The Howick Hornets Rugby League Football Club are on a hot streak at the moment, leading the Fox Memorial Premiership and Women’s Premiership tables respectively.
After a round one obliteration of the Mangere East Hawks at their home Paparoa Park field, the Hornets’ premier men faced an away fixture against a prominent Mount Albert Lions side.
In a real tightly-contested match, it was the Howick Hornets that edged ahead to win 24-22.
Eddie Ieremia crossed the line for a brace of tries for the visitors, while Nukurua Ngere and Jarney Proctor each scored once.
Reuben Tolovae converted all four Hornet tries to ultimately seal the deal.
The premier men now face their toughest test of the season to date as they continue their on-the-road stretch against last year’s Fox Memorial Premiership champions, the Point Chevalier Pirates.
Women’s Premiership
The Howick Hornets premier women (‘Nets) continued their domination of the women’s premiership in front of live cameras at North Harbour Stadium on Wednesday.
The ‘Nets didn’t let the pressure on the big stage get to them, rushing out of the gates to a 34-0 lead over their Otahuhu opposition at half-time.
It was a similar story in the second half, the ‘Nets crossing the line four more times to run in a final score of 56-10.
In an absolute try fest at North Harbour Stadium, six Howick players got their name on the score sheet.
Playmaker Saphire Abraham bagged a hat trick and kicked six goals from 10 attempts off the tee.
Zayde Sarah-Baldwin, Cilia-Marie Po’e-Tofaeono and Lisa Edwards Rua all scored two tries a piece while Tafito Lafaele and Cassie Ormsby each scored once.
The ‘Nets now head into a much-deserved bye week before returning to North Harbour Stadium on Wednesday, May 24 to play in front of the cameras again.
Juniors take over Paparoa Park
By Josh Garry, Howick Hornets Media
With the latest deluge keeping the Howick domain closed on Saturday, this meant the junior Hornets spirit was truly alive at the ‘Nest’, thanks to a swarm of excited youngsters who got the chance to feel the buzz of playing on Paparoa Park.
The weather was perfect, and the sidelines were packed with supporters.
First up were our under-11s and u9s. The natural talent amongst these teams was really incredible to witness.
While both games must have been close, this level of footy is about sportsmanship, learning, and enjoyment, more than the score.
The feel-good story of the day belongs to our u12s who made a team memory together, then doubled down on the Hornet spirit in impressive fashion.
Most notably, Saturday was graduation day for this young team who’ve largely been together since the mini grades, as they ran out the tunnel for the first time onto their new home ground at Paparoa!
If that wasn’t special enough – after slogging it out in their own game against quality opposition, they were informed that the under-14s had begun their game short a few players due to illness.
Up raised the hands – the u14s had a full team for the last 15 minutes, where they managed to finish the game off with a great try.
Shout out to Matty, AJ, Kaya, Herb and Ozzy.
Starting the game short on troops, it goes without saying the u14s had a tough day at the office today against a very big, skillful, Bay Roskill side who are sure to be in amongst the top teams at season’s end.
Howick Hornets Rugby League Results:
FOX MEMORIAL PREMIERSHIP
Howick Hornets vs Mount Albert Lions
Full Time: Mount Albert 22 – Howick 24
Tries: Eddie Ieremia (2), Nukurua Ngere, Jarney Proctor
Conversion(s): Reuben Tolovae (4)
Other Fixtures:
Otahuhu Leopards 0 – Richmond Rovers 20
Mangere East Hawks 14 – Marist Saints 44
Papakura Sea Eagles 20 – Point Chevalier Pirates 22
Manukau Magpies 6 – Te Atatu Roosters 12
Glenora Bears 30 – Bay Roskill Vikings 32
Fox Memorial Premiership Standings:
| PLACE | TEAM | PLAYED | WON | DRAWN | LOST | POINTS | + / – | |
| 1 | HOWICK HORNETS | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | + 44 | |
| 2 | RICHMOND ROVERS | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | + 40 | |
| 3 | PT CHEVALIER PIRATES | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | + 16 | |
| 4 | MARIST SAINTS | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | + 24 | |
| 5 | OTAHUHU LEOPARDS | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | + 6 | |
| 6 | PAPAKURA SEA EAGLES | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | + 4 | |
| 7 | BAY ROSKILL VIKINGS | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | + 0 | |
| 8 | MANUKAU MAGPIES | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | – 4 | |
| 9 | TE ATATU ROOSTERS | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | – 14 | |
| 10 | GLENORA BEARS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – 16 | |
| 11 | MOUNT ALBERT LIONS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – 28 | |
| 12 | MANGERE EAST HAWKS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – 72 |
WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Howick Hornets vs Otahuhu Leopards
Half Time: Otahuhu 0 – Howick 34
Full Time: Otahuhu 10 – Howick 56
Tries: Lisa Edwards Rua (2), Tafito Lafaele, Cassie Ormsby, Saphire Abraham (3), Cilia-Marie Po’e-Tofaeono (2), Zayde Sarah-Baldwin (2)
Conversion(s): Saphire Abraham (6)
Howick Hornets Fixtures 20-05-23:
Round 3 Fox Memorial Premiership- Howick Hornets Premier Men VS Point Chevalier Pirates Premier Men at Walker Park- Saturday May 20, 2.30pm.
Howick Hornets Premier Women- BYE
