Bombers back with a vengeance
Ngati Kahu Sharks 18 Te Hiku o te Ika Mavericks 32: The premiers were unable to contain the form team in this top-of-thetable clash from round 6/ 18 of the Taitokerau Rugby League Premiership at Taipa on Saturday. Sharks coach Benji Phillips said the match lived up to its hype.
“Bloody good game. I think we played really well. We were leading for most of it, just our fitness and a few basic errors let us down. We had a few good runs. It was there for the winning, they [Mavs] must have known that too, they would have been sore the next day. They are a really good team, have definitely set the mark up here. ”
The homeside standouts were Rawiri Phillips and Timmy. Phillips estimated the match was watched by around 200 people.
“Good clean game. Everybody enjoyed it, a lot of kids there, good atmosphere, a really good day for everybody,” he said.
“They [Mavs] are beatable and I think they know that now.”
United Valleys Crushers 36 Aupouri Repo 22 (HT 20-10): The Crushers proved too strong on their home turf of Taheke Stadium. Repo coach Lance Taylor said that despite the heavy rain which fell over the 24 hours beforehand, it was still an entertaining affair.
“Both teams had to play a bit of wet weather football. We clawed our way back to lead 20-22 then the game just changed. Bounce of the ball didn’t go our way. Had to give it to Waima, they ended up running away with it. We let in some easy tries at the end, our defence fell off. We had our opportunities to win the game, It’s always a good clash between us. We always know we are in for a real doozy.”
Standouts were Quintin Nathan in the centres, and five-eighth Anthony ‘Boo Boo’ Clyde.
Pawarenga Broncos 28 Waipapakauri Bombers 22 (HT 16-10): Fears over whether the Bombers would stay in the competition following the previous week’s default were allayed when the side fronted at Broadwood with a very competitive effort.
The Broncos led throughout but allowed the visitors to draw level midway through the second spell only to push ahead again thanks to a couple of ingenious breaks from pivot Dawson Clutterbuck.
Nobody was more pleased to see the Bombers back in action than Pawarenga’s Jeremy Tecklenberg. And, he noted, the visitors brought a take-no-prisoners approach.
“Very glad to see them stick it out. Hats off to the Bombers for gutsing it out and turning up here . . . We were lucky to get away with a win.
“We were just a little bit more cohesive than them,” he said, but noting there was otherwise very little separating the two teams.
The day’s standout was Lewis Hape at 13 and “anywhere else on the pitch he was needed!
“Beautiful day, weather held up for about 40 minutes, some good running football. Both sides took their hats off to Destry the ref, one of the best refs we’ve got up here.”
Kaikohe Lions 54 Kerikeri Makos 10 (HT 34-0): The Lions were running rampant on home turf. Keri gaffer Tim O’Leary said his side was still in rebuilding mode and while the Makos were getting players to training, the club was still struggling for consistent turnouts on matchday week-in, week-out. This allowed the side to blood several new, young players. Makos tries by Baz Clarke and Jamal King while standouts were Brandon ‘Jacko’ Rudolph who played on the wing and also in the centres.
Ngati Wai Seahawks 28 Taiamai Taniwha 16: The Sea Hawks claimed their first win of their debut season in the TRL at Moerewa’s Simson Park. ■ Standings: Sharks 10 points, Mavericks 10, Lions 8, Crushers 8, Repo 6, Broncos 5, Taniwha 3, Makos 3, Bombers 2, Sea Hawks 2.
In Whangarei. The Moerewa Tigers as defending champions continued their unbeaten run in the Whangarei RLN Premiership by thrashing the Northern Wairoa Bulls 60-4 in Dargaville. This put them on top of the ladder, first equal with Otangarei but carrying a superior for/ against differential. Other results from round 4 were, Otangarei Knights 34 Hora Hora Broncos 4, Takahiwai Warriors 56 Portland Panthers 22. Standings: Moerewa 8, Otangarei 8, Takahiwai 4, Portland 2, Northern Wairoa 2, Hora Hora 0.