The Pakuranga Black Panthers host the Under 85kg Auckland Final and will be looking to go one further than the 2023 Final.

The team have been on a stellar run this season and already have a few pieces of silverware to their name.
Standing in their way of the perfect season is the Ponsonby Hustlers – the defending champions, meaning tomorrow’s match is set to be a classic.

Season successes
The Panthers started the season with a pre-season game-of-three halves against Waiuku and Onehwero. What is hopeful to become an annual fixture comes with the Grant Henson Cup, which the Panthers won to kick off their year.

Boof played more than 200 premier matches for Waiuku, winning three McNamara Cups with the club. He finished his playing career at Onehwero and has one Black Panthers cap to his name. Boof is also the Director of Rugby here at the Ranga so holds his connections to all three clubs very dear.

A few weeks into the regular season the Panthers competed for another inaugural trophy, in memory of their former teammate Thomas Heeringa.

After losing Tom at the start of 2024, it went without saying that the Panthers and Varsity Squids would honour their former teammate with a memorial trophy remembering a player that gave so much to both teams. The Panthers won that encounter 26-15.

Lastly, the Speight’s Shield – prestigious in Under 85kg rugby has been defended throughout the season. The Pans were successful in winning the Shield off Grammar in the first round and unlike other Challenge Trophies that are only defended at home, the Speight’s Sheild is up for grabs every weekend, which means it has taken an unbeaten season to keep it at the Ranga.

*We are reliably informed the Panthers have also had off field success in the post-match boat races but we do not have any statistics to back up these wins.

The one that the Pans really want though, is up for grabs this weekend. Pakuranga hasn’t won the 85s grade since the 1990s and tomorrow’s match, at Bell Park, presents the best opportunity in recent years.

Team
The Pans coaches, Brad Martin and Tu Edwards, have gone with consistency in their team for the final. 

A familiar front row of Fred (surname unknown!), Jeandre Du Toit and Ben Biggelaar have proven to be a powerful threat throughout the season, while Rory Cavanagh and Stephen Edwards combine to bring experience to the second row.

Henry Adams, Josh Andrew and captain Callum Dimond round out the forward pack, the loose forward trio starting together for the seventh time this season.

A very settled and dangerous backline has been named, with Finley Dixon and Regan McGregor running the cutter and halfback and first five eighths.

Kobe Kay has donned the 12 jersey in every match this season and he combines with Jamie Petford in the midfield. 

Maika Rova and Kyle Fennessy will both be handfuls on the wins while Frances Morrison starts at fullback.
There is experience and strength on the bench, you can expect Andrew Thomas to make an impact in the front row when he joins the game, while Logan Kinnear is named in his 182 (!!!) 85s match.

Success on Bell Park is familiar to some of the team, with Finley Dixon, Regan McGregor, Kobe Kay, Francis Morrison and Andrew Thomas all part of the Under 21 Cannons who won the Arthur Bayliss Cup on the same ground last year.

1.    Fred Birkenstock
2.    Jeandre Du Toit
3.    Ben Biggelaar
4.    Rory Cavanagh
5.    Stephen Edwards
6.    Henry Adams
7.    Josh Andrew
8.    Callum Dimond
9.    Finley Dixon
10.    Regan McGregor
11.    Maika Rova
12.    Kobe Kay
13.    Jamie Petford
14.    Kyle Fennessy
15.    Francis Morrison

16.    Andrew Thomas
17.    Dylan Fennessy
18.    Shaldon La Grange
19.    Ryan Napier
20.    Tyler Hickmott
21.    Kyle Jonson
22.    Daniel Devane
23.    Logan Kineear

Article added: Friday 19 July 2024