It’s shaping up to be one of the Howick Hornets’ best seasons, with the U18 girls winning their first grand final at the weekend and the club’s top three sides off to their respective semi-finals.
U18 Girls
An unbeaten season and some silverware to boot! The Hornets U18 girls saved their best game for last in their grand final against the Otara Scorpions at Mount Smart Stadium.
The girls ran away with the game for an emphatic 68-20 win, scoring 12 tries, to be crowned U18 champions.
Premier Reserve Men
The first of three blockbusters at Cockle Bay’s Paparoa Park on Saturday saw the Hornets’ premier reserve men take on Mount Albert in their quarter-final.
It was a huge effort for the Fox reserves who toppled Mount Albert 46-10. In the second half, they kept their visitors scoreless.
They require another massive effort this weekend as they travel to Bert Henham Park to meet the Otahuhu Leopards in their Fox Premier Reserve semi-final. They defeated Otahuhu 30-14 earlier this season.
Premier Women
Entertaining as always, the Hornets Premier Women (‘Nets) were destined to put on a show in their last round-robin match against bottom-of-the-table Manurewa Marlins.
As always, they piled on early points and didn’t take their foot off the throttle for the full 80 minutes. Nine ‘Nets tries were scored including a hattrick from star centre Cassie Ormsby.
Their victory has catapulted them to first place on the women’s premiership table at the end of round-robin. As a result, they have been crowned minor premiers for the 2023 season.
They now have home-turf advantage for their semi-final as they play host to City, who they have comprehensively beaten twice already this season.
Premier Men
To round out the dominant day for the Hornets, Paparoa Park hosted the premier men’s Fox Memorial Premiership quarter-final against the Marist Saints.
After finding themselves behind by two points with 15 minutes to go and their season on the line, the Hornets’ premier men had to dig deep.
And that they did, scoring a match-winning try in the corner. The Hornets prevailed 18-10.
They will go to battle in a tough one this weekend as they face the powerful Point Chevalier Pirates on the road in their Fox Memorial Premiership semi-final.
Auckland Rugby League Weekend Results
Fox Memorial Premiership (Quarter Finals)
Howick Hornets vs Marist Saints (Fox Premiership QF1)
HT: Howick 8 – Marist 0
FT: Howick 18 – Marist 10
Other Fixtures
Fox Memorial Premiership QF2: Otahuhu Leopards 10 – Papakura Sea Eagles 14
Fox Memorial Plate QF1: Mangere East Hawks 8 – Glenora Bears 90
Fox Memorial Plate QF2: Bay Roskill Vikings 18 – Manukau Magpies 44
Fox Memorial Premier Reserve Grade (Quarter Finals)
Howick Hornets vs Mount Albert Lions (Fox Premier Reserves QF1)
HT: Howick 16 – Mount Albert 10
FT: Howick 46 – Mount Albert 10
Women’s Premiership
Howick Hornets vs Manurewa Marlins
HT: Howick 30 – Manurewa 0
FT: Howick 52 – Manurewa 6
Tries: Cassie Ormsby (3), Barbra Auvaa, Sharelle Leota, Zayde Sarah-Baldwin, Taylor Curtis, Ma’atuleio Fotu-Moala, Lisa Edwards Rua.
Conversion(s): Platinum Marsters (8).
Other Fixtures
Taniwharau 24 – City 38
Otara Scorpions 8 – Mount Albert Lions 38
Bye: Otahuhu Leopards
Women’s Premiership Standings
| PLACE | TEAM | PLAYED | WON | DRAWN | LOST | POINTS | + / – | |
| 1 | HOWICK HORNETS | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 23 | + 238 | |
| 2 | OTARA SCORPIONS | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 23 | + 106 | |
| 3 | MOUNT ALBERT LIONS | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 21 | + 140 | |
| 4 | CITY | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 19 | + 84 | |
| 5 | OTAHUHU LEOPARDS | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 12 | – 144 | |
| 6 | TANIWHARAU | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 8 | – 196 | |
| 7 | MANUREWA MARLINS | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 6 | – 228 |
Howick Hornets’ upcoming fixtures;
Women’s Premiership SF1: Howick Hornets Premier Women vs City Premier Women at Paparoa Park – Saturday, August 5, 12.45pm.
Fox Premier Reserves SF2: Howick Hornets Premier Reserve Men vs Otahuhu Leopards Premier Reserve Men at Bert Henham Park (Field 2) – Saturday, August 5, 12.45pm.
Fox Memorial Premiership SF2: Howick Hornets Premier Men vs Point Chevalier Pirates Premier Men at Walker Park (Field 2) – Saturday, August 5, 2.30pm.
