Team named: Aaron Unasa, Arno, Nio Strickland, Cale Baker, Wiremu Takeriu, Rob Vaii, Lance Wright, Logan Wright, Josh Mana, Kennedy, Andrew Kake, Savi Hafoka, Bronson Harden. Francis Gallagher, Stan Bourke, Anthony Auvaa. Harry Vete. Coach: Henry Solomona, Jesse Bourke. Manager: Tu Lialia’i.

The Premier 1st team played New Lynn Stags at Grey Lynn Park. Prop forward Hans Leaunae and stand off Joshua Siaosi were players called up for the Premier grade team in which club journeyman Stan Bourke and team mate Anthony Auvaa stepped up from the interchange bench.

The first 40 minutes showed much experience and grit with strong carries from forwards Logan Wright, Andrew Kake and loose forward captain Bronson Harden. Rob Vaii and Lance Wright combined well organizing the outside backs and targeted the visiting Stags fringes. Full back Aaron Unasa showed great class and evasiveness to run 80 metres untouched for one of his tries. Centre Nio Strickland also showed great experience and pace to skip through some flimsy defence to score from the scrum. He later ran 60 metres to score untouched. Some sublime footwork and vision saw hooker Josh Mana carve his way through the midfield to score a doble thanks to the momentum of the Richmond forwards. Half time score was 40-10 to the mighty Richmond Bulldogs.

The second half started slow for the Richmond side. With injury (ankle) to Logan Wright some punch was taken away from the Prems Forward pack. Ill-discipline and uncharacteristic handling errors enabled the visiting opposition field position and ball possession. The stags took the opportunities when granted and scored multiple tries in the final 20 minutes of the game. Richmond composed themselves and eventually went on to win 50-28. Player of the day went to stand out performer Aaron Unasa.

After 18 games played this 2013 season the Premier 1st have won 15, loss 3 and now go to the Major semi-final against the 2013 undefeated Otara Scorpions at Ngati Otara Park. The winner of this match go straight to the 2013 Sharman Cup Premier 1st Grand Final. The team will need to train well and tweak a few things before going into this weekend game with a positive attitude. Please come on out in support of our team and club as both teams will be fighting hard to go through to the grand final. The boys would appreciate your support. BiteEMBulldogs

Team: Aaron Unasa, Francis Gallgher, Nio Strickland, James Finlayson, Arno, Josh Siaosi, Josh Mana, Willie Uili, Jason Mudgway, Vae Kalolo, Junior Uale, Dave Falefitu, Bronson Harden. Kennedy, Stan Bourke, Fia, Lafi Faamausili. Coach: Henry Solomona, Jesse Bourke. Manager, Tuu Lialia'i.

Richmond Premier 1st played the Manukau Magpies at Grey Lynn Park. Training this week focused on cardio fitness and line speed off the defence line. A number of Premier grade players had dropped back and with new combinations to be made the Premier grade players certainly wanted to impress to stake their claim back in to the Premier grade. Players included tireless forwards Junior Uale, Willie Uili, Vae Kalolo, Dave Falefitu, hooker Jason Mudgway and outside back speedster Nio Strickland.

With much of the week being wet the game was transferred to Grey Lynn Park field 3. To compound the field change and changes to the foward pack Richmond wanted to start with a hiss and roar to show the Premier 1st competition that Richmond will be a force in 2013. A slow start for the home team meant the half time score was only 24-6. Considering the Richmond team had a ton of experience and Manukau played with only a 12 man team the stern half time talk from coaches Henry Solomona and Jesse Bourke ensured the boys would come out fired up for a big half. 

Combinations were much better in the second half where centres James Finlayson scored four tries with his centre partner Nio Strickland scoring a hatrick (3 tries) himself. The effort started from the forward pack who lay a good platform for space out on the fringes and out in the back line. Final score was 70-16 to the mighty Richmond Rovers. Player of the Day was Aaron Unasa who chimed in well at the full back position. Special mention goes to the halves Josh Siaosi and Josh Mana for steering the team around the park with creative kick plays and depth passing games. Both players challenged the Magpies defence line and always questioned the edge plays with great combinations in Finlayson and Strickland.  

The Richmond Premier 1st will need all the support they can get next weekend as the team travel to Ngati Otara Park to take on the table topping Otara Scorpions. Kickoff is at 12.45pm 

Richmond Prems 1st had a much improved week of training in preparation for its home game against the Te Atatu Roosters. After last weekends disappointing home game loss to the Otara Scorpions the forward pack had wanted redemption to make up from last weekends effort. Strong runs from prop forwards Logan Wright and Fia ensured the halves had plenty of time and space out wide.

Halves Josh Mana and Josh Siaosi combined well with hooker Lance Wright to create opportunities and continued momentum. The Prems 1st team went into half time with a comfortable 26-0 scoreline courtesy of tries to Francis Gallagher, Wiremu (Woody) Takeriu and Josh Mana.

The second half started with Te Atatu scoring in the mid field. The Richmond boys went back to grind footy by reverting back to basics with dominating defence and quick attack to swing the momentum in Richmond's favour. 
Final score 52-6. Although the scoreline showed a dominant performance it was a credit to the players determination in defence that stood out. Player of the day went to centre James Finlayson. Next week we travel to Freyberg park to play East Coast Bays Barracuddas and would appreciate your support as we look to take on the current top of the table team.