Kerikeri Premiers break into top four
Panguru 22 Kaitaia 32: The closest result from round 6 of the North Zone on a weekend otherwise marred by two matches of one-way traffic and more news of defaults. Panguru manager Mike Te Wake didn’t sound too disheartened about the outcome of the Mangonui derby played in Panguru.
“Awesome game, massive crowd, massive atmosphere,” he said, “Our forwards did the groundwork, just chomped it up. Our scrum killed them, and we won some of their lineouts . . . . but a bit of a breakdown in the backs and Kaitaia capitalised.
“Our supporters, can’t thank them enough. To our boys, still searching for a win but it’s our community who push us to front. It’s coming.”
Panguru’s standout was new 18-year-old Michael Panga.
Kaitaia manager Clayton Murray described this as an “awesome game” which could have gone either way.
“Well Mate Radich wasn’t wrong when he said Panguru would frighten us [in Mat Talks column last Thursday]. With 14 players unavailable I was beginning to panic myself. Fortunately we still managed to fill a team sheet and get the job done,” he said.
Kaitaia’s standout was Darryl Smith who picked up a hat trick of tries and scored all the visitors points bar the try by Sadius CookSavage.
“To be honest we look forward to the aftermatch more than anything in Panguru! It’s well known they’re probably the best hosts in the competition.”
Eastern 62 Otiria 0 (HT 40-0): Eastern coach Dave Jurlina was impressed with the big win and a clean sheet at home on Saturday
“Played one of our best halves of the season, played really well, structured. I was really happy at half time, more the way we played than the score. Otiria in all fairness kept playing away, bit unlucky not to score a couple of times,” he said, adding the visitors relished Eastern’s hospitality at the aftermatch.
Try scorers included Cyrus Broughton 3, Shay Carey 2, Jake Simpson, Mitchell Jurlina (and a penalty), Josh Robson (and 2 conversions), Allen Heighway and Tomas Gueidon (also kicking two conversions) while standouts were lock Tom Lawrence and Gueidon at fullback. The highlight of the day, however, was Kirk Darlington successfully converting Eastern’s last try of the day with a drop-kick from the sideline and which earned a massive roar from the supporters.
Awanui 88 Kaikohe 12: Awanui kept the 2017 Bay grand finalists firmly in check at Awanui on Saturday afternoon. Awanui manager Jordan Jujnovich said the visitors were perhaps a little unfortunate to come across an Awanui delivering their best performance of the season.
“Just a good team performance, a performance we have been looking for.” Standouts were the evergreen old war horses, Frank Roberts at No.8 and centre Denny Windelborn.
Rarawa lose to Moerewa United Kawakawa BY DEFAULT . A series of incidents — players’ fathers needing to go in to hospital, injuries, other commitments — left Rarawa high and dry with only nine players just before kick off. The visitors took the news graciously and shared some players to enable a a friendly to be played as part of a work out ahead of the big game.
Rarawa had the points reversed from the previous week’s win against Otiria and were docked a further two points — a deduction of seven points in total — for fielding Ilai Arona who is registered with Hikurangi this season.
Bye: Ohaeawai Okaihau (originally to play Kaeo). ■ STANDINGS: Moerewa UK 30 points, Awanui 26, Eastern 25, Kaitaia 22, Ohaeawai 17, Kaikohe 15, Otiria 13, Panguru 6, Te Rarawa 3, Kaeo 0.
Whangarei
Kerikeri 57 Mid Northern 26 (HT 19-12): Kerikeri took their third win of the season in round 7 the Bayley’s Premiership for the Joe Morgan Memorial trophy.
Coach Sean Anderson was happy to see the As claim a convincing win in front of the local supporters in what was only the second home game of the season; the result allowing the Bay club to sneak in to the top four.
“Forwards worked really hard, and there are some big men in the Mid Northern side. They are a big tough side. We started well, competing from the start. I think they [players] are starting to get it a little better, that this competition’s intensity is from the get-go.”
Standouts included 1st five Mitchell Miller scoring four tries (and named back POTD) and prop Matthew Bridgeman who scored a try and played the full 80 to secure the forward POTD award. Other tries for Dane Subritzky Clarke, Oneal Rongo and Nikau Graham.
The Kerikeri Reserves suffered a 29-49 loss in the curtainraiser. Anderson said the consensus is that the Bs had an “off day” against a Mid Northern led by veteran David Holwell: “The old fox has still got a good brain on him . . . [But] We didn’t compete really.” ■ STANDINGS, prems: Kamo 34, Hora Hora 30, OBM 23, Waipu 17, Kerikeri 17; Mid Northern 16, Hikurangi 13, Wellsford 11, Otamatea 8, Western Sharks 4; reserves: Kamo 30, OBM 24, Kerikeri 22, Wellsford 22; Mid Northern 21, Hora Hora 20, Otamatea 17, Western Sharks 13, Hikurangi 11, Waipu 8.
North Zone