NZ's Lion Foundation NJC Round 3

This weekend sees the half way point in this, all too short, competition. Two rounds left after this Saturday and teams in the top four of the six team competition are desperate to get that, all important, number one spot. Finishing first means a home semi-final against the fourth placed team and a huge advantage to make the final. Currently, in both Foundation Cup and Kiwi Cup, the Auckland Crowns are ruling the roost, but only on points difference. The Canterbury Kiwi Cup side are proving to be something of a dark horse, right behind the Crowns and they have the advantage of playing them at Rugby League Park in Christchurch in Round 4, having already toppled the highly fancied Auckland Sea Lions on the same ground. The games of the week, this weekend are undoubtedly the clashes between the two Auckland sides, in both grades, at North Harbour Stadium this Saturday. In the Foundation Cup, the Auckland sides hold positions one and two with only twelve points differential between them.

Both these games should be titanic battles as local derbies are apt to be and I couldn't pick a winner in either grade. Interesting to note the turning out of Warrior Development player, Frank Paul Nuuausala. The Crowns coach must be confident, as Nuuausala has been injured and has only just begun to train with the Kiwi side, yet he has named him in the starting 13. In other games, First National Northland take on Canterbury at Jubilee Park in Whangarei. The Southern Kiwi Cup team should be too strong for the hosts, but the Foundation Cup result is pretty hard to pick, as both these teams are pretty much level pegging. Davies Park in Huntly hosts the Waicoa Bay / Wellington games and they are both too close for this writer to call.

Lion Foundation National Junior Competition 2005:

FOUNDATION CUP 16?s Auckland Crowns vs Auckland Sea Lions

North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand Saturday 19 March 2005 ? 11.30am Kick Off

AUCKLAND CROWNS No. AUCKLAND SEA LIONS Joseph Kennar 1 Nopoto Tuimaualuga Shane Henry 2 Palaamo Kalati Kyle Bos 3 Harmony Hunt Justin Bernard 4 Jerome Leolahi Dylan Holtom 5 Alvin Matavao Jody Henry (C) 6 Ronnie Va?asa Sioeli Makaui 7 Maroanui Nosa Mike Fatu 8 Kaipati Naniseni Robert McCarthy 9 Sonny Taurari?i Leo Faaeteefe 10 (C) Rusty Bristow Leeson Ah Mau 11 Moses Tulisi Constantine Mika 12 Cameron Collennette Peter Lavea 13 Vincent Craddock Stanley Ma?asi 14 Tom Pelo Mitchell Tausi 15 William Stowers George Smith 16 Andrew Pongi James Joblin 17 Jeremy Pelo Charles To?a 18th Man Kelo Tuitavake Frank Harold COACH Mike Penny Wayne Floyed MANAGER Warren Manuel Andrew Soutar TRAINER Brent Corin

Lion Foundation National Junior Competition 2005:

FOUNDATION CUP 16?s Waicoa Bay Stallions vs Wellington

Davies Park, Huntly, New Zealand Saturday 19 March 2005 ? 12.15pm Kick Off

WAICOA BAYSTALLIONS No. WELLINGTON Marcel Mahuta 1 Alehana Mara Victor Karora-Reu 2 Take Peneha Theodore Heta 3 Ramond Trow Kurt Kara 4 Frae Wilson Jesse Te Kawariki 5 Pio Patelesio Edsel Kingi 6 Bronson Marino Henare Ngauma 7 Arana Taumata Peter Wiggins (C) 8 Ben Matulino Regy Manu 9 Josh Kauone Pio Pelesasa 10 Mose Masoe Te Humarire Maclean 11 James Moala Cameron Irvine 12 Jason Schirnack Steven Schenk 13 Dillon Bell Vinnie Stothers 14 Darryl McPherson Paul Royal 15 Dominic Sakaria Brendon Irvine 16 Grenville Roach Hamish Hetet 17 Desmond Miti 18th Man Nathan McNamara Doug Brooks COACH Darryl Marino Kevin Sullivan MANAGER Tina Marino Paul Clouston TRAINER George Lajpold Ray Brooks TRAINER

Lion Foundation National Junior Competition 2005:

