The LJ Hooker Richmond Premiers take on the Papakura Sea Eagles at Prince Edward Park on Saturday 12th July. This game promises to be full of impact, hard hits and strong hit ups from both teams. The Richmond Premiers will need all the support they can get as they are expecting a great battle upfront. With all Richmond supporters in attendance for the Maori TV game screening on Sunday 13th (1.30pm) the team hope to get off the bottom of the table! Premier 1st kick off at 12.45pm. Premier team kick off 2.30pm.

Shout out to our loyal sponsors: LJ Hooker Ponsonby, Waterview Laundromat, Waterview Superette & Lotto, Giltrap Group, Peter Fell Concrete & Shamrock Reroofing.

Richmond Premiers had a home game against the Howick Hornets at Grey Lynn Park in the round 13 Auckland Rugby League Fox Memorial Shield encounter. Coming off two superb wins over Mangere East Hawks and Otahuhu Leopards the Richmond Premiers are revitalized and finally playing to the teams potential.

Howick came out looking very impressive in the first 20 minutes scoring some early tries with ease before Richmond rallied together for a late first half comeback. When the Richmond Premiers forward pack mustard together to get the much needed roll on the team began to compete for ball possession and field position. To Richmond’s credit this was done only in patches throughout the game.

Howick were very fine tuned and went on to win convincingly 48-12. On the positive it was great to see the return of relentless forward Karl Simeti back in action. He tackled well and ran lines which contributed to the team getting on the score card.

This week the Richmond Premiers play its first Maori TV game against Papakura Sea Eagles at Prince Edward Park. The team could really do with a vocal Richmond supporter crowd so do make the effort to head out to the game. The club and team is one win away from avoiding relegation so every game played is as important. No doubt the team will give their best as they are playing every game as if it is a grand final. Maori TV screen game on Sunday 13th at 1.30pm.

Team named: Damon Niko, David Dyer, Ayden Devery, Ley Vano, Corey Teina, Josh Mana, Josh Siaosi, Stewart Preuss, John Mana, Jonah Sofele, Ben Seve, Andrew Kake, Siliga Kepaoa. Logan Wright, Mafola Timaloa, Isala Peau, Hector Purcell. 

The LJ Hooker Richmond Premiers take on the Howick Hornets at Grey Lynn Park on Saturday 5th July. This game promises to be full of impact, hard hits and strong hit ups from both teams. The Richmond Premiers will need all the support they can get as they are expecting a great battle upfront. With all Bulldogs supporters in attendance the team can add to its consecutive wins! Premier 1st kick off at 12.45pm. Premier team kick off 2.30pm.

Shout out to our loyal sponsors: LJ Hooker Ponsonby, Waterview Laundromat, Waterview Superette & Lotto, Giltrap Group, Peter Fell Concrete & Shamrock Reroofing.

Richmond Premiers travelled South to Otahuhu Leopards home ground, Bert Henham in the round 12 Auckland Rugby League Fox Memorial Shield encounter.

Otahuhu on paper have a number of seasoned Fox Memorial campaigners so Richmond were expecting a tough tussle. It was Richmond’s forwards who dominated in the battle up front with Richmond back rowers Andrew Kake, Ben Seve and Siliga Kepaoa showing stand out defence. Tower-house back rower Andrew Kake scored the opening try to put Richmond ahead -something that has been a common thing in recent weeks. Richmond’s defence was much improved with a number of stiff hit and stick tackles keeping the Otahuhu second rowers awkwardly quiet. Otahuhu expected to play expansive footie however it was Richmond who forced Otahuhu towards the side line on five separate occasions.

Richmond played well to target the Otahuhu Leopards halves when the Richmond Premier team had the ball. Strong carries from Stewart Preuss and Logan Wright proved how dangerous this Richmond Premier side can be with ball in hand. The back five did a lot of grind work, setting up the platform and running the opposition mid field ragged. This proved effective as the home side fatigued allowing Richmond to build sustained confidence for the back end of the game.

