The opening weekend of Premier Rugby in Auckland offered up several mouth-watering clashes on paper, and also, a number of unknowns in terms of how teams would come out of the gates in 2019.

Arguably, the fixture of the opening round for the Men’s competition came from Pool A with Pakuranga hosting Ponsonby. The defending champions, fresh off their Waka Nathan Challenge Cup triumph, would have been looking to start the season proper in style, but were overrun in the second spell by a determined Pakuranga side.

Waitakere experienced an element of déjà vu against Otahuhu at home after falling agonizingly short at home to the travelling Otahuhu side, a similar result to last year’s corresponding fixture. After leading at the break, Waitakere were unable to maintain their advantage at the back-end of the game, succumbing to a narrow defeat.

Waitemata travelled to East Tamaki in what is always a tricky fixture for a number of sides, but were emphatic in their play, and ultimately, the result itself. Allowing the home side little room to breathe meant they travelled back to West Auckland fresh off a comfortable bonus-point victory.

Papatoetoe will feel they let one slip through their fingers against the Riflemen away from home. Leading by 17 at the break, the ‘Red Nation’ ran out of gas in what was an entertaining fixture on the new fields in Remuera.

University secured a valuable victory on the road against 2016 Gallaher Shield Champions Suburbs. In what is always an uncomfortable road trip for sides, Shadbolt Park almost proved to be a fortress once again for the West Auckland club, but Varsity showed enough grit and determination to come away with the win.

Grammar TEC were largely untroubled by Te Papapa at home first-up with the perennial powerhouses coming off some mixed pre-season form to get back into their work quickly and secure the five competition points.

An intriguing fixture rounded off the Men’s action as Marist hosted Eden. Marist with an all new coaching staff would have seen this as an opportunity to stamp their mark on the competition and set a barometer early. Eden on the other hand have been building for several years now and would have been looking to go one game better in 2019 having fallen in the semi-finals last year to eventual champions Ponsonby.

Alas, it was Eden who proved too strong in the second half. Marist scored a consolation try at the death to bring the scores closer, but the Central Auckland club are looking dangerous again early on.

The Women’s competition saw all Auckland teams facing one another from the off as the opening round of both Premier competitions began on the same weekend.

College Rifles hosted Eden and Marist welcomed Ponsonby. The results from both games mirrored the final competition standings from 2018 as the usual suspects got off to rock-solid starts.

The Thunderbirds showed far too much class up front and out wide in a commanding performance worthy of their defending champion status. Eden will have much to improve on throughout the season and can only get better from here.

Marist did have a tougher time against the Fillies, but with several Black Ferns unavailable for the visitors it was always going to be a tough assignment away from home. Marist’s overall game proved too much against the battling Ponsonby side, and they would have been pleased to lock away the win first-up.

In the other fixture, Ardmore Marist were comfortable at the full-time whistle in their win over East Coast Bays-Glenfield, while Manurewa enjoyed the first-round bye.

Premier Round 1 Results – Saturday 30 March 2019

Ponsonby 26 (C Harvey, H Huch, S Ulufonua, F Vaha’akolo tries, J Cooper 3 conv)

Pakuranga 33 (M Falesiu, M Lagaaia, L Namoa, S Silipa, S Williams tries, G Taina 4 conv) Halftime: 19 - 12

Otahuhu 18 (T Ofisa, S Tupou tries, V Lama conv, V Lama 2 pen)

Waitakere 15 (A Papalii, A Savea tries, T Tamenari conv, T Tamenari pen) Halftime: 3 - 12

Waitemata 63 (A Choat, M Fujisaki, J Klaver, C Moors, J Tofa-Va’a 2, I Vakauta 2 tries, J Matautia 8 conv, 1 pen try)

East Tamaki 3 (T Iosua pen) Halftime: 28 - 3

College Rifles 43 (E Lamositele, I Manu 2, M Taulahi 2, J Skipps, S Way tries, Z Sullivan 4 conv)

Papatoetoe 40 (H Aiono, V Lolohea 2, O Pauta, J Tafili tries, D Leuila 3 conv, D Leuila 3 pen) Halftime: 5 - 22

Grammar TEC 36(J Folaumoetui, T Matakaiongo, T Faleafa, T Potoru, M Storm, W Rangi tries, M Storm 3 conv)

Te Papapa 10 (S Alofi, S Asi tries) Halftime: 26 - 0

Manukau 43 (S Fuatai, C Saulala, V Taito 2, S Toloa, T Tonga, S Tutapu-Vaka tries, S Toloa 4 conv)

Mt Wellington 0 ( tries, conv, pen) Halftime: 17 - 0

University 20 (T Latu, J Laurich, I Aholelei tries, D Kirkpatrick conv, D Kirkpatrick pen)

Suburbs 10 (N Halaholo try, M Sowter conv, M Sowter pen) Halftime: 10 - 7

Eden 34 (O Faafou Soisoi, B Hill, A Kaveinga, D Liaina tries, C Morgan 4 conv, C Morgan 2 pen)

Marist 25 (M Fakautoki, B Motuliki 2 tries, O Polson 2 conv, O Polson 2 pen) Halftime: 17 - 15

Premier Women’s

Marist 24 vs Ponsonby 12

Ardmore 29 vs East Coast Bays/Glenfield 5

College Rifles 81 vs Eden 0