FOUNDATION CUP 16?s First National Northland vs Canterbury

Jubilee Park, Whangarei, New Zealand Saturday 19 March 2005 - 12.15pm Kick Off

FIRST NATIONALNORTHLAND No. CANTERBURY Karaitiana Vette-Welsh 1 Delamar Taua Opeti Fotu 2 Wiremu Hei Hei Linton Price 3 Darren Tonihi Jarom Wihongi-Henare 4 Jamie Tainui Lafaele Talosaga 5 Wesley Mason Daley Johnson 6 Tama Walker Heremaia McKenzie 7 Cairo Takarangi Sam McKendry 8 Rakatau Rawiri Rikki Mackey 9 Hone Rask Kene Te Whata 10 Casey Cumming Cruiz Neho 11 Arved Johnston Shane Pumipi 12 (C) Sebastian Afamiliona Hirini Parata 13 Rulon Nutria Paula Finau 14 Vinnie Akuhata Lincoln Monschau 15 William Steenson Blair Young 16 Tonga Rangiaho Alista Wiki 17 Neru Maiava Jim Larkin COACH Kenny O?Brien AS. COACH Jermaine MacDonald Alfred Welsh MANAGER Chris Hansen Ian Pumipi TRAINER Nicky Hansen

Lion Foundation National Junior Competition 2005:

KIWI CUP 18?s Auckland Crowns vs Auckland Sea Lions

North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand Saturday 19 March 2005 ? 12.45pm Kick Off

AUCKLAND CROWNS No. AUCKLAND SEA LIONS James Nathan 1 Victor Field James Blackwell 2 Solman Foki Tom Hawea 3 Miguel Start Cooper Vuna (C) 4 Tuki Jackson Nui Talau 5 Dean Lia Darin Kingi 6 Maurice Ah Voa Mataika Vatuvei 7 Sioeli Kaifoto Alistair Taua?a 8 Henry Naisali Arron Pawley 9 (C) Troy Becroft Alex Tafili 10 Hala Laula Paki Ormsby 11 Paul Tusa Scott Jones 12 Tafutu Mua Tyler Cassidy 13 Michael Hauraki Patrick Ah Van 14 Jonathan Taurari?i Frank-Paul Nuuausala 15 Kyle Maea Tu?u Moari 16 Phillip Ikafanga Iuomalo Su?a 17 Patrick Lili?i Hone Tawhai 18th Man Brent Gemmell COACH Lewis Godsmark John Solomon MANAGER Francis Edwards Jamie Cook TRAINER Darren Okesene ? ? PHYSIO Debbie Sumner

Lion Foundation National Junior Competition 2005:

KIWI CUP 18?s Waicoa Bay Stallions vs Wellington

Davies Park, Huntly, New Zealand Saturday 19 March 2005 ? 1.30pm Kick Off

WAICOA BAYSTALLIONS No. WELLINGTON Jermaine Muagututia 1 Darren Schirnack Michael Murray 2 Michael Hollis Troy Waters 3 Te Ariki Peneha Darren Kingi 4 Joshua Davis Mokonuiarangi McGrath 5 Desta Buchanan Mattew Wade 6 Ben Taraeka Kaiaotea Tahuriorangi 7 Michael Lealava?a Rayon Williams 8 Mathew Fitzgerald Rory-James Haronga 9 Hayden Magele Caleb Hunt 10 Hayden Davis Emmanuel Toka 11 Ashley Parker Sam Rapira 12 Troy Nicho Steve Rapira 13 Taikaha Brown Jae Murray 14 Patrick Matulino Whatu Barber 15 Arnold Fa?aaliga Slade King 16 Jack Lopa Isaac John 17 Terawhiti Cooper David Pokiha 18th Man Hiki Rutene COACH Phil Bergman Paro Edwards MANAGER Peter Mellars Junior John TRAINER Gordon Pepere

Lion Foundation National Junior Competition 2005:

KIWI CUP 18?s First National Northland vs Canterbury

Jubilee Park, Whangarei, New Zealand Saturday 19 March 2005 ? 2.00pm Kick Off

FIRST NATIONALNORTHLAND No. CANTERBURY Carl Campbell 1 Daniel Bain Gary Nicholl 2 Mike Coom William Johnson 3 Kahu Wehi Iwi Hauraki 4 Setaimata Sa Kane Freeman 5 Tau Arona Ashton Gray 6 Brackin Karauria-Henry Pita Godinet 7 Quincy To?o To?o Jason Livingstone 8 Roger Tafua Sam Moli 9 Antonio Tuitaupe Loiola Pomee 10 Setima Pua?avase Brent Murray (C) 11 Mananui Te Heu Heu Simon Nash 12 Wesley Naoupu Zin Zan Riggs 13 Mikaere October Wiremu Ratana 14 Ivan Toso Zin Zan Bristow 15 Chris Nicholson Antony Cook 16 Vinnie Wihare Trent Baker 17 Nikos Cummings-Toone Mark Freeman COACH Terry Hermansson Bruce Davis MANAGER Duane Fyfe Elvis Reti TRAINER Glenn Barron TRAINER Dana Arcus