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

Premier 1st vs Ellerslie Eagles
Number 6 scores Ellerslies first try. No conversion. 4 - 0
Number 2 (Lee Robson) scores for Richmond.
Successful conversion. 6 - 4 to Richmond.
Richmond fullback (Savi Hafoka) dots it down under the post for an easy conversion. 12 - 4 Richmond
Soft try for Richmond (Josh Mana). Conversion made. 18 - 4.
Another converted try (Uala Toamaka) for Richmond. 24 - 4.
Richmond score (Steve Watkinson). Unsuccessful conversion. 28 - 4.
Richmond (Savi Hafoka) in again. Conversion is successful. 34 - 4.
Richmond 7 (Josh Mana) hops around the defence for a try. Missed conversion. 38 - 4.
And Ellerslie 8 powers over. Conversion successful. 38 - 10.
Richmond 1 (Savi Hafoka) scores again. Conversion made. 44 - 10.
Richmond (Josh Tui) score again. Conversion missed. 48 - 10.
52 - 10 Richmond (Siti Tautiaga) scores just before full time. Well played Richmond. 

Game report
Premiers 1st kicked off the 2013 season against the Elleslie Eagles at Elleslie domain. With the first hit up comes a new team and hopefully a new attitude. We picked a mix team of experienced and youthful players. A special mention to Lee Robinson & Zac Tui in playing there first Senior grade games at the age of 18 years old. With very experienced halves pairding of Josh Mana at half back and Josh Siaosi at stand off they combined to lead the team around the field very well.  Props Josh Tui, Uala Toamaka & Kennedy Niovra dominating the opposition forwards with strong defence and attack the edge runners had plenty of space to run rampant. The boys went in to the break at half time with a 24-6 lead.

In the Second half the team started the early sets well and came to dominate once again with Savi Hafoka & Siti Tautiaga scoring tries at will with the ever reliable Steve Watkinson converting. Down to only two bench players for the remaining 30 minutes the team stuck strong. Coach Henry Solomona Was very happy with the fitness, work ethic and mobility of forwards Uala,Josh Tui, Lafi Faamausili, Steve Atutolu and Bronson Harden. Tana Fili and Lee from the wing carried the ball well and had outstanding games from the dummy half. The Premier 1st team came away with a solid win 62-10. Next week the team play Papatoetoe Panthers at Grey Lynn park. We would love to see you all down there in your Richmond gears supporting us! 

BITEM, BITEM, BULLDOGS

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 opening 20 minutes was a real tough grind as both teams looked to win the battle up front. Strong carries by Junior Uale and Toleafoa Leaupepe (pictured) had the home team on the front foot. As a team the boys had plenty of field position and ball posession however could not take its opportunities to put points on the board. With full back Savi Hafoka down with injury temporarily Glenfield took the opportunity to kick ahead from a well-timed scrum chase to bag first points. Both teams came to play with nothing in it at half time with Glenfield holding a slim lead 14-12.

After the half time break our Richmond boys hit their straps with some strong hit ups from powerful running utility Aukuso Faafoi and some well-timed hit and sticks from Captain Mia Tautiga. Richmond quickly put some pressure on the visiting team and managed to get out to a handy lead 26-14 with 20 minutes to play. But just like last week the boys failed to close the game out with Glenfield touching down twice in the closing stages to lock it up 26-all right on full time.

Our two Players Of the Day were backrowers Aukuso Faafoi and our captain Mia Tautiga -well done boys! Be sure to catch our next game at Grey Lynn Park this coming Saturday 21 April 2012 when we take on Otara Scorpions at 2.30pm.

Also our Richmond Club Social is this Saturday at the Richmond club rooms from 7pm. Kitchen will be open late and our very own Leonale Bourke will be DJing. Drink Specials all night. Hope to see you all there in support of our great club. #BITEEMBULLDOGS

Richmond Premiers Vs Ellerslie, Saturday 31st March.
By Henri Nicholas

 We didn't get off to the greatest of starts finding our selves down 12-nill after 15mins. We struggled to complete sets, and our ball carry was poor coming out of our red zone, this allowed Ellerslie to dominate field position and the game in the opening quarter. We came into a bit of luck with Richmond 5/8 Tama Guthrie collecting an intercept pass and running 80 meters to open our account for 2012. This would be the turning point of the first half with our boys running in another 4 tries and take the lead 28-12 in to the half time break. 

After the oranges -the boys started the second half the way they ended the first to lead 42-12 at the 60 minute mark. Of concern was the way we finished the game, the concentration levels and commitment dropped off with our boys allowing Ellerslie Eagles to run in three soft tries -final score 54-30 to Richmond. For our first up game we are happy with the win but acknowledge the fact that we are far away from where we need to be if we intend on being competitive this year!

 Our two Player Of The Days went to Toleafoa Leaupepe (Prop forward) for his committed defence and his powerful ball carries. Bronson Harden (Lock) for topping the tackle count, second in ball carries and also managed to play the full 80mins. Also strong games by Cale Baker (Hooker), Savi Hafoka (Full back), Juniour Uale (Prop forward). Congratulations boys. Next game is at home this Saturday against Glenfield and we would love to have your support.


Try scorers: Tama Guthrie (2), Josh Mana (2), Ioane Godinet, Fa'avae Neli, Aaron Nootai, Cale Baker, Toleafoa Leaupepe, Junior Uale, Savi Hafoka.
Conversions: Godinet (7)


PLAYER THE DAY
3 points: Tolefafoa Leaupepe
2 points: Bronson Harden
1 point: Cale Baker