Henry, Sam Tofa-Timoteo, Ezael Tautuki and Immanuel Ualika.
Still more to work to do on Tuesday and Thursday.
Player of the Day: Dylan Tavita
Best Forward: Hayes Okesene  
Best Back: Nathan Ngaropo
Coach's Award: The Team

Under 12s at Bay Roskill, 14/4/2012  Richmond 34 Bay Roskill 22
The Rovers started off the game in grand fashion, scoring three quick tries through the rampaging forward pack and our speedy back line.
To the Vikings credit, they rallied after Richmond's poor ball control and tied the game through strong running through their fullback.
An upset looked likely as          the Viking scored two more tries however Richmond countered when Jacob Taupau made a great defensive goal line tackle, jarring the ball loose and then running the ball all the way down to the opposing 10 yard line. The Rovers scored from here and Vito Tevaga & Denzel Gaoa-Tolua scored tries to put the game beyond doubt.
POD-Terekia - for his great defensive work & leading the attack from dummy half.

vs Howick, 21/4/2012 Richmond 30 Howick 8
Richmond learnt its lessons last week about poor ball control and controlled the game from the outset with Terekia & Zion Pereweti marshalling the forwards well. Our big forwards ran hard all day and our possession was great. JJ Tuiallii ran hard all day while Vito Tevaga scored multiple tries and the return of our Tongan Terror, Simi Latu saw him score two tries. Darius Lavakula played a solid game in attack & defence. He is a model of consistency.
POD- Vito Tevaga
Awards: Darius JJ in the forwards
Backs Terekia, Zion
Written by:  Toa Sagapolu

Under 10s – Match Report
Well done to the kids that played on Saturday. We played against Manurewa. Score was 24 – 16 to them.  It was good to see the new players stepping up and running the ball.  Player of the Day went to Toni Samuela who played really well, and wasn’t afraid to get in and get the ball.  A good effort was also shown by Jaedin and Jeannette.  Well done.
Also a big thank you to all the teams and club supporters who came and supported our cake stall.  It was a huge success and we manage to raise $407.00 for our team.  Once again thank you.
Thanks Under 10s Management

Under 9s
Solid game team played well, and we went down by 1 try final score went to Marist at 32-28.
Player of the Day – Joseph Kau
Runner up – Kobe Kaiser-Day
Top Tackler – Andre Luamata and Sione Vaihu

By Henry Solomona

The Richmond Premiers played East Coast Bays Barracuddas at Grey Lynn park. The boys trained hard all week as we needed a win after losing to Papatoetoe Panthers in the last 20 minutes of the second half last weekend. The Richmond coaching team had to reshuffle the team as there were a number of injuries to some Senior members including captain Mia Tautiga.

We welcomed back Aaron Nootai back from New Zealand Open Mens Representative duties who also captained the Premier grade side for the first time this year. We started well in the first stanza scoring two tries early in to the game. Richmond gave away soft penalties and missed first up Tackles which enable East Coast to sneak back in to the game as Richmond went in  to the half time break with a 2 point lead.

The second half started badly for us as East Coasts got a roll on with continued pressure where momentum swung well in favour of the visitors having scored 2 tries in the first  10 minutes. Richmond to its credit fought hard to get back in to the game and with 15 minutes to go it was a draw. A controversial call from the referee saw  one of the Richmond players sent to the sin bin late in the game in which East  Coast Bays capitalised with a last minute try gifting the win to the visitors 26-20 to East Coast Bays Barracuddas.

Thank you for the support of family & friends who attended this game we still have nother three games in the frist round so next week we go again against Manukau Magpies at Moyle Park, 2.30pm kick off.