around Franklin Country with a few more pics
So come stay and play here in Franklin Country – there’s along weekend coming up waiting for you!!
Tag: Games
…and now we have SBW
well – Franklin is able to claim Sonny Bill Williams as our own!
29 year old SBW had his first training session with the Counties Manukau team in Drury on Monday.
It was Steelers coach, Tana Umaga who coached Sonny Bill when he first made the switch to rugby union back in 2008 in Toulon, France.
SBW will begin his bid to feature at next year’s World Cup when the Steelers host Auckland in Pukekohe on Wednesday.
Auckland coach Paul Feeney has named his side to face Counties Manukau in their mid-week clash on Wednedsay at ECOLight Stadium in Pukekohe.
Captain Tom McCartney and Liaki Moli are expected to return from injury to the starting line up while Hadleigh Parkes and Francis Saili will combine in the midfield for the first time since Round Two.
“Hadleigh wants an opportunity at second five-eighths and we haven’t given him too many this season. He started there against Manawatu with Francis outside him and we had a good win that day.
“We also think it’s the right time to give Francis a start again, he’ll be very motivated and we look forward to see how he and Hadleigh go,” said Feeney.
The mid-week match holds huge ramifications in the race to play offs.
“In essence it’s a quarter final,” said Feeney, with the winner of this encounter likely to take fourth spot on the premiership table.
“On top of that, it’s a local derby and all the boys know each other. We want to make sure we have the momentum heading into the semi-finals, should we get there.”
While Auckland has had the edge over their southern neighbours in recent years, no more than five points have separated the two teams in their last three matches.
“They’re very dangerous with good players across the park and on their day can beat anyone. We know they are a huge threat, especially playing at home and against us.”
The likely inclusion of Sonny Bill Williams in the Counties Manukau team adds an extra edge.
Another win for Franklin….
Well – the Commonwealth Games have been and gone ……
…and didn’t li’l ol’ Franklin’s Richie Patterson do well!!
All of the athletes are so very dedicated and have all done a fantastic job to get to the levels that they have, but we can feel especially proud of “our” boy.
Richie is a former student of Pollok Primary school on the Awhitu Peninsula in Franklin Country, and this time around, managed to score the GOLD in his weightlifting class.
Richie was one of New Zealands’ team who won a total of 45 medals – 14 of those medals being gold!
So well done NZ and well done Richie! 🙂 (and congrats on the wedding too )
How about an evening of Dining, Murder and Mayhem…..???
ok..has THAT got your attention?
If you are looking for an evening with a difference, you can get that right here in Franklin – on our doorstep – at the stunning Castaways Lodge, Kariotahi.
On Saturday 22nd June you can get away from the daily/weekend grind and make an evening of it…stay at Castaways and have some fun with a Murder Mystery evening – “Murder on the Tasman Sea” – and a sumptuous three course meal, or just make it an evening out with dinner and a Murder!!! 
If you can be tempted, you could also be in with a chance to WIN a $1,000 Castaways Resort prize package. This fantastic prize package filled with dining, spa treats, activities and accommodation will be drawn on the night.
Check out the website and see what you could be in for – a fantastic clifftop experience with awesome food and an amazing evening of murder, mayhem and laughter
franklincountry 
