ARL Sharman Cup season kicks off this weekend

23/03/2017
AUCKLAND RUGBY LEAGUE
ARL Sharman Cup season kicks off this weekend
For immediate release

The Auckland Rugby League are gearing up for the season kick-off with the opening round of the Sharman Cup Premiership this Saturday March 25, 2017.

Following a comprehensive and consultative review undertaken in 2016, the Sharman Cup competition begins two weeks earlier than the SAS Fox Memorial with the grand final of the Shaman Plate on Saturday August 26 and the grand final of the Sharman Cup Premiership on Saturday September 2 (the same grand final date scheduled for the Fox Memorial and Women's competition).

The Sharman Cup season will commence with a two section, one round qualification series based on final team placings from 2016. At the conclusion of the qualification series, the top four teams in each section will qualify for the Sharman Cup Premiership, while the bottom three teams in section one and the bottom two teams in section two will qualify for the Sharman Cup Plate.

In section one, the Bay Roskill Vikings -who played Te Atatu in the Sharman Cup grand final last year- will host their first game against New Lynn at Blockhouse Bay. Hibiscus Coast will play East Coast Bays at home, while Otara travel to Ti Rakau Park to play Pakuranga. Otahuhu -who play their first ever season in the second tier division- have the first bye of the round.

Section two will see Waitemata -who placed fourth in 2016- play the Ponsonby Ponies at home, the Manurewa Marlins will travel to Kohuora Park to play Papatoetoe while Manukau and Ellerslie have their first bye round.

"Despite the earlier start to the season, clubs are enthusiastic with getting the season underway," says ARL's football manager, Pat Carthy.

"It's a performance based competition and the new format puts everyone on the same starting line."

All other grades but the Fox Memorial kick-off next Saturday April 1, with the Women's competition commencing on Sunday April 2. The opening round of the SAS Fox Memorial starts in two weeks on Saturday April 8.

Sharman Cup Rd 1 Fixtures

Qualification Series: Section 1
Hibiscus Coast v East Coast Bays @ Stanmore Bay Reserve 2.30pm
Pakuranga v Otara @ Ti Rakau Park 2.30pm
Bay Roskill v New Lynn @ Blockhouse Bay 2.30pm
Otahuhu BYE

Qualification Series: Section 2
Papatoetoe v Manurewa @ Kohuora Park 2.30pm
Waitemata v Ponsonby @ Ranui Doman 2.30pm
Ellerslie BYE
Waitemata BYE

Click here to view the Sharman Cup draw online.

Club/ Sharman Cup side information
*Please note: If clubs and/or team information is missing, they have not been submitted before the deadline. Placings from 2016 are based on results before final playoffs.

Club: Bay Roskill
Place in 2016: 3rd
Coach: Jono Paul
Captain: Silila Vaivai

Club: East Coast Bays Barracudas
Place in 2016: 11th
Coach: Ross Hilton
Captain: Ricky Bogue

Club: Hibiscus Coast Raiders
Place in 2016: 5th
Coach: Mike Heke
Captain: Buck Hall

Club: Manukau Magpies
Place in 2016: 14th
Coach: John Sione
Co-captains: Junior Scanlan Lavea/ Western Siaki

Club: Manurewa Marlins
Place in 2016: 8th
Co-coaches: Neecrom Areaiiti/ James Hema/ Johnny Blacklock/ Wayne Bailey
Captain: Jesse Filipo

Club: New Lynn Stags
Place in 2016: 13th
Coach: Kildaire (Tea) Faumuina
Captain: Saunoa (Noa) Utumapu

Club: Otahuhu Leopards
Place in 2016: Relegated from Fox Memorial
Coach: John Ackland
Captain: Fred Turuwhenua

Club: Otara Scorpions
Place in 2016: 7th
Coach: Shontayn Taratu
Captain: Uila Aiolupo

Club: Pakuranga Jaguars
Place in 2016: 9th
Coach: Richard Johnson
Captain: Hamo Tama Hamo

Club: Papatoetoe Panthers
Place in 2016: 6th
Coach: Adam Tupua
Co-captains: Alec Wintersten/ Palu Tapaevalu

Club: Waitemata Seagulls
Place in 2016: 4th
Coach: Rob Luisi
Captain: Suliano Faukafa

ENDS

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