Richmond’s Backs were on fire in attack with good hole-running and contesting the 50/50 bombs lead to ‘highlight reel type’ tries being scored. A good team effort where Coach Bernie Perenara can be pleased with the teams’ improvement since his involvement in the team. Ball security and the penalty count will be important to the Richmond Premier team in coming days as they prepare for a Howick Hornets side coming off two losses.

Try scorer Andrew Kake added after his team’s consecutive game wins, “The boys are all working from the same page and have really stepped it up on game day. When we were in the second half arm wrestle we showed the fighting Richmond spirit.”

Richmond Premiers kick off next Saturday at Grey Lynn Park against Howick Hornets at 2.30pm. Premier 1st  at 12.45pm.

Half time: 12 – 6 Richmond
Full time: 31 – 14 Richmond

Team named: Damon Niko, David Dyer, Ayden Devery, Ley Vano, Corey Teina, Josh Mana, Josh Siaosi, Stewart Preuss, John Mana, Jonah Sofele, Ben Seve, Andrew Kake, Siliga Kepaoa. Logan Wright, Mafola Timaloa, Isala Peau, Hector Purcell. 

The LJ Hooker Richmond Premiers take on the Otahuhu Leopards at Bert Henham Park on Saturday 28th June. This game promises to be full of impact, hard hits and strong hit ups from both teams. The Richmond Premiers will need all the support they can get as they are expecting a great battle upfront. With all Bulldogs supporters in attendance the team can finish Round 1 with a hopeful win! Premier 1st kick off at 12.45pm. Premier team kick off 2.30pm.

Full player profiles click here: http://tiny.cc/ttgiex

Shout out to our loyal sponsors: LJ Hooker Ponsonby, Waterview Laundromat, Waterview Superette & Lotto, Giltrap Group, Peter Fell Concrete & Shamrock Reroofing.

Match Report
The Richmond Premiers finally have got the monkey off its back and have secured its first win of the 2014 Fox Memorial Shield Competition. Solid performance from each team member who are finally playing to the teams potential. Strong performance noticeably from winger David Dyer, opening try scorer Andrew Kake and the front rowers who laid the platform for the team.

It was clear that new head coach Bernie Perenara, now in to week three of the Premier team role has addressed the backs out-wide defence. The huge improvement proved a vastly different side with no tries being scored out wide.

The forward pack was on top form dominating from the get go. Lead strongly by Hector Purcell, Stewart Preuss, Jonah Sofele and Logan Wright up front the enormous effort to gain metres at will with a quick succession substitution system helped keep the momentum in the home teams favor.

The skillful second rowers caused a lot of headaches for the visiting Hawks as Siliga Kepaoa, Ben Seve and opening game try scorer Andrew Kake were causing havoc on the fringes. Off load options and support in numbers allowed for half break opportunities. Defensively the back row were kept busy as they contained Mangere’s big boys and outside backs. The hunger for defence is back!

The space created allowed for the outside backs to finish off tries. Something proven difficult in round one. Apart from the one handling error in the first half from winger David Dyer who went on to make amends by scoring a hatrick in the second half, the team were solid.

The Premier team would like to acknowledge the strong start to the very loud and vocal Richmond crowd. Hooker John Mana said “I felt it (the Richmond crowd) helped me out when I was tiring towards the back end of the first half and early second half. The crowd played a big part in our win.” It was a good team effort from the whole team and management especially with everyone doing their roles and more when it was needed. "The boys kept digging in and stuck in the grind together and when things were going tough we just played as a team", says John Mana.

The LJ Hooker Richmond Premiers took on the Northcote Tigers at Birkenhead War Memorial Park on Saturday 14th June. 

Full player profiles click here: http://tiny.cc/ttgiex

Shout out to our loyal sponsors: LJ Hooker Ponsonby, Waterview Laundromat, Waterview Superette & Lotto, Giltrap Group, Peter Fell Concrete & Shamrock Reroofing.

The LJ Hooker Richmond Premiers took on the Marist Saints at Murray Halberg Park on Saturday 7th June. The Premier 1st unfortunately loss to the Marist Premier 1st. 

Having come off a weekend break and a change of guard under new head coach Bernie Perenara the team was as prepared as could be expected. 

The Richmond Premiers had a good crowd of Richmond supporters who were very vocal. 

