Keri sides shot down out west
introduced NRU representative Clare Farrell to present the inaugural Robbie Ball Cup. He noted Robbie was a well known and respected stalwart throughout the Northland and New Zealand rugby communities, particularly for synchronising the major project to floodproof his beloved Kaeo clubrooms, adding, “Clare was right behind him every step of the way”.
Upon presenting the cup to winning Mangonui captain Hamish Pomare, Farrell said the day served to fulfil Ball’s legacy. “Robbie had a dream, to see Mangonui and Bay play in the same competition. Last year that dream came true,” she said, of the return of North Zone competition to local club rugby in 2017. The hosting club served up a sumptuous roast dinner banquet after prizegiving.
Mangonui try scorers were Darryl Smith 2, Donald Boyd 2, Hamish Pomare, Matty Tuatagaloa, Augustin Fernandes, Puru Aboagi, Keanu Cook Savage, Kyle Thomson, and Jake Harris with Smith kicking the difference. Standouts included winger Cook Savage (back POTD) and Aboagi (forward POTD); also notable were Brandon Kirtland and Boyd at 9 and 10 respectively.
The match was curtain raised by an U-18 clash between Kaitaia College 1st XV and a Kaikohe/ Moerewa selection, and firstly, a pre-season North Zone U16 clash between Kaitaia and Kerikeri. Both Kaitaia teams won.
Southern Districts
Western Sharks 27 Kerikeri 22: The two visiting Keri teams were unable to rain on the parade of the Sharks club’s 125th anniversary celebrations in round 8 of the Bayleys Premiership (for the Joe Morgan Memorial). The Keri Reserves also went down, losing the curtain raiser 29-26.
Coach Shaun Anderson said the As were leading 22-8 with 20 minutes to go but some poor discipline and decision-making proved costly. “Both teams should have won,” he said. “We [As] just lost our shape . . . had lots of chances to score which we bombed,” he said adding the Bs also didn’t play all that well but also “should have won”. It was still a good day overall.
Other results were, prems: Hikurangi 17 Mid Northern 32, Kamo 7 Waipu 5, Otamatea 24 Hora Hora 39, Wellsford 22 OBM 24; reserves: Hikurangi 12 Mid Northern 15, Kamo 29 Waipu 14, Otamatea 25 Hora Hora 27, Wellsford 7 OMB 20.
Standings, prems: Kamo 39 points, Hora Hora 35, OBM 28, Mid Northern 21, Waipu 20, Kerikeri 18, Hikurangi 13, Wellsford 12, Otamatea 9, Western 9; reserves: Kamo 35, OBM 29, Mid Northern 25, Hora Hora 25, Kerikeri 24, Wellsford 22, Otamatea 19, Western 18, Hikurangi 12, Waipu 5.