Full player profiles click here: http://tiny.cc/ttgiex

Shout out to our loyal sponsors: LJ Hooker Ponsonby, Waterview Laundromat, Waterview Superette & Lotto, Giltrap Group, Peter Fell Concrete & Shamrock Reroofing.

Live Match update feed today at Richmond Premier game vs Marist Saints. #BiteEmBulldogs
Nice opening set with Richmond close to scoring down the left side
Marist spill the ball. Richmond plays into Marist half
Penalty to Richmond. Interception down right side to Marist lead to Marist try two plays later
Try converted 6-0 Marist
Marist knock on. Richmond play into Marist half
Jason Tavita aerial kick caught by tower Centre Joe Alesi who scores right of the post. Two out of two sets completed for the Bulldogs
Kick converted by full back Damon Niko. 6-6
Penalty to Richmond. Richmond in Marist half.
Third completed set. Good d to keep Marist in their half on tackle 5
Mid field tackle break leads to Marist right side scoring from draw and pass, 12-6 Marist
Penalty to Richmond sees them in Marist half
Marist kick off to Bulldogs to get the game started
Left wing Cory Samuel Teina is pushed out- close to scoring
Prop Jonah Sofele earns a rest. Big bopper Logan Wright is on. 4/5 completed sets from Richmond
5/6 completed sets. Knock on by Marist. Richmond scrum at half way
Cory Samuel Teina held up on the line
6/7 completed sets by Richmond
Logan Wright spills ball, 6/9 completed sets
Richmond last play. Half time 18-12 to Marist
Marist spill the ball at half way line. Richmond attack
Great work from forwards led by Logan Wright leads to Jason Tavita try next to goal post. Kick converted by Damon Niko. 12-12
Marist spill ball over try line. Ref says play on as Richmond play at the ball. Try awarded? 18-12 Marist
Great hit by Andrew Kake forces Marist to lose ball. Penalty to Richmond for hands in play the ball. Marist on goal line. Richmond knock on in ruck play. 6/10 completed sets
Knock on by Richmond’s Damon Niko from scrum play to the right
Richmond Rovers RLFC Kick off
Marist second rower scored down left side. 22-12 Marist
Try to Marist right wing. 28-12 Marist.
Try to Marist right wing 34-12 Marist
Try to Marist right centre 38-12
Double movement to Ben Collins sees Marist back with the ball. Good hustle in repeat sets for both teams
Try to left wing Cory Samuel Teina from Logan Wright chip kick and regather draw pass, 38-16 to Marist.
Richmond Rovers RLFC Game over

On Tuesday 27th May the Richmond Board met to review the LJ Hooker Richmond Premiers record of 0 wins from 8 games and what could be done to ensure Richmond remains in the Fox Memorial Shield Competition for next season. The Richmond Board unanimously voted to appoint Bernie Perenara as co-coach to work together with then current coach Ming Mafoe. The Richmond Board’s unanimous view is that Bernie’s coaching experience at Fox level, two Bartercard Cup Grand Finals for Marist-Richmond Brothers, Auckland Vulcan’s, NZ Maori’s and NZ Residents level can only help a coach in his first year at Fox Memorial Shield Competition level to turn Richmond Premiers season around.  

Ming’s response unfortunately was that he was not willing to work with Bernie.  This was disappointing to the Board so on Thursday some Board members met with Ming to see if Ming could be persuaded to change his mind and work together with Bernie for the good of the team.  But for his own reasons, Ming has chosen not to work with Bernie as co-coach and effectively stepped away from the coaching position.  This is not what the Richmond Board wanted, but Ming has made his own mind up.

Therefore, by default not design, Berne Perenara is now the sole coach of the LJ Hooker Richmond Premiers for the rest of this season.  The Richmond Board is grateful that a coach of Bernie’s quality is prepared to do the best he can for Richmond for the 10 remaining competition games.  Richmond as a Club strives to remain in the Fox Memorial Shield Competition for next year, we know all Richmond members and supporters will get behind Bernie and our Premier team as they focus on winning next Saturday’s game versus Marist Saints at Murray Halberg Park, 2.30pm kick off.